US Congressman, 23rd Pennsylvania Governor. Enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War in July 1863, but, because he was only 17 years of age, his father exerted his parental privilege and had his discharged. However, one he turned 18 the following year, he re-enlisted as a Private in Company A, 187th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served in the 1864 Overland Campaign, participating in the bloody fighting at the Battle of Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. In less than a year he had risen to Sergeant, and in March 1865 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A. He continued to served through the end of the war, and was honorably mustered out in August 1865; an officer at age 19. He followed the path of many post-War volunteer officers and studied law, which eventually got him entered into the Pennsylvania Bar in 1870. He soon became active in politics, and served tenure as Clerk of the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In 1880 he was appointed as the District Attorney for Western Pennsylvania by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and was re-appointed by President Chester Arthur four years later. In 1886 he an afoul of President Grover Cleveland, who had ordered Federal Office holders to refrain from political campaigning. William A. Stone actively stumped for General James A. Beaver for Pennsylvania Governor, and was removed from office by President Cleveland for his campaigning. After a brief return to private law practice he was elected as a Republican to represent Pennsylvania’s 23rd District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1891 until he resigned from office on November 9, 1898. Through the backing of fellow Civil war vet and powerful Pennsylvania Republican political boss Matthew Quay, he had successfully ran for Pennsylvania Governor, defeating Democrat George Jenks by a wide margin. He served as the 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903, and became embroiled in controversy when he appointed Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania in a move that was obvious political patronage (Matthew Quay was under indictment for misappropriation of Pennsylvania state funds at the time). Despite this cloud, he rendered generally good service, and was able to accomplish the elimination of a three million dollar state debt. After his term ended he served on the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court before he passed away in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania in 1920.
US Congressman, 23rd Pennsylvania Governor. Enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War in July 1863, but, because he was only 17 years of age, his father exerted his parental privilege and had his discharged. However, one he turned 18 the following year, he re-enlisted as a Private in Company A, 187th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served in the 1864 Overland Campaign, participating in the bloody fighting at the Battle of Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. In less than a year he had risen to Sergeant, and in March 1865 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A. He continued to served through the end of the war, and was honorably mustered out in August 1865; an officer at age 19. He followed the path of many post-War volunteer officers and studied law, which eventually got him entered into the Pennsylvania Bar in 1870. He soon became active in politics, and served tenure as Clerk of the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In 1880 he was appointed as the District Attorney for Western Pennsylvania by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and was re-appointed by President Chester Arthur four years later. In 1886 he an afoul of President Grover Cleveland, who had ordered Federal Office holders to refrain from political campaigning. William A. Stone actively stumped for General James A. Beaver for Pennsylvania Governor, and was removed from office by President Cleveland for his campaigning. After a brief return to private law practice he was elected as a Republican to represent Pennsylvania’s 23rd District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1891 until he resigned from office on November 9, 1898. Through the backing of fellow Civil war vet and powerful Pennsylvania Republican political boss Matthew Quay, he had successfully ran for Pennsylvania Governor, defeating Democrat George Jenks by a wide margin. He served as the 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903, and became embroiled in controversy when he appointed Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania in a move that was obvious political patronage (Matthew Quay was under indictment for misappropriation of Pennsylvania state funds at the time). Despite this cloud, he rendered generally good service, and was able to accomplish the elimination of a three million dollar state debt. After his term ended he served on the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court before he passed away in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania in 1920.
Bio by: RPD2
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