Eli Stearns Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1113-1114 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ELI STEARNS. 

	Among the efficient officers of Day county is numbered Eli 
Stearns, who is filling the position of register of deeds. His life 
record began in Wisconsin on the 27th of July, 1857, and he is a 
representative of an old New England family founded on American soil 
during colonial times. His paternal grandfather, David Stearns, was 
born in Massachusetts and died in New Jersey after devoting his active 
business life to the operation of cotton and flour mills. His son, 
Caleb Stearns, was born in New Jersey in January, 1820, and in the year 
1845 removed westward to Wisconsin, where he entered a claim, becoming 
one of the earliest settlers in his part of the state. For a number of 
years he lived upon and developed his farm, after which he sold the 
original tract and purchased other land. He continued his residence in 
Wisconsin until 1883, when he removed to Day county, South Dakota, and 
took up a homestead, upon which his remaining days were passed. He 
there lived for a quarter of a century and converted his place from a 
tract of wild prairie into richly developed fields, winning a 
considerable measure of success in his farm work. He was a well 
educated man and exercised considerable influence in community affairs. 
Fraternally he was connected with the Masons, which his political 
belief was that of the republican party. After removing to Wisconsin he 
married Catherine Grosshans, who was born in Germany in 1829 and was a 
daughter of John Grosshans. Her father was also a native of Germany and 
after coming to the new world engaged in farming in Wisconsin, his 
death eventually occurring in Milwaukee. His daughter was a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith in 1907, while 
Mr. Stearns passed away in 1908. 

	Eli Stearns was the sixth in order of birth in a family of eleven 
children, eight of whom are yet living. He attended the common schools 
of Wisconsin and started out in life as a farmer, following that 
occupation for a time in South Dakota, to which he came in the spring 
of 1883. He later began business as a stonemason and plasterer near 
Pierpont, Day county, continuing in active connection with industrial 
interests until elected to the office of register of deeds in 1906. He 
served for two years and then retired. In 1912, however, he was 
reelected and again in 1914, so that he is now serving for a third term 
in that office. He has also been township clerk and is recognized as 
one of the leaders of the republican party in Day county. 

	In 1883 Mr. Stearns was married to Miss Permelia G. Smith, a 
native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Andrew Smith, one of the early 
settlers of that state. Her father was a stanch abolitionist and was 
with John Brown in Kansas, where he lived for several years. He at 
length met death at the hands of the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns have 
become the parents of three children: Nina, who is engaged in teaching 
in the state of Washington; Clara, the wife of Fred Galbraith, a 
bookkeeper living in Nebraska; and Lydia, who is acting as deputy 
register of deeds. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and guide their lives according to its teachings. 

	Mr. Stearns is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His influence is 
always on the side of right and improvement, progress and reform. He 
devotes the major part of his attention to the duties of his office, 
which are discharged in a systematic, capable manner, his work giving 
entire satisfaction, as is indicated by the fact that he has been three 
times chosen to the position