Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-01-25
S. Porter Stearns.

III
After an illness of a number of weeks
during which recovery was not expected
iSylvanus Porter Stearns died early Wed
nesday morning at bis homo in South
Paris. Although nearly "a years of age
Mr.. Stearns had retained all bis physics
and mental faculties, and had been active
for his years, and ip good health, up to hit
final illness. He and Mrs. Stearns were
at Bethel with, their daughter FOL
Thanksgiving, but this was the last time
he was away from home, and his Illness
began soon afterward.
Mr.. Stearns came of old Colonial stock,
his ancestor, Isaac Stearns, having come
from England to Massachusetts, about
1880. His grandfather, William Stearns,
soon after 1890 moved from Massachu-
sets to Paris, where he purchased eight
hundred acres Of land, q portion OF
which Is included in the old Stearns
homestead on what has always been
known as Stearns Hill. Here the family
settled, their first home being log
cabin.
William Stearns, Jr., who was brought
to Paris by his parents when an infant,
married Joanna Porter, and occupied the
old homestead farm. They had eight
children, the sixth Of whom was Sylvia
nus Porter Stearns, the subject of this
sketch. He was born March 20, 1881,
and received his education in the public
schools of Paris.
Being the youngest of the five sons, it
was his lot to remain on the old home
stead, and he carried on the farm sue
cessfully, and had good degree of finan-
cial prosperity. Besides his farming,
he dealt considerably in real estate.
A little less than twenty years ago Mr..
Stearns built the house on Pleasant
Street in South Paris which has since
been his home, and leaving the old farm
in the hands of his youngest SOD, retired
from active work and became resident
of South Paris, though he still cared for
some outlying land and did more or less
business.
At the annual meeting of the South
Paris Savings Bank In March, 1899, Mr..
Stearns was elected one of the trustees
of South Paris Savings Bank, and was
reelected every year since, serving
the bank seventeen years. He has
been particularly useful in inspecting
and appraising farm property on
which loans were desired from the
bank, he being familiar with farm
values. He served a few years some
time since on the board of selectmen Of
the town, and had served as one Of the
trustees of the Oxford County Agricul-
tural Society, and in other positions of
usefulness.
In politics he was a Republican, and
in religion a Universalist. He was
member of the South Paris Universalist
church, and regular attendant on its
services and supporter of it from it's
first days. he was member OF Paris
Grange. I
OF kindly and companionable dispo-
sition, with a cheerful outlook upon life,
he made and kept friends, and though
he bad lived to ripe age, was still 80
active in affairs that his loss will be d.
rectly and kesnly felt in numerous ways.
he was the last to 60 of the children
of William and Joanna Stearns, the last
sister, Mrs. Lydia s. Ham
mond of South Paris, having died within
a year.
He married April 20, 1855, Isabella R.,
daughter of Austin Partridge, of Paris,
and she survives him. They had eight
children, of whom two died in infancy.
The other six, all living, are, Austin P.
of Paris; Frank P, now mayor of Shaw
nee, Oklahoma; Henry K. of Hebron;
William c., who lives on the old farm;
Mary l., wife of Ellery G. Park, of Beth
81; and Joan, wife of Eben s. Kilborn, of
Bethel. There are also a number of
and Observation-Disclosures.
The funeral at the Universalist church
1t l O'Clock Friday was attended by large
number. Rev. Chester Gore Miller, the
pastor, paid high tribute to the worth of
Mr.. Stearns, and the ideal even and
peaceful life which he had lived. Sever
Al selections were sung by quartette
of Mrs. b. E. Wilson, Miss
Grace Thayer, l.. s. Sessions and George
A. Briggs, with Mrs. Agnes Morton at
The organ. The bearers were Mr.. Stearns'
on the board of trustees of the
savings bank-N. D. Bolster, j. F. Plum
ner, Albert W. Walker, William j.
Wheeler, j. Hastings Bean, James s:
Wright, Henry D. Hammond and Edward
W. Penley. Burial will be in the GENE
.ery at Stearns Hill.