News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-07

hook handles, $500 dozen snow
shovels and 1000 dozen hand
rakes are produced annually.
The mandatory is located at
East Johnson on the falls of the
Gihon, the main building being
31x64 feet, with ample water
power and the best improved
machinery.
w. H. Stearns married for his
first wife in 1875, Florence,
daughter of Sylvenus Kinds of
No. Hyde Park. By her he reared
a family of five sons and a
daughter, now attending school.
She died in 1887, and in 1888 he
married Nellie Knowles, and there
was a little daughter by this
union. Mrs. Knowles died in
1895, and in 1896 Mr.. Stearns
married Mrs. Birdena V. Rand.
John H. Stearns, though 90
years old, is active and well in
mind and body and has lived to
see his ''infant industry" develop
into a prosperous business. Vim.
H. Stearns is an energetic and
reliable business man, of good
judgment and undoubted integ-
rity, and is financially successful.
He is a member of Waterman
Lodge, F. & A. M. He has serv-
ed the town in varied capacities
and is now a member of the
Board of School Directors.
B. L. AUSTIN.
Barnum l.. Austin was born in
the town of Cambridge in 1899,
where his parents, Leonard and
Laura (Seeley) Austin, lived
many years. Barnum left home
at IA and since that time has
"paddled his own canoe" He
first went to Manchester, N. H,
and was there employed in the
print works nearly two years.
After attending two terms of
school at Cambridge, he had
three years experience in the
wooden mills of Winooski, Vt.
In 1860 he married Ellen,
daughter of Rufus Cady of Cam
bridge, removed to Johnson and
found a field of usefulness in
building houses. Not less than
half a dozen dwellings and the
Normal School building are the
handiwork of Mr.. Austin. He
followed thecarpenter and joiner
business twelve years. In 1870
he bought out the furniture and
undertaken business of Deacon
Robinson, which he has since
conducted successfully.
In 1885 the increase Of his
business required an enlargement
of his store to its present size
He was appointed postmaster in
1870 and retained that position
until 1885. That year he was
elected Town Clerk and three
years later Town Treasurer, pc.
sitions which he occupied unit,
March, 1896. He is a member o.
Waterman Lodge, F. & A. M
He has been a member of the
Cong'l Church SO years and dur
ing the past twelve years superin
tendent Of its Sunday School
He is President of the Board o
Trustees of the Johnson Norma
School. He has three daughters
Nellie, wife Of O. H. Wilson o
Johnson, Mabel, living at home
and Gene, Mrs. R. G. Prentiss o
| Johnson.
OLIVER H. WILSON.
The town meeting is the repre-
sentative Vermont institution
1t was our good fortune to b,
present at a recent town meeting
and hear the Johnsonians discus
an important and rather compli
Gated question which affected
their purse strings.
A report was submitted by tn
first selectman, O. H. Wilson, ;
little blue-eyed man weighin!
about 100 pounds, 100 of which
is clear grit, - noticed that h
stated his case clearly, answered
all questions readily, and a biz
man, foot taller, couldn'tk
the chip off his shoulder
Thomas Wilson, his grand
father, came to Johnson in 1871
with his wife, nee Huldah Nc
Kinstry, and was acarpenter anC
farmer.
His son, Samuel Wilson, mar
ried Lucy Ann, daughter of iona
than Powers, moved onto thu
paternal homestead of his wife
and has lived rs years in thi
town. r.
A family of four Children, two
sons and two daughters, wer'
born 10 this couple, but only th'
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