Mississippi Governor, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. He served as Governor of Mississippi for longer than anyone else. Born in Milan Tennessee, his family was fairly poor and he was thus self-educated. After teaching school and working on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, he joined the Confederate Army after the outbreak of the Civil War, eventually riding to become Colonel and commander of the 2nd Mississippi Infantry. He was wounded at The Battles of Sharpsburg and Gettysburg and performed such good service with General Joseph Davis's brigade in the Battle of the Wilderness that Major General Henry Heth declared he should have been made a Major General. In early 1865, Stone was captured while recruiting men. When the War ended and he was released, he returned to Mississippi and was elected mayor and treasurer of his home county. He was then elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1869 and 1873, eventually becoming President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate. When Union General Adelbert Ames, who had been installed as Mississippi's governor, resigned in 1876, Stone became the acting governor of Mississippi when the Lieutenant-Governor was impeached and removed from office. He was elected as a Democrat back to the office in 1877 (the Republicans ran no-one against him and he won 97,729 votes to 47), but lost re-election to Robert Lowry in 1881. Stone ran again for governor in 1889, winning a term that was eventually extended until 1896. He was a popular Governor because of his tax cuts and his involvement of railroad development in the state. He was also a supporter of the new state consitution, and was somewhat active in Confederate veteran affairs after the War. After serving as governor, he served as president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College at Starkville. In July 1894 he was arrested by the United States Secret Service on charges of counterfeiting, but the charges were unfounded - the state of Mississippi had issued a special state warrant that was similar in color, size, shape, and appearance to United States currency. Stone County, Mississippi is named for him. His home, Twin Magnolias in Iuka still stands today. The house was a hospital during the battle of Iuka. Stone died in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Mississippi Governor, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. He served as Governor of Mississippi for longer than anyone else. Born in Milan Tennessee, his family was fairly poor and he was thus self-educated. After teaching school and working on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, he joined the Confederate Army after the outbreak of the Civil War, eventually riding to become Colonel and commander of the 2nd Mississippi Infantry. He was wounded at The Battles of Sharpsburg and Gettysburg and performed such good service with General Joseph Davis's brigade in the Battle of the Wilderness that Major General Henry Heth declared he should have been made a Major General. In early 1865, Stone was captured while recruiting men. When the War ended and he was released, he returned to Mississippi and was elected mayor and treasurer of his home county. He was then elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1869 and 1873, eventually becoming President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate. When Union General Adelbert Ames, who had been installed as Mississippi's governor, resigned in 1876, Stone became the acting governor of Mississippi when the Lieutenant-Governor was impeached and removed from office. He was elected as a Democrat back to the office in 1877 (the Republicans ran no-one against him and he won 97,729 votes to 47), but lost re-election to Robert Lowry in 1881. Stone ran again for governor in 1889, winning a term that was eventually extended until 1896. He was a popular Governor because of his tax cuts and his involvement of railroad development in the state. He was also a supporter of the new state consitution, and was somewhat active in Confederate veteran affairs after the War. After serving as governor, he served as president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College at Starkville. In July 1894 he was arrested by the United States Secret Service on charges of counterfeiting, but the charges were unfounded - the state of Mississippi had issued a special state warrant that was similar in color, size, shape, and appearance to United States currency. Stone County, Mississippi is named for him. His home, Twin Magnolias in Iuka still stands today. The house was a hospital during the battle of Iuka. Stone died in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Bio by: aphillcsa
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