BIO: Dan H. STONE, Jr., Beaver County, PA
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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.
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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.