Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 640
MADISON C. STEARNS

Madison C. STEARNS, a farmer located on section 5, of Allen Township, came to the county in the spring of 1882, and purchased the farm he now occupies, which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land, for which he paid $12 per acre. Here he built a story and a half house 17x24 feet, with a wing 14x16 feet. He broke out about twenty acres the first ear, built a fence, set out an orchard and made general improvements.

Our subject was born in Naples, Ontario County, N. Y., March 10, 1822, and is the son of Phineas and Mary STEARNS, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire. Their twelve children were as follows; Clark, Sallie and Marinda, deceased; Asa, Parley, Nancy and Sanger, deceased; Jefferson, Harrison, Madison C., Lucretia, deceased; and Merritt. Five of these children still survive. Our subject lived in the Empire State until twenty years of age, receiving a common-school education. From New York he came West to Illinois, where he engaged in the co-operating business, which he followed for seven years, and then went to work at the carpenter trade which he followed for four years. He owned a farm in Illinois and cultivated it part of the time himself. In the spring of 1864 he went to Fremont County, Iowa, where he engaged in the hotel business, dealing cattle and farming at the same time. The next two years we find him engaged in the mercantile business, which he operated two years and then sold out, took possession of the store again and finally disposed of it and came to Harrison County.

Our subject was married in 1852, to Mary HILLS, daughter of Edwin and Phidelia HILLS, natives of Connecticut and New York, who were the parents of two children, our subject's wife being the eldest, her sister's name being Helen A. Our subject and his wife are the parents of E. Parley, deceased; one died in infancy; Fidelia, Gertrude; and Carrie, deceased; Henry, deceased.

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