W. F. Sterns Biography This biography appears on pages 999-1000 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. W. F. STEARNS, treasurer of Douglas county was born on a term in Seneca county, Ohio on the 15th of September, 1850, being the eldest of the four surviving children of John B. and Adaline H. (Kelly) Stearns. His brother Alden W. is a broker of mining stock, residing in Garden Grove, Iowa; Clara is the wife of J. D. Bartow, of Plankinton, South Dakota; and Grace is the wife of T. E. Vail, of Garden Grove, Iowa. The father of the subject was born in the state of New York, and when he was five years of age his parents emigrated thence to Ohio, becoming pioneers of that commonwealth, and there he was reared to maturity on a farm, securing a common-school education. He continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits in Seneca county until 1883, when he rented his fine farm, comprising three hundred and sixty acres, and came west, taking up a homestead claim in what is Beadle county, South Dakota. After proving up on his claim he returned to Ohio, where he remained one year, at the expiration of which he returned to South Dakota and located in the village of Plankinton, where he became prominently identified with the grain and live-stock business, continuing operations in the line until his death which there occurred in 1890, at which time he was sixty-six years of age. He was a staunch Republican in politics, and though he never sought office he was an important factor in the councils of his party while a resident of Ohio, having been a close personal friend of ex-Governor Charles Foster, whose home was in Seneca county, and having been one of his able lieutenants in various carmpaigns. He was a member of the Methodist church and was a man of marked business acumen and sterling character, commanding the respect of all who knew him. His wife, who was likewise born in Ohio, is now living at Garden Grove, Iowa. W. F. Stearns was reared on the homestead farm and secured his educational discipline in the public schools of his native county. Upon attaining maturity he assumed charge of the home farm, to whose management he continued to give his attention until 1877, when he came to the west, locating in Wilson county, Kansas, where he secured a tract of land and was engaged in farming about eight years. In the spring of 1885 he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and located in Plankinton, where he was engaged in the buying and shipping of grain until 1893, having built up a large and profitable enterprise in the line. In the year mentioned he removed to Armour, where he has since maintained his home. Here he established a general mercantile business, becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town and one of its leading citizens, and he continued this business until the autumn of 1902, when he disposed of the same, since which time he has given his entire attention to his official duties and to the supervision of his private interests. Mr. Stearns is one of the wheelhorses of the Democratic party in this section, having been an efficient worker in its cause. In July, 1898, he was appointed to the office of county treasurer, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the regular incumbent the late J. F. James, and in the election of November, 1900, he was returned to the office by popular vote, giving so able an administration as to lead to his re-election as his own successor in the autumn of 1902, SO that he is now serving his third consecutive term as county treasurer. He was for a number of years a member of the board of education and at all times manifests a lively interest in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of his home town and county. Fraternally he is identified with Arcania Lodge, No. 18, Free and Accepted Masons; with Armour Tent, No. 18, Knights of the Maccabees, and with Plankinton Lodge, No. 77, Ancient Order of United Workmen. On the 21st of October, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stearns to Miss Alice C. Iler, who was born and reared in Seneca county, Ohio, being a daughter of Conrad and Julia Iler, and the subject and his wife are the parents of four children: Pearl H. Lloyd A., Grace and Walter, all of whom remain beneath the parental rooftree.