Background
Stone was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. He was descended from Simon Stone, Junior (1631 - 1708), who was born in Bocking, Essex, England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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Stone was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. He was descended from Simon Stone, Junior (1631 - 1708), who was born in Bocking, Essex, England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
He attended Mansfield State Normal School and taught while studying law.
In 1864, Stone enlisted in the Union Army as a private during the American Civil War, and became a second lieutenant in 1865. He continued his military service after the war in the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1872, he was appointed as a clerk for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives.
Two years later, he ran for his first political office, becoming district attorney of Tioga County.
In 1876, he was appointed district attorney for the United States. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania by President Rutherford B. Hayes. He held that post until 1886 when he violated President Chester A. Arthur"s edict for political office-holders not to campaign for political candidates.
Stone campaigned for James A. Beaver, and his removal only increased his popularity. Stone served four terms in the United States House of Representatives before running for governor in 1898.
During his term in office, Pennsylvania"s state debt was eliminated, and a new capitol building was commissioned.
He also served briefly as prothonotary for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1915. Stone Hall, a residence hall on Penn State"s University Park campus is named for Stone.