Edward C. Stearns
Encyclopedia
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York
including E. C. Stearns & Company
, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company
, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
.
on July 12, 1856, and was the youngest of seven children born to Delilah Taylor and the George N. Stearns
(1812-1882), a wagon maker, who also invented several tools and patented many of his innovations including a boring and mortising machine and auger
.
.
The business grew quickly and Stearns was "soon able to send his own traveling men on the road, instead of allowing a few large jobbers to monopolize the sale of his goods." Edward C. Stearns was the head salesman and during the early years spent much time traveling continually to the "principal cities of the Union."
(then Mrs. Avis Mead), assumed the duties of the hardware company in 1877 and a new co-partnership was formed after their father experienced health problems. The company name was changed to E. C. Stearns & Company
.
George N. Stearns
died on July 19, 1882, in Syracuse.
By the early 1890s, E. C. Stearns & Company
had branched into bicycle manufacturing and formed a subsidiary called E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
. Stearns, ever innovative, moved to automobile production and built his first automobile in 1899, an electric. The automobile firm sold so few models through 1900 that they reverted to steam power in 1901. The Stearns enterprise was known as Wholesale Bi-steam Carriage Company and Stearns Automobile Company which was also called Stearns Steam Carriage Company
.
His son, John Edward Stearns, was secretary of the company in 1929 and had been in "active charge" of the business since the elder Stearns retired several years earlier.
to "establish the theory" it could be done. He was "absolutely fearless," a good boxer and wrestler, and "delighted in all kinds" of physical competition. He once subdued a husky burglar in his James Street house, holding him until the police arrived.
He was married on January 19, 1881, to Louisa Albro, daughter of John Albro, a "noted" author of Syracuse
, and Elizabeth Brewer of New Jersey
.
Stearns was a member of the Citizens' Club, Sedgewick Farm Club, Century Club and the Y.M.C.A. Through the Chamber of Commerce and similar organizations he gave much time to public service. He was chairman of the commission that investigated the burning of the Bastable Block in Clinton Square
, bringing out recommendations that were incorporated into the city building code.
An active Republican, he "steadfastly refused" to accept nominations for office or appointments that involved holding political office but gave freely of his counsel to party leaders. He was also a trustee of local baseball field, Star Park and for many years a trustee of the Homeopathic Hospital, later renamed Syracuse General Hospital. He was a member of the Onondaga Golf and Country Club.
He had one adopted son, John Edward Stearns, who took over the family business after the elder Stearns retired. In later life Edward C. Stearns owned an automobile dealership.
Stearns died on April 21, 1929. He had just returned from Florida
a week earlier and he and his wife were in "such poor health" that they both decided to enter the hospital for rest and treatment. In October of 1929, his estate which he left to his wife and son, was valued at $551,855.
His wife, Louisa A. Stearns, died less than one year later on February 28, 1930, at the family home at 658 West Onondaga Street and left a net estate valued at $459,447. Son, John Edward Stearns, of 108 Sedgewick Avenue, inherited the entire amount. Included in the estate were 3,000 shares of stock of the E. C. Stearns & Company
which were valued at $225,000.
The couple were members of May Memorial Unitarian Church where Stearns was a trustee for 20 years. Both were buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse
.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
including E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company
Stearns Steam Carriage Company
Stearns Steam Carriage Company was a manufacturer of steam automobiles in Syracuse, New York, founded by Edward C. Stearns, an industrialist. Stearns built his first automobile in 1899, an electric which sold so few models through 1900 that the firm changed to steam power in 1901 when the company...
, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency was established in 1893 by industrialist, Edward C. Stearns who began business as a hardware manufacturer and branched into bicycle production from 1893 through 1899.Stearns manufactured the popular model, Yellow Fellow by 1895...
.
Biography
Edward C. Stearns, was born in SyracuseSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
on July 12, 1856, and was the youngest of seven children born to Delilah Taylor and the George N. Stearns
George N. Stearns
George Noble Stearns was a tool designer and founded the George N. Stearns Company, a hardware business, in 1860 in Syracuse, New York....
(1812-1882), a wagon maker, who also invented several tools and patented many of his innovations including a boring and mortising machine and auger
Auger
An auger is a drilling device, or drill bit, that usually includes a rotating helical screw blade called a "flighting" to act as a screw conveyor to remove the drilled out material...
.
Hardware business
About 1860, the elder Stearns began manufacturing his patented devices under his own name and he established himself in a "small but complete works." During 1864, he incorporated as George N. Stearns Company and relocated to a small building the firm erected at 116 Cedar Street in Syracuse. The company was principally involved in the production of hollow augersAuger
An auger is a drilling device, or drill bit, that usually includes a rotating helical screw blade called a "flighting" to act as a screw conveyor to remove the drilled out material...
.
The business grew quickly and Stearns was "soon able to send his own traveling men on the road, instead of allowing a few large jobbers to monopolize the sale of his goods." Edward C. Stearns was the head salesman and during the early years spent much time traveling continually to the "principal cities of the Union."
Second generation
Edward C. Stearns, along with his sister, Avis Stearns Van WagenenAvis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen was a partner in E. C. Stearns & Company, a hardware business, with her brother, Edward C. Stearns in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York.-Biography:...
(then Mrs. Avis Mead), assumed the duties of the hardware company in 1877 and a new co-partnership was formed after their father experienced health problems. The company name was changed to E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
.
George N. Stearns
George N. Stearns
George Noble Stearns was a tool designer and founded the George N. Stearns Company, a hardware business, in 1860 in Syracuse, New York....
died on July 19, 1882, in Syracuse.
Bicycles and automobiles
When the bicycle first became popular, it was natural that Stearns should take it up "first as a sport and then as a business." After becoming one of the best riders in this "section" he decided to manufacture the new vehicles in his shop at 224 Oneida Street where he had moved the business after his father's death. He soon developed several of the "best selling models of the bicycle era. He employed "noted" riders to "race his product," few of them any better riders than he. His models became so popular they were in demand throughout the world.By the early 1890s, E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
had branched into bicycle manufacturing and formed a subsidiary called E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency was established in 1893 by industrialist, Edward C. Stearns who began business as a hardware manufacturer and branched into bicycle production from 1893 through 1899.Stearns manufactured the popular model, Yellow Fellow by 1895...
. Stearns, ever innovative, moved to automobile production and built his first automobile in 1899, an electric. The automobile firm sold so few models through 1900 that they reverted to steam power in 1901. The Stearns enterprise was known as Wholesale Bi-steam Carriage Company and Stearns Automobile Company which was also called Stearns Steam Carriage Company
Stearns Steam Carriage Company
Stearns Steam Carriage Company was a manufacturer of steam automobiles in Syracuse, New York, founded by Edward C. Stearns, an industrialist. Stearns built his first automobile in 1899, an electric which sold so few models through 1900 that the firm changed to steam power in 1901 when the company...
.
His son, John Edward Stearns, was secretary of the company in 1929 and had been in "active charge" of the business since the elder Stearns retired several years earlier.
Personal life
He was an "outstanding" athlete as a boy and young man and was a skillful ballplayer and an "exceptional swimmer." He once swam Skaneateles LakeSkaneateles Lake
Skaneateles Lake is one of the Finger Lakes in central New York in the United States. The name Skaneateles means long lake in one of the local Iroquoian languages. The lake is sometimes referred to as "The Roof Garden of the Lakes" because its altitude is higher than the other Finger Lakes. It...
to "establish the theory" it could be done. He was "absolutely fearless," a good boxer and wrestler, and "delighted in all kinds" of physical competition. He once subdued a husky burglar in his James Street house, holding him until the police arrived.
He was married on January 19, 1881, to Louisa Albro, daughter of John Albro, a "noted" author of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and Elizabeth Brewer of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Stearns was a member of the Citizens' Club, Sedgewick Farm Club, Century Club and the Y.M.C.A. Through the Chamber of Commerce and similar organizations he gave much time to public service. He was chairman of the commission that investigated the burning of the Bastable Block in Clinton Square
Clinton Square
Clinton Square, in downtown Syracuse, New York, was the original town center and first came into existence in the early 19th century where roadways from north and south convened...
, bringing out recommendations that were incorporated into the city building code.
An active Republican, he "steadfastly refused" to accept nominations for office or appointments that involved holding political office but gave freely of his counsel to party leaders. He was also a trustee of local baseball field, Star Park and for many years a trustee of the Homeopathic Hospital, later renamed Syracuse General Hospital. He was a member of the Onondaga Golf and Country Club.
He had one adopted son, John Edward Stearns, who took over the family business after the elder Stearns retired. In later life Edward C. Stearns owned an automobile dealership.
Stearns died on April 21, 1929. He had just returned from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
a week earlier and he and his wife were in "such poor health" that they both decided to enter the hospital for rest and treatment. In October of 1929, his estate which he left to his wife and son, was valued at $551,855.
His wife, Louisa A. Stearns, died less than one year later on February 28, 1930, at the family home at 658 West Onondaga Street and left a net estate valued at $459,447. Son, John Edward Stearns, of 108 Sedgewick Avenue, inherited the entire amount. Included in the estate were 3,000 shares of stock of the E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
which were valued at $225,000.
The couple were members of May Memorial Unitarian Church where Stearns was a trustee for 20 years. Both were buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.