Charles H. Stearns

Charles H. Stearns

Charles Henry Stearns (February 7, 1854 – October 12, 1936) was a businessman and politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont for one term.

Early life

Charles Henry Stearns was born in Johnson, Vermont on February 7, 1854. He was educated in Johnson and graduated from Vermont Seminary in Montpelier.^[1]

Business career

Stearns joined his family's business manufacturing butter tubs and other wood products, and eventually expanded the company into other areas of the lumber business, including logging lands in Canada. He also became active in other enterprises, including a dry goods store and a granite quarry and stone products business, and serving as a Director and President of the Union Bank and Trust Company of Morrisville.^[2][3][4]

Political career

Stearns was active in government and politics, including service as Chairman of the Lamoille County Republican Committee, and Johnson Town Treasurer. He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives from 1886 to 1887 and the Vermont Senate from 1888 to 1889. In 1904 he was elected Lieutenant Governor, serving until 1906.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Death and burial

Stearns died in Medfield, Massachusetts on October 12, 1936.^[10] He was buried in Johnson's Lamoille View Cemetery.^[11]

Legacy

C. H. Stearns Company is still active in Johnson as a convenience store and gas station, and one of his partnerships, Parker and Stearns, still operates as a construction supply and equipment business.

Stearns Hall at Johnson State College is named for him.^[12]

References

1. Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 321
2. Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, compiled by Jacob G. Ullery, 1894, pages 374 to 375
3. Who's Who in New England, published by A. N. Marquis, Chicago, 1915, page 1014
4. The American Blue Book of Biography: Men of 1914, compiled by Thomas William Herringshaw, 1914, page 884
5. Manual of the Legislature of Vermont, published by Vermont General Assembly, 1904, page 53
6. Who's Who in Finance, Banking and Insurance, edited by John William Leonard, Volume 1, 1911, page 947
7. General Election Results, Vermont Lieutenant Governor, 1813-2008, by Vermont Secretary of State, State Archives and Records Administration2008, page 16
8. Newspaper article, Vermont Republican Ticket, New York Times, July 1, 1904
9. Vermont: The Green Mountain State, by Walter Hill Crockett, Volume 4, 1921, page 375
10. Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Record for Charles H. Stearns, accessed December 31, 2011
11. Gravestone photos by Find A Grave contributor Bill McKern, Charles Henry Stearns page, Find A Grave web site, May 4, 2009
12. Buildings Description page, Johnson College web site, accessed December 31, 2011