The Morris County chronicle., 1902-01-31
OBITUARY.

WHACH OCCuAIoU hb MS ihto uuAuo a.
mo. i6 Elm Street, on Saturday morn.
ling, Morristown has lost one Of its
most active workers in relie iouf
work. He was member Of the South
Street Presbyterian Church, and ac-
tive in the work Of the Market st.
Mission, the Young Mems Christian
Association, especially its Jail Depart
ment, the Italian Mission, to which he
Ipresented the present building. occu-
pied by that work. Mr.. Stearns found
FED and supported Rescue Missions in
Newton and in Dover. He also visit
ed the Soldiers Home in Kearney
every week and conducted religious
service there.
In all of his work he was faithful,
self-sacrificing, and devoted and he
will be much missed by the workers
in many fields Of religious work.
James S. Stearns was born in the
city of New York on the 18th of
March, 1885, and was member of q
family which had been resident in
that city for several generations. He
received his early education at Trini-
| ty Sshool. About 1858 he entered
tine law Office of Judge Samuel A.
Foote, WilliaIu E. Curtis and William
P. Powers, at No. 106 Broadway, in
that city. After passing through the
| n e,1 al Yarfnd au q c%rda,,% ard clark
/ he was admitted to the bar in 1856.
Judge Foote having retired from the
| firm, shortly thereafter Mr.. Stearns
became a partner and remained in that
connection until Mr.. Curtis was cleo
ted one of the judges of the Superior
ICourt in 1871. After the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1872, he continued his connection
with Mr.. Powers, and, in June 1877.
the partnership with Mr.. Powers hav-
ling ceased, Mr.. Stearns formed new
partnership with William E. Curtis,
Jr., son of his former partner, under
the firm name of Stearns q Curtis.
A few years later, f. Kingsbury
Curtis. another son, and Harris
D. Colt became members of the firm
under the name Of Stearns, Curtis &
Colt. This was the name of the part
nership at the time OF the retirement
Of Mr.. Stearns from active practice in
l1S97.
During his long and active career
at the bar of New York, he was en-.
gagged in many important litigations
and was counsel for q number OF fin
ancial institutions. He made special
study of commercial law and acted
as counsel for some of the leading
business houses in the city,
Shortly after his marriage, he re-
moved to Brooklyn, where he lived
until about 1893 AS citizen he took
a great interest in public affairs, and
was for many years an active mem
Der of the Republican party. He was
frequently spoken Of as candidate
for judicial Office, but was always
unwilling to take any steps to obtain
it, He was for some years warden
of the Church of the Incarnation, and
the Superintendent of it's Sunday
School. He was always greatly in
terested in various charitable in
stitutions. for which he acted as legal
adviser, and early showed that in
terest in the spiritual and material
comfort of his fellow man which was
SO strongly exemplified in the later
years of his life after his retirement
from practice. He removed to Madi-
son. N. j., in 1898, where he had
built a house, but had lived there
only short time when the ..death of
his wife caused him to give up his
place and remove to Morristown.
! Mr.. Stearns was prominent fig
ure at the New York bar for many
years and was well known among the
older members Of the profession for
integrity, his pertinaoity, and his .enor-
nous capacity for hard work.
The funeral services were held in
the South Street Presby terian Church
on Monday afternoon, the Rev. Albert
Erdman, D. D., officiating. Frank
Eaton rendered "Abide with me. =
"The Home Land, " (Sullivan) and
Hark, Hark. my Soul" (Smart) with
much feeling. The funeral was largely
attended by former business associates
and relatives of Mr.. Stearns from New
York and by representatives from
every social class in Morristown. The
bearers were Judge Vreeland, Ira D.
Wheeler, Joseph f, Randolph, W. r.
Eadie, Joseph M. Lee, and T. B. Iron
side Interment was at Woodlawn.
Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co.
The attention Of our readers is called
| to the 57th annual Statement of The