Abel was born on February 9, 1798 in Lunenburg, Massachussets, United States, the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Stearns, and a descendant of Isaac Stearns who emigrated from England to Salem, Massachussets, in 1630. About 1826 he went to Mexico, where he became naturalized.
In July 1829 he arrived at Monterey, expecting to obtain a land grant. Suspected by the Mexican governor, Manuel Victoria, of some political design, he was banished, but in 1831 he returned and joined in the movement by which Victoria was overthrown. Two years later he settled in Los Angeles as a trader in hides and liquors, and grew prosperous, though he was often in trouble with the authorities because of alleged smuggling.
He was chosen sindico (fiscal agent) of the village in 1836. Ordered by Governor Mariano Chico to leave the country, he joined in a revolution which placed Juan Bautista Alvarado in power and made California for two years (1836 - 38) an independent republic.
In November 1842, more than five years before the discoveries on the American River, he sent to the Philadelphia mint twenty ounces of gold taken from the San Feliciano placers, near the present Newhall. He engaged in stock-raising, bought more lands, and by the time of the conquest was doubtless the wealthiest man in California.
He built the most imposing residence in the village, which he named El Palacio, and entertained lavishly.
In 1844-45 he took part in the revolution which expelled Governor Manuel Micheltorena. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1849.
He died suddenly at the Grand Hotel in San Francisco and was buried in Los Angeles.
Abel Stearns built the Arcadia block, the largest and most expensive structure south of San Francisco. By 1860, Stearns was the most important land owner in Southern California, and owned Rancho La Habra, Rancho Los Coyotes, Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana, Rancho Las Bolsas, Rancho La Bolsa Chica, Rancho Jurupa and Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda).
Hating the Mexicans but admiring the Californians, he sided with the party that was attempting to bring California into the Union by peaceful means. With the outbreak of hostilities in 1846, however, he remained neutral.
He was a tall, well-formed man, with a homely visage which won him the nickname of Cara de Caballo, "Horse-Face. " A personal encounter in 1835 had left him with a scar about the mouth and an impediment in his speech.
He was quicktempered, with strong prejudices, but was hospitable and generous.
In 1841, he married Maria Francisca Paula Arcadia Bandini of the wealthy Bandini family. They lived and entertained at their Los Angeles home, the historic Don Abel Stearns House. His wife survived him; there were no children.
