William M. Stone

William Milo Stone (born October 14, 1827 in Jefferson County , New York , † July 18, 1893 in Oklahoma ) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and from 1864 to 1868 the 6th governor of the state of Iowa .

Early years

As early as 1834, William Stone moved with his family from New York to Coshocton , Ohio . There he attended the local schools. After completing a law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1851. Three years later he moved to Knoxville , Iowa, where he worked as a lawyer and ran the local newspaper.

Political rise

In 1856 Stone was a delegate to the inaugural meeting of the Republican Party of Iowa. In the same year he was one of the electors for John Charles Frémont , who was the Republican presidential candidate. Thereafter, Stone was a judge in the Eleventh Judicial District from 1857 to 1858. Stone fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War. There he rose from simple soldier to colonel. He was wounded several times and has since been taken prisoner of war. He retired from the Army in 1863 because he was running for governor of Iowa.

Governor of Iowa

After winning the election, Stone was able to take up his new office on January 14, 1864. After re-election in 1865, he could remain in office until January 16, 1868. During his tenure, the civil war ended. Governor Stone was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and an eyewitness to the fatal assassination attempt on April 14, 1865. He helped carry the wounded President's body to the neighboring house, where Lincoln was treated and died.

In Iowa, the agricultural school expanded during Stone's tenure. It was also when a law banning free African Americans from immigrating to Iowa was repealed. A new banking system was also introduced. A state militia was formed and the 13th Amendment , which abolished slavery in the US , was ratified.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure, Stone withdrew from politics for some time. In 1877 he was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives for one term . He then worked for the US Land Office in Washington . William Stone died in Oklahoma in 1893. He was buried in Knoxville. He had a child with his wife, Caroline Matthews.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• William Stone at the National Governors Association (English)
• William M. Stone in the database of Find a Grave (English)