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Biography of John Wesley Stone Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan Courtesy of "History of Michigan" by Charles Moore. 1855-1942,Vol. 3., page 1710-1711 |
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Hon. John Wesley Stone, justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan, is a worthy representaive of dignity and greatness of the state in the domain of the law which he has so highly honored for more than half a century. Although not a native of the state, he came here as a youth of eithteen years and the entire period of his active career has been passed within its boundaries. Judge Stone was born at Wadsworth, Medina county, Ohio, July 18, 1838, and is the son of Rev. Chauncey and Sarah (Bird) Stone, natives of Vermont, of English descent. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Stone, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and subsequently became a pioneer of the Western Reserve of Ohio, settling in Medina county, where he passed the balance of his life. The parents of Judge Stone were married in Vermont and came West to Medina county, Ohio, in 1836, there taking up a tract of wild land which they developed into a comfortable and valuable farming property. In 1856 they came to Allegan county, Michigan, and here passed the remainder of their lives, the father combining agricultural pursuits with preaching as a local Methodist minister and traveling to a limited extent when building up churches. Both parents have long since been deceased. The early life of John Wesley Stone was passed on the farm in Ohio, and during his youth he divided his time between attending the district schools and assisting his father in the work of the homestead. Subsequently he took a course in Spencer (Ohio) Academy, and when sixteen years of age adopted the profession of educator, continuing to teach both in Ohio and Michigan until attaining his majority. In 1856 he came to the state of Michigan, preceding his parents hither, and at first went to work on a farm, although in the following year he obtained a school at Big Spring, Ottawa county. While thus engaged, in 1859 he began the study of law in the office of Silas Stafford, at Martin Michigan, and in 1862 was admitted to the bar at Allegan county, an office to which he was re-elected in 1864. In the fall of 1864 was chosen as prosecuting attorney of Allegan county a position to which he was twice re-elected. At the beginning of his active practice he had become a member of the firm of Arnold & Stone, an association which continued until 1873, the partnership terminating in April of that year when Justice Stone was elected circuit judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Allegan and Ottawa. In November, 1874, he resigned his position on the bench and removed to Grand Rapids, in which city he returned to private practice. He was not allowed to remain for long out of public office, however, for in 1876 he was elected a member of Congress from the Fifth Congressional District, and in 1878 received the re-election. In 1882 he was appointed United States district attorney for the Western District of Michigan, and in 1887 removed to Houghton, Michigan, where he was engaged in private practice until his election of circuit judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit in April 1890, an office he held until December 30, 1909. April 5, 1909, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Michigan, beginning January 1, 1910, his term expiring December 31, 1917. As a jurist, his decisions have always evidenced a strong mentality, a profound knowledge of jurisprudence and careful analysis, and his strict impartiality has made him popular with the members of the profession throughout the state. In 1861, at Allegan, Michigan, occurred the marriage of Judge Stone to Miss Delia Maria Grover, the daughter of A.P. Grover. Mrs. Stone died January 25, 1902. To this union, there were born five children: Caria M., wife of Fred M. Champlin, of Grand Rapids; Nina and Edith M., living with their father; John G., an attorney at Houghton, Michigan; and Frank D., who died at the age of eighteen years. His last place of residence was Marguette, Michigan where he was circuit judge. John Wesley Stone died in 1922. Both him and Delia, his wife, are buried in Park Cemetery in Marquette, Michigan. |
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