Edward C. Stearns
| Edward Carl Stearns | |
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| Born |
July 12, 1856 Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, United States |
| Died | April 21, 1929 (aged 72) Syracuse, New York |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Industrialist, Company founder |
| Known for | Founder of E. C. Stearns & Co., Stearns Automobile Co., Stearns Steam Carriage Co., E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency Stearns Typewriter Co. |
| Height | 5'6" |
| Spouse(s) | Louisa Albro |
| Children | One adopted son, John Edward Stearns |
| Parent(s) | George Noble Stearns (1812–1882) and Delilah Amanda Taylor (born 1816) |
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Edward Carl Stearns (July 12, 1856 – April 21, 1929) was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York, including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.
Stearns was born in Syracuse and was the youngest of seven children born to Delilah Taylor and the George N. Stearns (1812–1882), a wagon maker, who also invented several tools and patented many of his innovations, including a boring and mortising machine and auger.
About 1860, the elder Stearns began manufacturing his patented devices under his own name and he established himself in a "small but complete works." During 1864, he incorporated as George N. Stearns Company and relocated to a small building the firm erected at 116 Cedar Street in Syracuse. The company was principally involved in the production of hollow augers.
The business grew quickly, and Stearns was "soon able to send his own traveling men on the road, instead of allowing a few large jobbers to monopolize the sale of his goods." The younger Stearns was the head salesman and during the early years spent much time traveling continually to the "principal cities of the Union."
Stearns, along with his sister, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen (then Mrs. Avis Mead), assumed the duties of the hardware company in 1877 and a new co-partnership was formed after their father experienced health problems. The company name was changed to E. C. Stearns & Company.
George N. Stearns died on July 19, 1882, in Syracuse.
When the bicycle first became popular, it was natural that Stearns should take it up "first as a sport and then as a business." After becoming one of the best riders in this "section" he decided to manufacture the new vehicles in his shop at 224 Oneida Street where he had moved the business after his father's death. He soon developed several of the "best selling models of the bicycle era. He employed "noted" riders to "race his product," few of them any better riders than he. His models became so popular they were in demand throughout the world.
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