[2] He received his early education in Novo Mesto but his studies were interrupted in 1866 when he was drafted into the Imperial Austrian Army.

[3] After briefly working as a farmhand to earn money, he was encouraged by his fellow Slovene and former schoolmate John Vertin to enter Saint Francis de Sales Seminary near Milwaukee.

[7][3] Stariha remained in Red Wing until January 1884, when he was called to organize St. Francis de Sales Parish in Saint Paul, Minnesota for German-speaking immigrants.

[5] On July 21, 1902, Stariha was appointed by Pope Leo XIII to be the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Lead in South Dakota.

"[5] Nevertheless, he received his episcopal consecration on the following October 28 from Archbishop John Ireland, with Bishops Joseph Cotter and James McGolrick serving as co-consecrators.