Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3. Chicago-
Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 13.
 
DAVID S. STEARNS

     David S. Stearns, engaged in the real-estate business in Portland, is
numbered among Oregon's native sons, for his parents were among the earliest
settlers of the state. He was born in Medford in 1857 and following the removal
of the family to Portland he continued his education in the old Central high
school, situated on the present site of Hotel Portland. He afterward learned the
trade of iron molding with John Nation, who had a stove foundry on the present
site of the Inman-Poulsen Lumber Mill. He continued in that business until about
1882, when he turned his attention to the cigar business, which he conducted for
two years. He was afterward engaged in the newspaper business as route agent and
later as advertising solicitor but in 1887 turned his attention to the real-
estate field, in which he has since operated with the exception of about a year,
when he filled the office of city assessor by appointment of the late Mayor
Mason.  He is thoroughly informed concerning property values and has negotiated
many important realty transfers, having secured a large clientage in this line.
     On the 17th of February, 1884, Mr. Stearns was united in marriage to Miss
Mattie A. Wilkinson, a daughter of Isaiah Wilkinson, a veteran of the Civil war,
who died at Evansville, Indiana, from illness contracted while in the army. Her
mother's people were early pioneers of Oregon. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stearns has
been born a son, David Lloyd, now attending the Hawthorne school. Mrs. Steams is
a member of the Taylor Street Methodist church and is much interested in its
work. Mr. Stearns is a son of the Rev. Samuel E. Stearns, long a prominent home
missionary of the northwest and is a twin brother of Gustavus Stearns. They are
the oldest living twins born in Oregon. Both David S. Stearns and his wife have
a wide acquaintance in Portland and the friendship of the great majority who
know them is cordially extended.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.