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 �THE

RANITE neNTHLY,

A NEW HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE.

IDevoted to Literature, 'biography, History, and State Progress.

��Vol. X.

��MAY, 1887.

��No. 5.

��HON. EZRA SCOLLAY STEARNS. By Charles R. Corning.

��The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Riudge, Cheshire county, September 1, 1838. His early life was spent in the town of his birth, where he received a common- school education, supplemented later bv a broad and thorouijh course of study beyond that required for ad- mission to college. Prevented by circumstances from entering college, Mr. Stearns still kept up his study and reading, and thoroughly prepared him- self for the avocations which have given him a well deserved reputation among the people of his native state. Between 1858 and 1862 he was an in- structor in the Chester Institute at Chester, "N. J., but he soon gave up teaching, and, returning to his native tawu, devoted his time to that self-cult- ure which is a marked trait of his in- dividuality. .Journalistic and literary pursuits have always possessed a charm for him, and largely influenced his career, so it seemed but natural that he should direct his tastes towards the newspaper and the publishing

��house. He was for several years the manager and editor-in-chief of The Chronicle^ at Fitchburg, Mass., and prior to this was connected with prominent publishers in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

But it is as a historian that Mr. Stearns is best known, and his deep and careful researches and compila- tions have given to our historical literature two works of commanding merit. In 1876 he published the History of Rindge, and in 1887 the History of Ashburnham. These pro- ductions well illustrate the methodical and painstaking habits of their author, and justly entitle him to a high place among local historians. The latter work, especiall}', has called forth many complimentary notices from the press throughout New England, be- cause of its clear arrangement and graceful diction, qualities which, it must be admitted, are rare in this class of writings. That he met the expectation of the people of Ashburn- ham is evinced by the following words

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