William A. Stone

William Alexis Stone (April 18, 1846 – March 1, 1920) was the 22nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903.

Early life

Stone was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. In 1864, Stone enlisted in the Union Army as a private during the American Civil War, and became a second lieutenant in 1865.^[1] He continued his military service after the war in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He attended Mansfield State Normal School and taught while studying law.

Appointments

In 1872, he was appointed as a clerk for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives and was later appointed district attorney for western 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.

Congress and Pennsylvania Governorship

He 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. After serving as governor, Stone joined his son in private law practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he died at age 73.

In Memoriam

Stone Hall, a residence hall on Penn State's University Park campus is named for Stone.

References

1. ^ Dunaway, Wayland F. (1948). A History of Pennsylvania. New York, New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc.. p. 469. "...William A. Stone...entered the Union Army as a private in his eighteenth year and in 1865 became second lieutenant." 

• William A. Stone at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

External links

• William A. Stone at Find a Grave