John Wesley Stone was a politician, judge, and a member of Congress from the United States state of Michigan. His public service in the state of Michigan extended over a period of more than sixty years.
Background
John was born on July 18, 1838 at Wadsworth, Ohio, United States, the son of Chauncey and Sarah (Bird) Stone. His father, a farmer, was a cooper by trade and a Methodist preacher; he was descended from Simon Stone, an emigrant from England, who was in Watertown, Massachussets, as early as 1635.
Education
John attended the district schools of Wadsworth, and a small academy at Spencer, Ohio. In 1859 he commenced the study of law with Silas Stafford, an attorney in Plainwell.
Career
About 1856 the family moved to Allegan County, Michigan, where Stone taught school in winter and in summer split rails and helped clear the new farm. Continuing the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1862.
In the same year he was reelected county clerk and served until 1864, when he was chosen prosecuting attorney. He was prosecutor for Allegan County until 1870.
He resigned this office on November 1, 1874, and removed to Grand Rapids, where he became junior member in the firm of Norris, Blair & Stone. Early in the administration of President Harrison, Stone was offered but declined an appointment as governor of Washington Territory.
In 1882 he was appointed United States attorney for the western district of Michigan, which office he held for four years, meantime forming a partnership with his assistant Wesley W. Hyde. Stone's business had often taken him to the Upper Peninsula, and in 1887 he decided to move to Houghton, because of the financial opportunities offered by that rapidly developing country.
He practised law in Houghton from 1887 to 1890 with the firm of Stone & Gray; in 1890 he was elected circuit judge of the twenty-fifth judicial district, composed of the counties of Marquette, Delta, Menominee, Dickinson, and Iron, and the following year transferred his residence to Marquette.
He held the office of circuit judge until December 31, 1909, and the next day took his seat on the bench of the supreme court of the state, to which he had been elected in the preceding spring. He served on the supreme court until his death, twelve years later, at Lansing.
Achievements
Personality
He was invariably even-tempered, and an indefatigable worker, even during his late years. Tall, slender, with a ruddy complexion, Judge Stone was a distinguished figure.
Besides, he had a keen analytical mind, wide learning, and a sound knowledge of the law.
Connections
He was married, May 2, 1861, to Delia M. Grover of Allegan, Michigan, who died January 25, 1902. To this marriage seven children were born.