Starr Tracks: Belle and Pearl Starr

Belle dominated her daughter, Pearl. Determined that the young woman would be a refined lady, she had Pearl educated at an elegant finishing school, and forced Pearl to give up her illegitimate baby. But when Belle was shot by an unknown assailant, Pearl was left destitute and alone, and had to make a living in a bordello. Though she eventually became wealthy and prosperous, Pearl never achieved the respectability she craved. Starr Tracks tells the exciting story of two colorful characters of the Old West, and includes detailed genealogical information about the descendants of Belle and Pearl Starr. Separating fact from myth, the book gives an intriguing glimpse into the lives of American women on the wild frontier. The late Phillip W. Steele resided in Arkansas, and had written several books on Western history, including Jesse and Frank James: The Family History and The Last Cherokee Warriors. He interviewed all the descendants of Belle and Pearl Starr in the course of researching this book, and unearthed many previously unknown documents and photographs. Phillip W. Steel passed away on November 8, 2007.