| Notes |
- Massena Observer
March 3, 1910
William Richard Stearns died at his home in this village last Wednesday evening after an illness of a week, although he had been in feeble health for a long time. A week before his death he was stricken with apoplexy while returning from the barbershop and was unconscious most of the time until his death. The funeral was held Friday afternoon from the Universalist Church, Rev. Petty, of Canton, officiating. Interment in Pine Grove cemetery.
William R. Stearns was born at Williamsburg, Ont., October 30, 1825, and when a young child his father, Abner Stearns, moved to Louisville, where the elder Stearns followed the miller's trade, later moving to Chase Mills, where W. R. grew to manhood, working with his father and attending the district school. In 1848 he married Laura Haskell, of Massena and in 1850 they came to Massena, where he went into business in the old stone store, conducting a grocery and buying butter and produce in company with the late J. L. Hyde.
In 1856 he went to California, in the midst of the gold craze, where he remained about three years, engaged in mining and in the saloon business. He retuned to Massena in 1860 and went into business with Horace Clark, then with John O. Bridges, and later with L. E. Waterbury. In 1873 W. G. Snaith bought an interest in the business and the firm became known as Stearns & Snaith which continued to September 1907, when Mr. Stearns sold his interest to Mr. Snaith.
About this time he purchased an interest in Massena Springs with Mr. Shedden and the Springs and Harrowgate House were conducted by Sheddon & Stearns until two years ago, when the Shedden interests were purchased by C. W. Kinsella, of New York.
Mr. Stearns was a director in the Massena Springs and Fort Covington railroad, being active in conjunction with Judge S. W. Foster and others in building the first railroad to Massena.
His first wife bore him two daughters, Mrs. Allen C. Squires and Mrs. Clara Fuller, both of this place, who survive. Mrs. Stearns died December 6, 1883, and two years later he married Miss Sarah McGovern, of Potsdam, who survives him, with one son, William R. Jr., and he is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Sarah Caryl, of Chase Mills, who is the last surviving member of a family of eight children.
During Mr. Stearns active life he was one of the most prominent and enterprising businessmen of Massena, and at one time was possessed of considerable property. In politics he was a democrat, but never a politician, devoting his time and energies to business. He lived a very busy life up to a few years ago, when infirmities compelled him to remain most of the time in the house. He was universally respected and had a large circle of friends who will regret to hear of his death.
|
1825 - 1910 (84 years)
[1, 2] 
