Butte County CA Archives Biographies.....Stone, L. C. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 30, 2006, 2:57 am Author: Fariss & Smith (1882) L. C. STONE, the leading business man of the town of Gridley, is a native of Jefferson county, New York, where his boyhood days were spent. In 1854, he came to California, and settled at Long bar, in Yuba county, where, for three years, he kept a store. In this enterprise he was successful; and, after closing up his business, determined to enter into stock-growing and money-loaning in the valley. This did not prove so safe a business channel to sail in as anticipated. He loaned the Forbestown Ditch Company quite a large sum, none of which they liquidated. This did not deter him, being possessed of a strong will and willing hands to work. He decided to make another stake by farming, and settled on a ranch near the line of Butte and Sutter counties, where for ten years he resided. He was fortunate in accumulating money, and was able again to open a small store on the county-line, which he kept for three years. In 1870, he removed to Gridley. The town-site was then being surveyed by the railroad company. Here he opened a store in a small cabin, the first store in the town. In two years he erected the two-story building he now occupies. This will soon give way to a more imposing and substantial brick block. He erected his residence, the finest in Gridley, in 1870, and rebuilt it in 1878. He has the railroad, telegraph and express offices in the same building. Mr. Stone deals largely in grain and wood, and carries on farming quite extensively. He is assisted in his business by Mr. Charles Walsh, who has been with him nine years. In addition to his other duties, he conducts a general insurance business. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Stone was born October 21, 1867, and died, from an accident, June 26, 1879. We append a poem, written on his death, by Miss F. A. Walsh: IN MEMORIAM. Louie, thou hast gone and left them, vainly do bereaved ones weep; Nor will all thy floods of tears wake thy still and solemn sleep. Gently fold the robes around him, softly comb the chestnut hair; Lightly close the lid above him, for a darling boy lies there. Father, weep not for thy loved one; he is safe with Him above, Who can heal all earthly sorrows in the depth of his sweet love. Mother, grieve not for thy darling; to see thee weep e'er gave him pain; He was one of God's fair treasures lent thee, and now claimed again. Sisters, ye have lost a brother—one who was too good for earth; One whose life, so pure and guileless, soon won him an immortal birth. Grieve not, for ye still can claim him, though his spirit hence hath fled; For a while his face is hidden; still ye own the darling dead. More your own, oh! father, mother; had he lived, fate would ye part. More your brother, loving sisters; no other love will share his heart. And bereaved ones, e'er remember, earth is not a place of joy; Trust not much to fleeting pleasure; heaven's bliss shines round your boy. Earth is but a place of exile—sorrow bath this lesson given; And death's angel was the teacher, now your earth is linked with heaven. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, IN TWO VOLUMES. I. HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA FROM 1513 TO 1850. BY FRANK T. GILBERT. The Great Fur Companies and their Trapping Expeditions to California. Settlement of the Sacramento Valley. The Discovery of Gold in California. BY HARRY L. WELLS. II. HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY, From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. BY HARRY L. WELLS AND W. L. CHAMBERS. BOTH VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED WITH VIEWS AND PORTRAITS. HARRY L. WELLS, 517 CLAY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO 1882. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by HARRY L. WELLS, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. FRANCIS, VALENTINE & Co., Engravers & Printers 517 Clay St., San Francisco File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/butte/bios/stone571nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb