Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-14
Eckley II. Stearns,

The sudden death of Hon. Eckley T.
S,earns, which occurred at about $50
A. NJ. on the 2Sth day of August at his
home at Lowell Center, came as great
shock aud surprise 10 the people of his
home town and the county of Oxford
Mr.. Stearns bad apparently been in the
best of health during the past year aud
although suffering from a slight indis-
position the day preceding his death
there was no forewsTning or premonition
whatever of his seeming untimely
end. He had but just returned from his
stable 70 the kitchen, seating himself
without complaint of any illness, when
the life cord snapped without warning
Mr.. Stesrns had been with the excep
ton of few years spent in Hot Spriugs,
Arkansas, a lifelong resident of the
town NJ Lowell. where he was born on
August 30tb, 1913 He was the son of
Caleb and Eliza (RusselD Stesrns de-
scended from the old pioneer Stesrns
and Russell families of New England.
The years of his youth and young man
hood were passed upon his fathers farm
until his enlistment during the Civil
War, at the age of 10 years, as private in
Company II, of 23rd reg ment Me. Vol.
Inf. After his discharge from the army,
Mr.. Stearrs WAS engaged in trade at
Lowell Center and in numbering and mill
business in his home town. In 1889 Mr..
StearDs went to Hot Springs, Arkansas,
where he became a member Of the firm
of Wilmington, Stearns & Co., doing a
large retail and jobbing hardware bust
ness in that city. After retiring from
this firm he returned to his old home at
Lowell Cen, or, remaining there until the
day Of bis death.
In 1852 Mr.. Stearns bought the Abel
Heald homestead at Lowell Center stu
ated on the highway through the Center,
overlooking Kezsr Lake with its back
ground of farms and woodlands sloping
to the foothills and mountain chains
along the New Hampshire border with
Mt. Washington and other peaks of the
Presidential Range TO complete the mag
nificence of the picture. Mr.. Stearns' life
afforded no greater pleasure than TO sit
upon the broad piazza of his home with
family aud friends and contemplate the
ever changing beauties Of this maguif
cent scene.
His home was home indeed to the
members of bis scattered family, when
ever they might return to their native
town and to all his wide circle of friends
and relatives. His door was ever open,
his hospitality unbounded and his love
for his fellowmen unstinted. Nothing
afforded him greater delight than to be
surrounded by friends and relatives in
the home and in the midst of scenes
which he loved so well.
His name stood for all that may be
embraced in personal honesty and bust
ness integrity both in his private affairs
and official duties. He served the town
in which he had lived for so many years,
faithfully and efficiently in many posi-
tions of responsibility and trust His
were delighted to hon.
or him with Office whenever lie could be
prevailed upon to accept. He served the
county as one Of It's senator's in the Leg
islature OF 1888.
Mr.. Stesrns left widow, Anna Rus
sell Stearns, and three children, Marcel
las W. Stearns of Lowell, Edward T.
Stearns of Belmont, Mass, Alice A.
Stearns of Lowell, and two brothers, r.
c. Stearns OF Quincy, Florida, and F. c.
Stearns of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
His death is distinct loss to the CON-
munity in which he lived and to the
town Of his nativity.