Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
Encyclopedia
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen (January 1, 1841 - January 3, 1907) 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
.
(1812-1882), a wagon maker, who also invented several tools and patented many of his innovations including a boring and mortising machine and auger
. She was born in Syracuse
on January 1, 1841 and was the second eldest of seven children born to Delilah Amanda Taylor and the George N. Stearns.
About 1860, her father 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 augers
.
She graduated from Syracuse High School and taught in public schools in Syracuse
but resigned that position to work for her father's hardware firm, finally taking charge of the business in 1877.
, assumed the duties of the 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
not long after his death on May 19, 1882.
. In 1899, the company was sold to American Bicycle Company
of Toronto, Ontario.
By June 1900, the American Bicycle Company
demanded that the founders of the E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
, Edward C. Stearns
, Herbert E. Maslin and Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen, of Syracuse, execute an agreement not to engage in the manufacture of bicycles in competition with A.B.C., who claimed they made an agreement with the Stearns company when their factory was sold to the combination. A.B.C. felt that Stearns was in violation of their contract because the Bretz Manufacturing Company, in which the parties were alleged to be interested, was notified to cease manufacture of both the Regal and Holland and "other machines" which closely resemble the Stearns and Barnes bicycles made by A.B.C. Both the Frontenac Cycle Company and Stearns Cycle Agency of Syracuse were warned against manufacture and sale of the machines, however, E. C. Stearns denied he was connected with the manufacture of bicycles and the Bretz Company also claimed their bicycles were different from the Stearns and Barnes bicycles. The company alleged unfair competition in the lawsuit.
and went to the front with him. She married a second time on November 24, 1886 to Matthew V. Van Wagenen who was born on March 18, 1839 and was the son of Wessel B. Van Waggenen and Lamira Nottingham, both of Syracuse
. He was raised on the "old Van Wagenen farm" which was located where Syracuse University
now stands. Together, the couple adopted two daughters during their marriage. Van Waggenen was a manufacturer of dump wagons and had 14 patents on the invention. For some time he had been manager of the Toronto branch of the E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
and also of the Empire Cycle Company.
"capitalists" including Thomas M. Osborne, Frank E. Swift, Clarence F. Baldwin, Courtney C. Avery, Adolphus H. Searing and Charles Tuxhill. The sale included the machinery, stock and good will of the concern and the business went forward under the name of the Auburn Wagon Works. Courtney C. Avery, formerly connected with the D. M. Osborne Company was named manager. The works, which employed 50 men, opened again for business on March 13, 1905.
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen died on January 3, 1907 at her home at 1201 South Salina Street. She was found dead on the kitchen floor of the upper flat where she lived with her daughter, Marguerite Avis Van Wagenen and her son-in-law, Jacob Crouse Tyrell. She had been asphyxiated by gas which escaped from an open burner used in heating water for the bathroom. The death was ruled accidental by Coroner's physician, Archer D. Babcock. The house was filled with gas. She occupied a room off the kitchen and had ignited the gas that evening to take a bath. She was an invalid at the time of her death.
On January 4, 1907, a hearing on her accounts as administratrix of the estate of her husband, Matthew Van Wagenen was held. He died in New York City
on January 28, 1905 of Bright's disease and had traveled there for business two days earlier. The funeral was held in the family home at 823 West Genesee Street in Syracuse
.
She was survived by two adopted daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Maslin and Marguerite Crouse Tyrrell (died1913) who was married a second time in 1911 to Dr. James M. Douglas.
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,...
, a hardware business, with her brother, Edward C. Stearns
Edward C. Stearns
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.-Biography:Edward C...
in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York
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...
.
Biography
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen was the daughter of George N. StearnsGeorge 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...
. She was born 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...
on January 1, 1841 and was the second eldest of seven children born to Delilah Amanda Taylor and the George N. Stearns.
About 1860, her father 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 augers
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...
.
She graduated from Syracuse High School and taught in public schools 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...
but resigned that position to work for her father's hardware firm, finally taking charge of the business in 1877.
Hardware business
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen (then Mrs. Avis Mead), along with her brother, Edward C. StearnsEdward C. Stearns
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.-Biography:Edward C...
, assumed the duties of the 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,...
not long after his death on May 19, 1882.
Bicycle manufacture
During 1893, the Stearns hardware enterprise ventured into the manufacture of bicycles and went into business as the E. C. Stearns Bicycle AgencyE. 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...
. In 1899, the company was sold to American Bicycle Company
American Bicycle Company
American Bicycle Company was an American bicycle company. American Bicycle was founded by Albert Augustus Pope, owner of the Columbia Bicycle. In 1898, the U.S. bicycle industry was caught in a downward spiral of market saturation, over-supply and intense price competition. Pope issued an affidavit...
of Toronto, Ontario.
By June 1900, the American Bicycle Company
American Bicycle Company
American Bicycle Company was an American bicycle company. American Bicycle was founded by Albert Augustus Pope, owner of the Columbia Bicycle. In 1898, the U.S. bicycle industry was caught in a downward spiral of market saturation, over-supply and intense price competition. Pope issued an affidavit...
demanded that the founders of the 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...
, Edward C. Stearns
Edward C. Stearns
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.-Biography:Edward C...
, Herbert E. Maslin and Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen, of Syracuse, execute an agreement not to engage in the manufacture of bicycles in competition with A.B.C., who claimed they made an agreement with the Stearns company when their factory was sold to the combination. A.B.C. felt that Stearns was in violation of their contract because the Bretz Manufacturing Company, in which the parties were alleged to be interested, was notified to cease manufacture of both the Regal and Holland and "other machines" which closely resemble the Stearns and Barnes bicycles made by A.B.C. Both the Frontenac Cycle Company and Stearns Cycle Agency of Syracuse were warned against manufacture and sale of the machines, however, E. C. Stearns denied he was connected with the manufacture of bicycles and the Bretz Company also claimed their bicycles were different from the Stearns and Barnes bicycles. The company alleged unfair competition in the lawsuit.
Personal life
On November 14, 1861, she married Colonel Daniel Mead, a soldier of the Civil WarCivil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
and went to the front with him. She married a second time on November 24, 1886 to Matthew V. Van Wagenen who was born on March 18, 1839 and was the son of Wessel B. Van Waggenen and Lamira Nottingham, both 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...
. He was raised on the "old Van Wagenen farm" which was located where Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
now stands. Together, the couple adopted two daughters during their marriage. Van Waggenen was a manufacturer of dump wagons and had 14 patents on the invention. For some time he had been manager of the Toronto branch of the 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...
and also of the Empire Cycle Company.
Auburn Wagon works
After her husband's death, she sold his dump wagon manufacturing business to a group of Auburn, New YorkAuburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
"capitalists" including Thomas M. Osborne, Frank E. Swift, Clarence F. Baldwin, Courtney C. Avery, Adolphus H. Searing and Charles Tuxhill. The sale included the machinery, stock and good will of the concern and the business went forward under the name of the Auburn Wagon Works. Courtney C. Avery, formerly connected with the D. M. Osborne Company was named manager. The works, which employed 50 men, opened again for business on March 13, 1905.
Later life
hAvis Stearns Van Wagenen died on January 3, 1907 at her home at 1201 South Salina Street. She was found dead on the kitchen floor of the upper flat where she lived with her daughter, Marguerite Avis Van Wagenen and her son-in-law, Jacob Crouse Tyrell. She had been asphyxiated by gas which escaped from an open burner used in heating water for the bathroom. The death was ruled accidental by Coroner's physician, Archer D. Babcock. The house was filled with gas. She occupied a room off the kitchen and had ignited the gas that evening to take a bath. She was an invalid at the time of her death.
On January 4, 1907, a hearing on her accounts as administratrix of the estate of her husband, Matthew Van Wagenen was held. He died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on January 28, 1905 of Bright's disease and had traveled there for business two days earlier. The funeral was held in the family home at 823 West Genesee Street 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...
.
She was survived by two adopted daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Maslin and Marguerite Crouse Tyrrell (died1913) who was married a second time in 1911 to Dr. James M. Douglas.
External links
- http://books.google.com/books?id=GC2aZGVmp3oC&pg=PA889&lpg=PA889&dq=Avis+Stearns+Van+Wagenen&source=bl&ots=2-7WCE8_Ri&sig=qFeCmVxLWv1v8uaKsN4STBMbnUo&hl=en&ei=nGlNTYGMMsf1gAeA5vnWDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CC8Q6AEwCDhQ#v=onepage&q=Avis%20Stearns%20Van%20Wagenen&f=falseA Complement to Genealogies in the Library of Congress: A Bibliography, pg.889 - Library of Congress - Magna Charta Book Company, 1981]
- Daughters of the American Revolution magazine, Volumes 43-45, pg.183 - July 1913
- Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y., from its settlement to the present time - Dwight Hall Bruce, Electronic Library, pg.649