The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

STEARNS
John c., son of John and Elizabeth
(Chandler) Stearns was born IN Chelsea III
1881. His father, one of the early settlers
of the town and prominent merchant was
appointed post master as soon as he was
eligible. at the age of Fl, and held it con
tnuOuSly until he died at the age of 81.
The subject of this sketch in looking up
the files of the post office department at
Washington, D. c., found that the total
pay and emOlumentS of the office at Chel-
sea for single year was only SIT. 10.
Young Stearns received his education at
the common schools and Bradford Acad-
envy, and he commenced his business career
as a clerk in a general store at Bradford,
being apprenticed for term of years.
For six years he was member of the firm
of Brooks q StearnS, which was engaged
in trade in Worcester, Mass, in which
place he became member of the MaSSa-
chuSettS militia, and on his return to Yer
mont enlisted in the Bradford Guards. in
which latter organization he was promOt-
ed to the position of lieutenant. AT the
breaking out of the civil war he enlisted
as private in Co. d, was promoted to the
rank Sergeant-MajOr of the LIST Vermont
Volunteers, and at the expiration of their
term of service, was appointed LIST Lleuten-
ant and Adjutant in the 9th Regiment but
was compelled to resign June 80, 1868, on
account of disability.
During his active service he was men,
Der of the staff of Gen. Trimble of Ohio,
and participated in the engagements at
Cloud Mills, Winchester, Suffolk and Har-
perS Ferry, at which last place he became
prisoner, upon the surrender of his reg-
ment, with others under Gen. Miles and
after being paroled was sent to hicago
where he did guard duty till May 1868.
The following September he married
Martha F., daughter of John Barron and
Martha Tilton Pickett of Bradford, and
the same year purchased the home of his
wife's father, where they have ever since
resided. For few wears they have spent
their winters, in Washington as official
duties required. After his return from
the war in 1866 he employed himself in the
general insurance business, forming
partnership in 1869 with Mr.. Charles Jones
which has continued without break or
friction until the present time, and is be-
lieved to be the Oldest continuous insurance
firm in the state.
Col. John c. Stearns is a republican of
the ''red hot and reliable" kind. From
February 1870 to June 1878, he was the U.
s. assessor of International Revenue for the
appointed by President Grant, Collector of
Internal Revenue for this state under Pres
ident Garfield from May 1881, until remov-
ed for offensive partisanship" by Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland; appointed by Hon.
Redfield Proctor as one of the commission
ers to mark the lines of battle of the army
of the Potomac and the army of northern
Virginia and the position of the regular
army of the u. 5. at the battle of Antietam,
Md. a work at which he was engaged
three years. In 1867 and s he served as
Colonel and Aid-de-Camp on the staff of
Gov. John b. Page. He was the republic
can senator from Orange County in 1878,
and member of the House from Bradford
in 1856. In 1868 he was delegate to the
Repubicap National convention that NOM
mated Gen. Grant for his first term, and in
1888 he vas an alternate delegate 10 the
Convention that nominated Benz. Harrison.
Since 1873 he has been a member of the Re-
publican state Central Committee, He was
one of the original trustees OF the Soldiers
Home Of this state, incorporated November
1884, Nov. i. 1890 he was elected treasur-