The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-08-06
Additional Nearly Forgotten Facts.
A PIONEER FAMILY OF WAYNE.

having received his commission from
toe King, in earlier life, became an ar
dent supporter Of the Colonial Govern
ment, to which he gave literally, besides
loaning it t2. 900 at one time. After the
independence OF the colonies had been
acknowledged by the British Govern
ment, in patriotic mood Captain John
Stearns, on a Thanksgiving doy, in the
presence of his children. burned tho Co
lonial securities which he held, say ing
that the investment was the beet he
could make for them
John Steatn3 was descendant in the
fourth generation from Isaac Stearns
who, according to DR.. Bond, came from
England with Governor Winthrop in
1880, and settled in Watertown, Mass.
OF his descendants, according to Mrs.
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen, fifty.five
we're found to have served in the Revo-
lutionary War, as officers or soldiers, -
eight Of whom lost their lives in the
service. The came author states in THE
Military Record of the Descendants OF
|
thirty. six served in the late civil war, of
whom thirty six died in the service. or
these number did not bear the name
of Stearns, but descended in the female
line. of which, possibly, General A. 8.
Dsggett might be one, a sister Of Joseph
Steerns having married a Samuel Dag
gett and reared a numerous family in
Revolutionary times.
Joseph StesrDs mentioned above, then
a resident Of Attleboro, was one Of tho
minute men," who, when called, left
his plow In the field, and, hastily equip
ping himself, marched Immediately
with all who could join him for the field
Of Lexington. He remained in the
service. though not continuously, until
the close of the war.
Mr.. Stearns's army experience seemed
to at him for pioneer life and it's sacri
fices; and in the winter Of 1898, he and
his family, consisting Of his wife, Rhoda
Tingley, three daughters and 6ve sons,
prepared to move to the then wids OF
Hennsy lvania, which he had vietted the
previous summer on tour OF inspection
Accordingly, IN the following March,
equipped in true pioneer fashion, their
| journey through field and forest wac
accomplished without especial loes or
accident; but with somewhat exhausted
energies, which, no doubt, assisted by
the solicitations of one or two former
aoqusintances who had preceded him,
induced the family TO locate in what
wac then Smithtield township, North
smpton county-now Mount Pleasant,
Wayne county, instead of continuing
their journey to their original destina-
tion at Mine Partners"-now Hartford,
5usquehanna county.
After deciding to locate in Mount
Pleasant, M. 'arns, with the aid Of
one or two previous settlers, and two
sons, James and John, then IL and IL
years Of age. soon had cabin built and
q pioneer home constructed on what hos
been known for many years as the Noah
Chittenden farm, which he proceeded
to clear Of the forest and otherwis i'm
prove, until he had comfortable home
where the remaining thirty six years oi
bis life were spent, and where his eigh,
children, with two others born after
their arrival in the place. grew to man.
hood and womanhood.
From this home his ten children went
out to make homes OF their own al
fret near the parental roof, but late
dispersing to more distant localitiee.
Lucy, tho eldest daughter, taught the
first school in the neiRhborhood. which
was continued at intervals until ht I
marriage to Raymond Dix. They set
tled eventually in south Gibson, Sueq
Co., and several Of their descendante
still reside in that county and Lacka
wanna. The late Alden Williams a, d
w. w. Williams, Of Montrose, we're o!
the number.
The second daughter, Pt o be, marie d
Benjamin Newton, end resided neal
Dundeff for a number OF years. They
removed, however, with most of theli
family, to Stark Co., Illinois, in the
carly thirtiee. Their eldest son. Nelson
Newton, remSined in the vicinity OF the
old homo, and his son Lewis and fam
lily still reside in Lsckawanna county
Tho youngest daughter, Rhoda Stearns
married David Kennedy, q highly re-
spected citizen Of Mount Pleasant, and
resided near the parental home. Sevura
OF their descendants have been favor.
ably known in Wayne county in the
past generation; Mrs. Elvira Browns
combe and her daughter, Miss Jennie
the noted artist, being among the mum
Der.
OF the sons Of Joseph and Rhoda Ting
10y Stearns, three, j John, Jabez and Ash
bel, remained in Wayne county. Otis
and Ira removed to SIsquehanna coun,
ty, James and Joseph, Jr., removed to
Ohio, where in that and adjoining States
many of their descendants are prosper
GUS citizens.
The family OF John Stearna ia repre-
sented in Wayne county by grand
daughter, Mrs. Eva N. King, and John
X. Stcnrns, of Preston, Il great grand,
500.
The family of Ira Stearns has been
represented by the late +. l. Stearns and
G w. Stearns, formerly OF Honesdale,
and also Mrs. John Robinson, of by.
berry.
. Seymour A. Stearns, OF White Haven
still represents the Ashbel Slearns fam,
lily, formerly Of Clinton.
Tho survivors of the JabeE Stearni
family at the present time are Harriet
Emily Stearns, David Wooster Stearns
and Laura Stearns, formerly OF Damas
cuS, but now of Hancock, N. Y.
joseph B.earns, the soldier and pi-
oneer, lived to see the township OF hit
adoption quito thickly inhabited by
prosperous farmers, interspersed with
mills and email manufactures and in
tersected by two or three lines OF turn
pike, which were then the great