University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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During the latter years of Mr. Cole's life there was a great change in this respect. After opening an office in St. Paul, where' he spent his time for ten years immediately preceding his death, his life was less anxious and more social. He cul- tivated friendships. He left his business, except on rare occasions. behind him, and delighted in recounting the events of history and the tales of fiction. He read extensively in both and, possessing that rare gift of memory both retentive and ready, he would enlighten and delight his friends upon the train, in his ot1ice or about the court. He was called to be a candidate for the United States Senate, on several occasions. His name was often before the people as a suitable person for Governor, or Congressman, but he had a constitutional aversion to pressing himself forward, and always felt that unless fairly and freely placed upon him such honors were worthless. He was not without political ambition, but he was destitute of that peculiar power of forming political combinations for his own aggrandizement which often wins wheregenuine merit fails. He felt peculiarly honored by his position upon the Board of Regents of the University, and was deeply interested in all that pertained to its well being. In his death the University lost a devoted friend, the legal profession a learned lawyer, and the State a patriotic citizen. W. S. PATTEE. s my KW 'ffl . ,fy rw- llr'f-.'- ,,uow .ffii .' ,L 44.1 , ,. Lil - , ' V 'L v. 4'-54 'P ' gn., .FA V-L.-. -yxtif I 'ff '-, , ,h ni . ' a'Q ':jg1,- HJ. ,Z-gif, , .4e,,wQi. ' f 1 'ftiffitfyi 'T' fl ,, vr3'i2,, jpg .1 rw.

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Qgoro. P. SEQRES. i ZORA P. STEARN S was horn at De Kalb, St. Lawrence County. New York, on the 13th of January, 1831. The family soon removed to Lake county, Ohio, where he passed hisboyhood. llc early evinced a strong desire to obtain a liberal education, and to that end his youthful energies were directed. Relying wholly upon his own resources, his progress was not rapid, but in 1858 the goal was reached and he graduated with honors at the University of Michigan. During his Uni- versity course he visited several other States, going to California in 1853, where he engaged in mining in order to furnish the means to complete his education. In 1860, he graduated from the Law Department of the University of Michigan, and during that year came to Minne- sota where he opened a law otlice at Rochester. In the fall of the same year he took part in the political campaign, in the interests of the Republican party, and the next fall was elected County Attorney of Olmsted County. In August, 1862, Mr. Stearns entered the Army, being commissioned First Lieutenant of Company F. Ninth Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry. In April, 1864, he was commis- sioned Colonel of the Thirty-ninth United States Infantry, fcoloredig which position he held till the close of the war. He was with the Army of the Potomac from the battle of the Wilderness until after the battle of Iletcrsburgg then trans- ferred to the Army ofthe James, and accompanied both Butler's and Terry's Fort Fisher expeditions. In January, 1866, he returned to Rochester and was elected to the otlice he resigned on entering the army. The following year he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy for the South- ern district of Minnesota, and in January, 1871, was elected United States Senator. vice Daniel S. Norton, deceased. In the spring of W2 Mr. Stearns moved to Duluth, which has since been his home. He was one of the pioneers and by his influence and labors helped to make it one of the principal cities of the Northwest. Ile was appointed Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District in the spring of '74 and since the fall oi' that year has held the oiiice by election. Mr. Stearns was appointed Regent of the University of Minnesota in 1599. In his appointment the University has secured the services of an etllcicnt and accomplished man, who will always have its interests and those of the State at heart.