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Guide to the Amos Keyes Stearns Diaries, 1857-1888
MS 84
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Table of contents
Title: Amos Keyes Stearns Diaries,
Date (inclusive): 1857-1888
Collection number: MS 84
Creator:
Stearns, Amos Keyes, 1813-1888
Extent: 14 diaries
Repository:
Meriam Library
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico
Chico, California 95929-0295
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible
for satisfying any claimants of literary property .
[Name of Collection], Amos Keyes Stearns Diaries, MS 84, Special Collections, Meriam
Library, California State University, Chico.
Amos Keyes Stearns was born in Rutland, Ohio on March 5, 1813. He majored in medicine at
Athens College and began his practice as a general physician. In 1845 he married
nineteen-year-old Charlotte Durgin and they had four children--Charles, Ezra, Amos, and
Elida. (Amos and Elida both died in their early twenties, Elida leaving a husband and at
least one child.) Between 1845 and 1852 the family lived in Exeter, Wisconsin and St.
Mary's, Ohio where the doctor practiced. A strongly religious man, Amos was an elder in
St. Mary's Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Stearns decided to come west to pursue his fortune in mining. His wife refused to go
with him until there was a railroad, so for the next sixteen years Amos made periodic
visits to Ohio. Out west, Dr. Stearns became a miner and was superintendent of the
Willard Mine when the famous fifty-four pound gold nugget was found. He also continued
his medical practice, though to a much more limited degree. His diaries are filled with
remedies and recipes for such ills as diphtheria, consumption, hemorrhoids, even
cancer-many of them "sure cures." His medical practice covered the area from Nimshew to
Pentz, though Stearns lived in Magalia. Dr. Stearns led a busy but lonely life until his
family joined him. At night he read the Bible, baked bread, sang songs, and greased his
boots. When his family came out, they lived at the Tom Neal claim, north of Magalia. In
December 1888, Amos Keyes Stearns died after having had many physical problems for
several years. He diagnosed his own condition as "Neuralgia of the vitals and of the
whole water works."
Dr. Stearns kept diaries and accounts of his life and money troubles during the years
1857-1883. In 1973 the Library at California State University, Chico obtained permission
to photocopy these diaries. They are listed as close to a chronological order as possible
as photocopied.
- Year of 1857 and Year of 1869
- Year of 1869 (Account book)
- Years of 1863-1867
- Year of 1871 (personal accounts and business matters)
- Year of 1872 (personal accounts, notes, money and travel)
- Year of 1873 March-April (personal accounts and travel)
- Years of 1873-1876 (private accounts)
- Year of 1875 (private accounts)
- Year of 1876 (personal accounts in Magalia, California)
- Year of 1884 (personal accounts-final one before his death
- Years of 1868, 1869, and 1770 (personal accounts, notes, curealls, and receipts)
- Years of 1863, 1883-1888 (business accounts, addresses, tax receipts)
- Years of 1863-1864, 1881-1883 (personal accounts and beginning of illness)
- Years of 1876-1878 (almanac, personal accounts)