JOHN S. STEARNS
Having
passed the seventy-third milestone on life’s journey, John S.
Stearns is still active in the world’s work, carrying on
agricultural pursuits. He
cultivates the soil and raises live stock on a farm of
eighty-nine acres on section 4, Union township, Lucas county,
which he purchased in 1900, having followed farming in various
states of the Union before that year. He first came to
Iowa in 1852 but in 1869 removed to Nebraska, in which state
he made his home until 1882, when he again located in Lucas
county where he has resided since. A native of Galena, Delaware county,
Ohio, born on March 30, 1840, he is a son of Manny and
Angeline (Comstock) Stearns, the former of whom passed away in
Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, in 1873, and the latter in Galena,
Ohio, in 1851. In
their family were three sons and three daughters of whom two
are yet living. They
are: Margaret, a
resident of Oregon; and John S., of this review. Those who have
passed away are: Mrs.
Elizabeth Comstock; William; Henry, who died in 1852 at
Pioneer Grove, Cedar county, Iowa; and one who passed away in
childhood. All
of these children were born in Ohio.
John
S. Stearns received his education partly in his native state
and partly in Iowa, where removal was made in 1852 when he was
twelve years of age. The
family settled in Pioneer Grove, Cedar county, this state, and
there continued to reside until 1862, when Mr. Stearns
enlisted for service in the Civil war with Company B, of the
First Iowa Cavalry, serving under Colonel Gower in the Western
Army. Faithfulness
to duty and courageous conduct distinguished his military
career. He was
mustered out in 1864 with honorable discharge, returning
thereupon to Cedar county, where he followed farming until
1868, when he removed to Wayne county, this state, there
continuing agricultural pursuits for one year. The next year found
him in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he remained for three years,
at the end of which period he proceeded to York county, that
state, where he homesteaded and then went to Harlan county,
whence he removed to Red Willow county, subsequently returning
to Harlan county. The
year 1882 marked his return to Iowa, when he located on a farm
near Russell, Lucas county, where he followed his vocation. In 1900 he
purchased eighty-nine acres on section 4, Union township, and
there he has since continuously and successfully cultivated
the soil and has given his attention also to the raising of
live stock. His
property is in a high state of cultivation and provided with
good improvements, his barns and outbuildings being kept in
good repair and the general appearance of his place indicating
his prosperity.
In Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 31, 1872, Mr. Stearns was married to Miss Elizabeth Crockford, a native of Ohio, born August 8, 1852. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Friday) Crockford, both of whom have passed away, the former in Kansas and the latter in McCook, Nebraska. In their family were eight children: Henry, a resident of Hastings, Michigan; William, deceased; Mrs. Ellen Barrett, residing in Lebanon, Oregon; John, who died in Montana; Benton, who passed away in Wisconsin; Mrs. John S. Stearns; Jacob, who resides in Higler, Nebraska; and Joseph, living in Michigan. The six oldest children were born in Ohio while the others’ births occurred in Michigan. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stearns five are living: Mrs. Carrie Allen, born December 20, 1872, residing in Jackson township; Joseph, born in York county, Nebraska, living in Russell, Iowa; Harry, born in Russell, who makes his home at Canmore, Canada; John C., born in Russell, who still resides there; and Ethel, attending high school in Lucas. Those deceased are: Mary, who died while quite young at Alma, Nebraska; Charles, who also passed away in that city; and Otis born at Alma, Nebraska, who died at Derby, Iowa.
In his political affiliations Mr. Stearns is a republican and keeps well informed upon public issues. He keeps alive the spirit of ’61 by his membership in McKnight Post, G. A. R., of Derby, Iowa. Having always led a useful and busy life in which indolence and idleness have been unknown he has not only achieved individual success but has contributed to the development and advancement that have brought about the prosperous condition of the section. Interested in all movements incorporated to benefit his county and his locality, he has always been glad to do his share and by his life record has given an example of public-spirited and true American citizenship in times of war as well as in times of peace.