Henry C. Stearns, one of the enterprising business men of Elkader, was born in Clinton County, N.Y., Aug. 4, 1849, son of S.W. and Philena (Stafford) Stearns. His father is a native of Chittenden, Vt.; his mother of Clinton County, N. Y., who was married in Plattsburg, N.Y. To them were born five children, two sons and three daughters. In 1860 S. W. Stearns emigrated with his family to Fayette County, Ia., where he still resides. Henry C. was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. In 1868 was employed by his present partner as clerk in the mercantile business, and in 1873 was taken in as a partner. The same year he married Martha Snedegar, a daughter of F. Snedegar, of Missouri. She was born in 1859. Mr. Stearns is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Elkader Lodge, No. 72, and also Harmony Chapter, No. 41. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 671-672 |