BIOGRAPHIES:  John F. STONE, Augusta, Eau Claire County, WI

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Nance Sampson <nsampson@spacestar.net>  17 September 2000	
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JOHN F. STONE, capitalist, was born in town of Mt. Holly, Vt., March 9, 1814;
he was removed to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., when he was four years of age. 
In 1849, he came to Roxbury, Dane Co., Wis.; resided there three years;
then settled on Sauk Prairie, where he remained until he came to Augusta,
in the Fall of 1856, he being the second settler here (Charles Buck being 
the first).  Mr. Stone immediately commenced building operations, 
constructing a sawmill during the Winter of 1856-57; commenced sawing lumber
in April, 1857; continued to operate it for about five years; he also owned
a gristmill at this place, which he ran until five years ago.  Twelve years
ago he built a steam sawmill, which he ran until four years ago.  Besides 
his manufacturing business, he was for several years extensively engaged in
merchandising, in partnership with M. Victory, until 1880.  When he first 
settled here he had to go to Chippewa Falls for lumber, which required five
days to make the trip.  For several supplies he had to go to Sparta and 
La Crosse.  In an early day his retail lumber business was large, often 
having from $15,000 to $20,000 outstanding among the settlers in notes and
book accounts.  He was first married in Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 26, 1834, to Letitia Hutchins, who was born Oct. 3, 1818, and died in
April, 1869.  They had eleven children.  The living are as follows:  Fernando
Decoella, Uriah Meeker, Hortentie Ranson, Theodore Caple, Carolus Frank, 
John Walden, Emmett Montgomery, Aldula Sophira (now Mrs. David Crocker, of
Cumberland, Wis.), Charlotte Fredona (now Mrs. J. C. Hackett, of Augusta, 
Wis.); lost two children, Morgan L., who was born Sept. 27, 1857, and died
May 26, 1841 [Nance's note:  Is it possible these two dates are switched?], 
and Carilus Edwin, born May 12, 1852; died in January 1871.  Mr. Stone was 
married to Mrs. Hattie A. Pear, his present wife, Feb. 26, 1871.  Her 
maiden name was Board.  She was born in England and is an early settler
of Merton, Waukesha Co., Wis.  She came to Eau Claire when there were but 
two houses there.

--Taken from "The History of Northern Wisconsin containing an Account of its
Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; An extensive Sketch of its 
Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, 
Manufacturies; Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early
Settlers; Views of County Seats, Etc."  Chicago:  The Western Historical
Company.  A. T. Andreas, Proprietor.  1881.  Page 341