My Genealogy Hound

E. P. STEARNS, a leading farmer and dairyman of Gerry, New York, is a son of Phineas and Louisa M. (Ficher) Stearns and was born in Gerry, Chautauqua county, New York, June 23, 1849. His father was a native of Vermont, while his mother was a native of New York, the former dying on May 10, 1870. Grandfather Daniel Stearns was a Vermont farmer and came into Chautauqua county about 1820. He was of Scotch lineage, an old-line whig in his political bent and a typical Vermont mountaineer. His death occurred at the age of eighty.

E. P. Stearns was educated in the Gerry common schools, in which he received anything but an extensive education, and at the age of twenty learned the blacksmith trade in connection with carriage-building, which he has followed to within five years ago, when he built a creamery and equipped it with the best and most improved apparatus. His creamery is now capable of manufacturing sixty thousand pounds annually; the product is known as “Gerry Creamery,” most of which is shipped to Providence, Rhode Island. In politics Mr. Stearns is a steadfast republican and has been honored by his party with the offices of collector, inspector and justice of the peace. He is also a member in good standing of the A. O. U. W. and the Royal Templars of Temperance. He is a man who has put great energy into every enterprise which he has undertaken and this together with his manner of dealing with his fellow-men, has crowned his efforts with what the world is pleased to call success.

On August 18, 1859, Mr. Steams was joined in marriage to Eliza Ketcham, daughter of the late James Ketcham of Troopsburg, Steuben county, New York. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children: Inez G. and Hallie Z.