BIO: Dan H. STONE, Jr., Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 145-148. _________________________________________________________________ STEPHEN P. and DAN H. STONE, Jr., prominent and progressive business men of Beaver, Pa., whose portraits accompany this sketch, are scions of one of the pioneer families of Beaver county. The family was established here when this section of the state was little more than a wilderness, principally inhabited by the Indian race, and infested by beasts of the forest. This region has furnished good, substantial men to the community, who have zealously promoted the rapid growth and development of the country. Dan H. Stone, Sr., the father of Stephen P. and Dan H., Jr., was born in Derby, Conn., September 27, 1802, but was very young when his parents removed to Pennsylvania. During his younger days he assisted his father and was charged with many duties of a very responsible nature. When but eighteen years of age, he was sent on horseback to Columbus, Ohio, to collect a bill for his father, amounting to $2,000. His first day's work for himself was in assisting to pole a boat eighteen miles, working from sunrise to the first star of evening and then walking home, - his salary being fifty cents per day. Like his ancestors he was very fond of the water, and as this was one of the principal employments of the day, he followed it for many years. Later, in connection with his brothers, Stephen and Charles, he owned and operated several steamboats, which ran to Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville, and New Orleans. They had the contract for carrying the United States mail, and this yielded them large profits. Mr. Stone was very successful and accumulated considerable wealth; before the war he disposed of his interest in the business. Having inherited a portion of the old homestead in Marion township, he built saw mills and engaged very extensively in lumbering. His business was injured largely by the panic of 1873, and as he was of a generous nature, he gave assistance to others, which almost resulted in his financial ruin, and left him again a poor man. His health failed and he died on March 25, 1879. July 14, 1853 was the date of his marriage to Mary Patterson, a daughter of James Patterson, BEAVER COUNTY 147 who was an early settler of Beaver county and a resident of Beaver Falls, - then known as Brighton. She was born November 5, 1830, and is still living at Beaver, and enjoying the best of health. Their union resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows: Stephen P.; Elizabeth, the widow of D. F. Robinson; Dan H., Jr.; James P., who is engaged in the real estate business in Beaver Falls; Mary J.; Charles H.; and Sally P., a resident of Beaver. Dan H. Stone, Jr., was born in Beaver, 148 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES Pa., September 1, 1860. He attended the public schools and the U. P. Seminary until 1875, and in January, 1880, received the appointment of deputy prothonotary under his brother, Stephen P. Stone, continuing thus for two terms of three years each. In 1885, he was elected prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas (assuming his trust in January, 1886), and was re-elected in 1888. He discharged his duties to the complete satisfaction of his constituents. During his incumbency of the office, he became desirous of entering the legal profession, and as a result, he studied law with Hon. J. M. Buchanan and Hon. M. F. Mecklem, - being admitted to the bar on September 19, 1892. Immediately after he began practicing, and by dint of hard and conscientious labor, he has established a good reputation and a large clientage. Intuitively, he applies the theoretic principles of law to the common affairs of every day life, and it is to his practical faculty that his success is mainly due. He is a stanch Republican and has been an active worker in party affairs. He has taken great interest in the progress of Beaver, and has been identified with the Beaver Valley Traction Company; was an incorporator, and, formerly, attorney, of the High River Bridge, Company; and of the People's Electric Street Railroad Company. He has been attorney for several railroads in Western Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, and of the Odd Fellows' lodge, of which he is past grand. He owns some valuable real estate in Beaver, and is one of its most substantial citizens. Charles H. Stone, the youngest son of Dan H. and Mary (Patterson) Stone, was born in Beaver, Pa., where he attended the public schools. He became assistant to his brother, Dan H., when the latter was prothonotary, and also studied law with him, - being admitted to the bar on December 6, 1896. He also served as assistant clerk under his brother, Stephen P., in the Beaver Deposit Bank. He is a very popular young man in the borough, and has worked up quite a lucrative practice. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.