[1][3] Stearns was educated at Harvard University's Lawrence Scientific School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated in 1863.

He was dedicated to overseeing the firm's projects, ensuring they progressed smoothly and avoided any potential issues.

He often said that the secret of successful superintendence was to know that something must be wrong, to find it, and to make it right.He believed in the importance of thoroughness and insisted on high-quality work according to the specifications and contracts he established using his extensive knowledge of construction, building materials, and methods.

[1][3] Stearns married Ellen Elizabeth Abbott on December 5, 1866, and had two children.

Stearns died September 16, 1917, at his summer home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, less than three weeks after Peabody.