aged 67 years, 1 month and 6 days

Obit from Scrapbook at Cedar County Museum

DIED.
STEARNS.-At the residence of her son, Robert C. Whitson, in Santa Ana, California, on Thursday, January 14, 1886, Mrs. was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Dec. 8th, 1818. On Feb. 11th, 1836, she was united in marriage with James H. Whitson, and in June, 1854, the family came to Tipton, which has ever since been the home of the subject of this sketch. By the death of her husband only a few months after her arrival in a strange place, Mrs, Whitson was left a widow with a family of three sons and four daughters to care for. And her force of character and self-reliance were such that she was able to keep them together and afford them the blessings of a good home, with all that that implies. In November, 1859, she was married to M. C. Stearns, who died in 1876. Since then she has continued, most of the time, to keep house here until last October, when she went for a visit to the son to whom fell the melancholy duty of bringing back her mortal remains to be placed beside those who have gone before.
When by sixteen years of age Mrs. Stearns united with the church and throughout the long years she not only maintained her connection therewith, but lived an active, consistent and useful Christian life.
The very largely attended funeral was solemnized at the Presbyterian Church, to which she belonged, at eleven o'clock on Monday, Jan. 25th, Rev. A. C. Brown officiating. The sermon was an enforcement of the text, "Be ye also ready," and the example of deceased was made a comfort as well as a warning to those who remain. Notwithstanding the interval of ten days since dec ease, the features looked very natural, and were viewed by nearly all the friends present.
All Mrs. Stearns' children are living, and all but one were able to be present and follow to her last resting place the loved mother. Mr. John Whitson, of Clinton, and Mr. Oscar Whitson, of State Centre, with their wives, Mr. Robert Whitson, from California, and Mrs. Hart, of Sac City, were here from abroad. Mrs. W. W. Aldrich and Mrs. J. L. Rowell, with their families, except Mr. Aldrich, who is serving as juryman in the Federal Court in Keokuk, were also in attendance. Interment took place at Sand Hill Cemetery, near Bethel.

From Same Scrapbook.

Death of Mrs. C. J. Stearns in California.
A telegram was received by J. L. Rowell last Friday announcing the death of Mrs. C. J. Stearns at the home of her son, Robert Whitson, of the home of her son, Robert Whitson, of Santa Ana, Cal. She died suddenly Thursday afternoon of neuralgia of the heart, aged 67 years. A letter written by her on the first of January and delayed on the road for several days, stated that she was not at all well, but no expectation of sudden death was entertained. She went from here the 7th of October last, and consequently had been in California about three months. Her son, Robert Whitson, left Los Angeles with the remains Sunday afternoon and is expected to arrive here on Friday of this week.
Mrs. Stearns had been a resident of Tipton for 32 years and was recognized as a very superior woman. Her death will be mourned by a large circle of friends outside of the family.