The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-05-10
On motion,
OBITUAEE V.

The following sketch of a former citizen Of
Portage County we copy from the Strawberry
Point Uowa) Press of April 25th:
FRUITFUL LIFE-In the death of Rev D.
81 Stearns this community loses one whose best
years have been spent in the upbuidlug OF the
town and looking after the welfare of its REQ
ple; and the death of so public spirited and
kind hearted man shnEld not be passed by with
merely passing notice. Outspoken. genial
and CON panonabe, he reckoLed no man but as
a II lend and we have vet hear aught but
GOOD spoken of Father StcarnS
Daniel NJ. Stearns was born in the Green
Mountain state, in the town of Bartt, eborO on
on the 23d of September, 1907. There his child
hood years were spent until eight Summers had
passed over his head when with his parents he
moved to New York, and settled in Chautauqta
Co. In the then wilds of the Empire Stste he
grew to manhood with nothing especially dlf-
ferent in his life than IN that of the generality
| of young men, with the exception that an early
day he exhibited traits oil Christian piety which
| impelled him to join the Methodist L. :iscopal
| Church in the village OF Gerry. And hlv-
| ing determined to enter the ministry at that
| place, a few years later he was licensed to
| breach In 1881 he was emplayed on the larl-
| on n Y circuit, and ordained an Elder of the
| church by the Erie Conference in 1876. Between
these two % %afef N ne aperf9
| Ohio Randolph Va and Hudson Station. Ohio
4 In 1898 he went TO Akron. Ohio, after which he
| served successively in Ravenna, Hudson, New
| burg Franklin, Chardon, and Concord, all in
| Northern Ohio in 1850 he was superanuales!
| by the Conference.
|
| friends and neIghbors he was seized with a
| desire to emigrate west. and in company with
| his family came directly to the spot where
| Strawberry Point now stands On this broad
| prairie with scarcely sign of habitation in
| Sight, in company with his brother William. he
| commenced plating and laying out in lots
| what is now one of the busiest little cities in
| Iowa. And ts these enterprlsing men, more
| than to any others does the town 0! strawberry
| Point owe its existence today. Elder Stearns
/ has lived in this place uninterruptedlv since.
with the except on that in 1867 he returned to
| Northern Ohio where he resumed his mlnIste,
| rial duties at Mantua until 1870 ween his Id
| love for the West induced him to again return
| and settle among Old friends and neghborS in
| Strawberry Point among whom he has since
| peacefully passed his declining ears.
While preaching in Northern Ohio he became
| acquainted with Miss Della Prior. with whom
he was united in the holy bonds of matrimOny
at North Hampton March Both. L 81 in whom
he f-und an earnest faithful wife, who has lent
| Il helping hand in all his works, land ntfibi-
ted much to inspire him to the rounding Of his
| noble Christian career She survives him.
During his life Elder, stearns was hlcst with
five children-wm W, born in lS3S; Laura E.,
IN 1910: Amanda D.. in 1912; Mary Ella, in 1874
and Willie W., in 1856; the Two eldest have pre-
ceded him to the better land. the angel Of death
| having taken W lillian, ay 27. $50 and Iaur =
| sept 10th. 1869. His three remaining children
were permitted to surround his bed when his
willing spirit took its flight. on thc 14th of the
| present month.
on Sabbaths innumerab!e have the people o.
| this place gathered in the house of worship &C
listen 10 the teachings of this earnest man. He
| was known as an eloquent logical cOnvincir :
speaker. who in his prime had few superiors
and his eloquent reasOnings have been the
| means of inducing thousands 70 unite under TN
| Christian banner.
| His active usefulness in the Lords vinegar
| vas impaired several Yeas ago by stroke I"
| paralysis, and in the Autumn Of 1879 through
| fall his arm was broken, which. with his oth"
| infirmities, has confined him to his house an:
| most Of the time to his bed since. He was
| great sufferer but he bore it with that paticnc
| and fortitudc which is characteristics of the tcu
| Christian. = A good man gone to his reward