Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-24
VIGOROUS AT NlNETY-THREe.

Thomas Stearn9, n8tlve OF fatiSs coi-
ebrated his ninety-third birthday on
Thanksgiving Day, at his home In Cam
bridge, Mass. Notwithstanding his ad-
vanced age, he is apparently in good
health, reads readily without glasses,
maintains an oversight over his prop
critics, and interests himself In city,
state and national affairs. He has been
Republican since the formation of the
party, and is strong temperance man.
lie cast his seventy-second annual vote
at the Massachusetts, state election In
November.
Mr.. Stearns, the subject Of this sketch,
was born in Paris, Dec. o, 1908, son Of
William and Mary (Stearns) Stearns. ana
is of the seventh generation IN ineai
descent from Isaac Stearns, who came
over in 1880 with Governor Winthrop, II
is supposed, and settled at Watertown,
Mass, where he was admitted freeman
in May, 1881. .,
Isaac Stearns was the father of Samuel
Stearns; and after him came three more
of that name in successive generations.
the fourth Samuel being the father OF
William and grandfather of the subject
of this sketch. William Stearns was born
in Waltham, formerly part OF Water
town. He married Miss Mary Stearns,
daughter of Phineas Stearns OF Waver-
lev Oaks, and in 1791 removed to Paris,
Maine, where he engaged in farming.
Thomas Stearns was reared on the
farm in Paris, acquiring his education
in the public schools of the town. by
the time he was 10 years old he had full
charge of the home farm, his father
being in Waltham; but when he attained
his majority he went to Massachusetts,,
and hired himself out as farm hand In
Cambridge. His first business venture
was the establishment of livery stable
back of Charles River Bank. Some time
later he purchased land on Church
Street and built large stable, OF which
he was sole proprietor. He was in the
livery business here about fifteen years.
Disposing then of half-interest in the
livery to Mr.. N. R. Hill, he, in company
with Mr.. Abel Willard and Mr.. Charles
Kimball, established line Of omni-
buses, running all over Cambridge, and
connecting with Boston and Mount Au-
burn. The business was we'll managed,
and grew to great proportions, having
no formidable rival to compete with. On
some lines four-horse coaches ran every
fifteen minutes, and the accommodations
were fully appreciated by the public.
The fare from Boston to Mount Auburn
was twenty cents, and the company paid
in one month 81 ,l4o toll. This will give
some idea of the. extent of their business.
Mr.. Stearns was connected with the
omnibus line for fifteen years. In 1865 he
went to Lakeland, near Saltwater, Minn.,
and established large saw-mill, which
was operated three years; but, finding
this business improbable, he returned to
Cambridge, and turned his attention to
real estate, buying and selling and also
erecting buildings. He has been quite
successful in his business affairs, and
Cambridge owes much to his enterprise.
Mr.. Stearns was first married to Eunice
B. Scilley of New Hampshire. By this
union he had eight children, six of whom
are living, namely: George Hambelton;
Charles Emery; Edward Marshall;
Horace Binney; Mary Ann, wife of John
Bacon, of Yarmouth, Maine; and Han
nah Maria, wife of Charles Lombard, OF
Springfield, Mass. After his first wife's
death he married her sister Roxana, who
died Nav %. 1897.