The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-20
A DISTINGUISHED COUPLE.
Judge and Mrs. o. p. Stearns. OF Duiutn
Are Waiting This City.


Judge and Mrs. ozora Pierson stearns. OF
Duluth, are at the Occidental hotel, on their
way to Southern California for the
| winter. Both the judge and his
wife have had distinguished careers.
| He was born in DeKalo, ST. Lawrence county,
New York, January Is, 1881; but at an early age
| his family moved West Part OF his education
was acquired at oberlin college and part at
Michigan university. From the literary depart
| ment OF the latter institution he was graduated
| in 1858, and from the law department two years
later. Immediately after completing his studies
| he went TO Rochester, Mimi, sad began the
| practice of law. His success was so great that
| In . short time he was elected prosecuting
attorney of Clinton county.
In August, 1852, however, he laid down his
| law books to enter the Northern army as first
| lieutensnt IN the Ninth Minnesota volunteer
| infantry. For a time fhis regiment was engaged
IN quelling the Indian outbreak and then II was
sent down to assist In the rather irregular war.
| fare then being carried on in Missouri. stearns
| showed himself TO be gallant soldier, and he
rapidly won distinction and promotion. In
! April, 1854 he was commissioned colonel OF the
Ihirty-nlrth regiment OF the United states
coiored infantry-a regiment recruited at Balti-
more. With this command he went into the
Army OF the Potomac. On July 50 this regi.
ment suffered severely at the mine explosion
before Petersburg. Later Colonel stearns &C.
eompanied General Benjamin +. Butler in the
Fort Fisher expedition, and after that he was
with General Alfred II. Terry at the capture OF
that fort. Following that event Colonel Stearns
remained with bis command in North Carolina
until he was mustered out in 1868
When the war was over he returned to his old
home at Rochester. The professorship OF agri-
culture at Cornell university was offered him,
but he declined. and was again chosen county
attorney, ant after that was appointed register
IN bankruptcy.
In ISL the Minnesota legislature elected him
United States senator to fill the unexpired term
OF Daniel g. Norton, deceased Colonel Stearns
occupied the seat in the Senate for short time,
and then in the spring Of 1872 removed with his
family to Duluth. In speaking of his senatorial
experience, he said last night: al once said to
one OF my colleagues that ] was In the Office so
brief period that could hardly be called a
senator. His answer was that being in the Sem
ate was like being in the penitentisry. No mat
ter how short the term, the fact could never be
lived down"
In 1874 Colonel Stearns became Judge Of the
Eleventh judicial district OF Minnesota, an of
fee which he has held ever since. 81 have been
working very hard for several years." he said.
sand now am ordered to California to recu.
perate."
The judge is man of middle height with very
broad shoulders slightly bent His head is mas
sive and intellectual, and his fine face is partly
concealed by a full gray beard. Mrs. stearns,
who Is famous advocate OF woman's rights, Is
aslightly built woman, with a gentle, cultured
face, and abundant brown hair. Daughter of
Edward G. Burger, she was born in New York
city November 80, 1886, and was christened
Sarah. Her education was acquired
chiefly at the Ann Arbor High
school and the state normal school
at Ypsilanu, Mich. In ls5S and after
ward as well, she applied for admission as
student to the Michigan State university.
Though her prayer was refused. it had a decided
influence In starting an agitation which re-
suited in the decision of the regents in 1869 to
open the classes to women.
During the civil war she was well-known as
worker on the sanitary commission and she
lectured in Michigan and elsewhere in behalf
OF the soldiers societies. In 1868 she married
Colonel Stearns and three years later she re-
moved to Minnesota For a long time she has
been vice president for Minnesota for the
National Woman Suffrage Association, and she
is president of the Duluth home society. Her
hand has been in many benevolent enterprises,
among them the establishment in Duluth OF q
temporary home for needy women and child
rem.
Judge Stearns works in cordial ayr cement
with her on the subject of woman's rights.