Springfield-Greene
County LibraryRICHARD C. STONE, is one of. the prominent business men of Springfield, and an extensive mill builder and flour-mill owner in southwest Missouri. He springs from good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock on his father's side, and on the maternal side from English descent. The family is an old Colonial Maryland one. The grandfather, Adam Stone, served in the War of 1812. He became a citizen of Baltimore and a property owner. He settled in the early part of the present century in Beaver County, Penn., where be became a large farmer and erected large and substantial brick buildings on his farm, which were afterward sold for county purposes. Jacob Stone, son of above, and the father of our subject, was born at Baltimore and taken to Beaver County, Penn., when a child of about two years of age. He received the common- school education of his day and became a ship carpenter. He married Eliza Ayers, daughter of Thomas and Eliza (McCreary) Ayers. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone were born four children: Thomas W., Richard, Ida A. and Charles W. Mr. and Mrs. Stone were members of the old-school Presbyterian Church. Mr. Stone's family bought the old home property and sold it to the county, which still owns it. In politics he is Republican. He came to Missouri in 187_ and settled on a farm in Platt County, but returned to Pennsylvania after Six years. He was a man of integrity and lived to be sixty-seven years of age, and died October 25, 1888. Richard C. Stone, our subject, was born October _, 1858, at Vanport, where his father passed nearly all his life. He received a good common-school education and at eleven years of age came with his father to Platte County, Mo., where be attended school for some years; the education he received was good for practical business. He learned the use of tools from his father and then learned the trade of millwright and drafting and gradually became a milling expert. He worked at his trade for two years and became foreman for his employer for two years, constructing mills, and then served two years in the capacity of foreman in milling construction. In 1884 he began taking contracts for the construction of mills and putting them in working condition and has since that time built many of the largest and best mills in Missouri, especially in the Southwest. His business increased rapidly and he opened an office and has since managed a large business in constructing mills and equipping them with first-class milling machinery. He is the exclusive agent for the Barnard & Lease Manufacturing Company, of Moline, Ill., for three States. They are the largest manufacturers of special milling machinery in the United States. Mr. Stone owes his success to the satisfaction that his mills have given to his patrons and the wide and practical knowledge that he possesses of milling engineering and machinery. He built and owns the mill at Republic, Mo., which is one of the best in the State and is well fitted with the best milling machinery. It has a capacity of 200 barrels of flour per day and will be increased to 300 in a short time. This mill cost $35,000 and it requires the same amount of capital to run it. Mr. Stone also owns a half interest in the mill at Monett, the former being managed under the name of the Monett Mill & Elevator Company and also does a general shipping business in milling products and grain. Mr. Stone also has a large flour and feed store in Springfield and owns his tasteful residence on Benton Avenue, and other real estate. In politics he is a Republican. He is a young man and is entirely self made, having made his success by his ability, energy and industry. He is one of the substantial men of Springfield, with many years of usefulness before him. On November 3, 1887, he married Eva, daughter of W. T. and Frances (Bennett) Barnes, of Fort Scott, Kan. Mr. Barnes is a merchant of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have one daughter, Maude E.
[383-384]
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | V | W | Y
Pictorial and Genealogical Home | Keyword Search
Greene County History Home | Local History Home