"History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and
Coos Counties.  Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources."  A. G. Walling,
Publisher.  Portland, OR.  1884.  pg. 540.

HON. DANIEL W. STEARNS

     A prominent capitalist of Oakland, Douglas county, Oregon, and a native of
the town of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, New Hampshire; born December 31,
1821.  Resided with his parents on a farm until twenty-two years of age,
receiving his education in part at the common schools and afterward taking an
academic course.  At the above age Mr. Stearns went to Palmer, Mass., where he
found employment in a mercantile house for one year.  He then engaged in
business for himself in Ware, Mass., until 1847, when he closed out and went to
Boston.  That ever memorable year, 1849 found Mr. Stearns among the Argonauts
coming by the way of the Isthmus to California, to seek fortunes in the rich
diggings of which all had heard so much.  He arrived in San Francisco, July 4th,
and proceeded at once to the mines, where he engaged in different pursuits until
1852, when he was called East on the serious illness of his wife.  Having once
enjoyed the delightful climate of the Pacific coast, on the recovery of his wife
he again set sail in 1853, for California -- this time via the Nicaragua route. 
Shortly after his arrival in San Francisco he came to Scottsburg, Douglas
county, and engaged in business in the mercantile firm of Brown, Drum & Co., in
which he remained but a short time, when he drew out his interest and opened a
general merchandise store in Jacksonville, Jackson county, and continued until
1857, when his store was entirely consumed by fire.  Mr. Stearns returned to
Umpqua county, locating on a farm near Elkton, and there remained for two
years.  In 1867 Mr. Stearns was elected to the office of county treasurer of
Umpqua county, for two years; at the end of which time he removed to Roseburg,
and in 1874 was elected by a large majority as representative to the state
legislature for Douglas county.  In 1875 Mr. Stearns removed to Oakland -- where
he now resides -- and in 1880 was elected state senator.  Mr. Stearns was
married in Massachusetts, January 3, 1847, to Miss Almira Fay, by whom he has
five sons, viz:  George J., at present a leading merchant of Oakland, Oregon;
Loyal B., a prominent attorney of Portland and the present county judge of
Multnomah county; A. F., at present merchandising in Oakland, Oregon; John W.,
merchant in Walla Walla, W.T.; and Ralph S., in the employ of the O. & C. R. R.
Co.  A view of Mr. Stearns' nice residence in Oakland, together, with that of
his son George J. is placed among the illustrations of this volume.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.