George N. Stearns
Encyclopedia
George Noble Stearns was a tool designer and founded the George N. Stearns Company, a hardware business, in 1860 in Syracuse, New York
.
After he became seriously ill in 1877, his son, Edward C. Stearns
and daughter, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
took control of the firm and renamed it to E. C. Stearns & Company
.
.
and saw vises.
.
(then Mrs. Avis Mead), along with her brother, Edward C. Stearns
, assumed the duties of the company in 1877 and a new co-partnership was formed after George N. Stearns experienced health problems. In 1877, the company name was changed to E. C. Stearns & Company
.
.
Stearns married Delilah Amanda Taylor on January 3, 1839. She was the daughter of George Taylor and Jane Rite of Millville, Pennsylvania
and was born on February 22, 1816. The couple moved to Syracuse, New York
in June 1839 where he remained until his death.
He was a member of the Republican party
and was an Abolitionist, taking an active part in the celebrated Jerry Rescue
case in Syracuse, although he always refused to serve in any public office.
According to his daughter, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
, Stearns had seven children and was "a good citizen, a loyal friend, an honest man, a lover of music and liberal in thought."
He died on July 19, 1882.
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...
.
After he became seriously ill in 1877, his son, 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...
and daughter, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen 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.-Biography:...
took control of the firm and renamed it 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,...
.
Biography
George N. Stearns, a wagon maker, invented several tools and patented many of his innovations including a boring and mortising machine and augerAuger
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...
.
Tool design
He was "one of the most skillful and ingenious of mechanics" and invented the first boring and mortising machine ever used in the manufacture of wagon wheels. Additionally, he invented a number of smaller labor saving devices and was the first to invent adjustable hollow augersAuger
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...
and saw vises.
Hardware business
About 1860, he 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 augersAuger
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...
.
Second generation
Two of his children, Avis Stearns Van WagenenAvis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen 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.-Biography:...
(then Mrs. Avis Mead), along 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...
, assumed the duties of the company in 1877 and a new co-partnership was formed after George N. Stearns experienced health problems. In 1877, 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,...
.
Personal life
He was born on September 29, 1812 in Lanesboro, Massachusetts and was the son of Samuel Stearns and Elizabeth Smith. He was the grandson of Lieutenant Ebenezer Stearns who served in the Revolutionary War with the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont and received his commission in recognition of his bravery in the Battle of BenningtonBattle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake Bennington, Vermont...
.
Stearns married Delilah Amanda Taylor on January 3, 1839. She was the daughter of George Taylor and Jane Rite of Millville, Pennsylvania
Millville, Pennsylvania
Millville is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and was born on February 22, 1816. The couple moved to 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...
in June 1839 where he remained until his death.
He was a member of the Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and was an Abolitionist, taking an active part in the celebrated Jerry Rescue
Jerry Rescue
The Jerry Rescue, on October 1, 1851, involved the daring, public rescue of a fugitive slave who had been arrested the same day, in Syracuse, New York, during the anti-slavery Liberty Party's state convention...
case in Syracuse, although he always refused to serve in any public office.
According to his daughter, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen 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.-Biography:...
, Stearns had seven children and was "a good citizen, a loyal friend, an honest man, a lover of music and liberal in thought."
He died on July 19, 1882.