R. H. Stearns

Richard H. Stearns
R.H. Stearns & Co., Tremont Street, Boston, 1914

Richard Hall Stearns (1824–1909) was a wealthy tradesman, philanthropist, and politician from Massachusetts whose self-titled department store became one of the largest department chains in Boston and the surrounding area.

The headquarters and main store was in the R. H. Stearns Building on Tremont Street near Park Street in Boston.

Early life

He was born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts on December 25, 1824.[1] Soon after birth his family moved to New Ipswich, New Hampshire. At the age of seven, he was left an orphan and taken in and raised by his uncle in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

He was educated in district schools and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. After his studies, he taught school.

Career

In 1846 he moved to Boston and worked in the store of C.C. Burr. A year later, Stearns opened up his own business in a small shop which later grew into a large store and company.

He served in the Massachusetts Legislature for two years and also on the Boston Educational Board.

The store eventually failed to compete with comparable chains such as Filene's.

The exclusive trucking company for R.H.Stearns was A.J.Connelly, Inc. based in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.

Later years

He died in August 1909 in Poland Springs, Maine at the age of 85 from natural causes and old age.

Family

He married Louise M. Waterman.[2]

His son, Frank W. Stearns, married Emily Williston Clark, eldest daughter of Massachusetts academician and public figure William Smith Clark. F.W. Stearns was a close friend of Calvin Coolidge, joining him as an honored guest at the Republican National Convention in California when Coolidge was Vice President.

Richard H. Stearns had other sons, Richard H. Stearns, Jr. (b. April 25, 1862) who worked in his father's dry goods firm, Frederick R. Stearns, and the Reverend William Foster Stearns (b. April 18, 1859) who was a clergyman and graduate of Amherst College class of 1882.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Cf. Rossiter, p.130
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cf. Who's Who in New England 1915, p.1015
  3. ↑ Cf. 1909 New York Times obituary