STEARNS, A. B.

STEARNS, BAKER, PIPER, SIGLER, SLOAT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 14:18:20

Biography ~ A. B. Stearns

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 496:

A. B. STEARNS, merchant, banker and farmer, resides in Garden Grove, where, in partnership with his brother, DANIEL, he is conducting the above named business. They have a general stock of dry-goods and groceries. Mr. STERN was born in Seneca County, Ohio, September 6, 1830. His parents were GEORGE and SOPHIA (BAKER) STEARN, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter from Holland. They were the parents of four children – J. B., of Dakota; GEORGE, of Ohio; DANIEL and A. B. Both parents died in Ohio. Mr. STEARNS was reared to the occupation of a farmer. He came to Decatur County in 1854, settling in Garden Grove, where he has since resided. He first commenced selling goods for G. W. PIPER, and in two months he bought him out, added to the original stock and took his brother DANIEL for a partner. They have a bank in connection with L. P. SIGLER, in Garden Grove, one in Leon, and one in Davis City. Besides banking and trading they have about 2,000 acres of land which they are grazing, and are carrying on a cheese factory. Mr. STEARNS was married in Ohio, in 1854, to NANCY E., SLOAT daughter of LEANDER SLOAT, and she was born in New York, in 1832. Their children are – GEORGE, MARION, AGNES, AMOS and LEWIS. Mr. STEARNS has one of the finest dwellings in the county. It was built four years ago, at the cost of $8,000. He and his partner own 3,000 acres of land in this county. He is a man of public spirit, always ready to contribute liberally to any enterprise wherein the public may be benefited. In 1852 he took a trip to California.

NOTE: A. B. Stearns died on September 5, 1902. He was interred at Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove IA.

Submission by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014

Note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014