Charles Thomas Stearns (January 9, 1807 – May 22, 1898) was an American politician, mayor of Peoria, Illinois (1846),member of the Minnesota Territorial Council (1849–1858) representing the 3rd District from 1854–55, and had taken an active part in securing the passage of the bill establishing the county.
Minnesota Legislators Past and Present-Charles Thomas Stearns
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He moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 68,881 at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota's 12th-largest city. St. Cloud is the county seat of Stear ...
, the following year and became a prominent member of the developing city. His "Stearns Hotel" became the original building of the Third State Normal School campus in 1869, predecessor of St. Cloud State Teachers College, now St. Cloud State University.[History of Stearns County](_blank)
Stearns was born January 9, 1807, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Pittsfieldâ ...
. He was married there in 1829 to the former Cornelia Burbank. The couple moved west to Missouri, Illinois, and eventually to Minnesota. In 1870, he moved to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
, and then to . He died in New Orleans on May 22, 1898.
Stearns County was officially established on February 20, 1855, and was originally called Stevens County to honor Governor Isaac I. Stevens (D), who had conducted an expedition to the area in 1853. The name was later changed to honor Stearns.
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1807 births
1898 deaths
Politicians from Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Politicians from St. Cloud, Minnesota
Members of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature
Businesspeople from Minnesota
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American businesspeople
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