My Genealogy Hound

Henry Frank Stone, formerly treasurer of Oakland County, now represents the New York Life Insurance Company at Rochester, where he has resided since 1898. He was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, October 6, 1851, and is a son of William B. and Sally (LeGate) Stone.

The Stone family is of good old New England stock. The grandfather, of our subject was a member of the “Boston Lancers,” and died while yet a young man. William B. Stone was one of five children, three sons and two daughters, born to his parents, and all are now deceased. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and followed his trade at various places. He was a carpenter and joiner, a ship carpenter and cabinetmaker, and the set of tools used by him is now possessed by our subject. He married Sally LeGate, who came of New England stock and was of French descent. She was a granddaughter of Capt. John LeGate, who was an old sea captain. The sea chest used by him is now owned by Henry F. Stone’s uncle, Edwin LeGate. Mrs. Stone, who was one of a family of 14 children, died in 1887 at the age of 75 years, and her husband died in 1899, at the age of 88 years. They were parents of six children, as follows: George W., who died in Massachusetts in 1902; James, who died in Boston in 1883; Jennie P., who lives in Shelburne, Massachusetts; Sarah, widow of Resolve Shaw, who lives in Lewiston; Henry Frank; and Elizabeth, wife of D. P. Bardwell of Bardwell’s Ferry, Massachusetts.

Henry Frank Stone was reared and educated in his native State, and at the age of 12 years left his home. He worked for a cattle man and attended schools in the winter, receiving the advantage of three years in an excellent district school. He next worked on a farm for three years and provided the means by which his sister was educated at normal school. When about 20 years of age, he became supply man at a sawmill and traveled about considerably. He then engaged as head sawyer at a mill in Shelburne, Massachusetts, for four years, after which he was located at Greenfield, Massachusetts, one year. He then spent one year in Shelburne, where he bought a home for his parents, and there they resided until called to their final resting place. In 1877, Mr. Stone removed to Oxford, Oakland County, Michigan, where for one year he was engaged in erecting wind mills for John Brown. He then entered the employ of Woodward & Rymer, dealers in agricultural implements at Rochester, Oakland County. He next engaged in the hotel business there for one and a half years, after which he located upon a farm in Avon township, where he lived for a period of 17 years. He sold his farm in 1898 and returned to his old home at Rochester. He became very active in political matters and was active in his support of Hon. D. M. Ferry for Governor. He was appointed tare master at the sugar factory at Rochester and served one year, then was superintendent of field and tare master in charge of the yard of the Detroit Sugar Company, In the spring of 1903, he became agent for the New York Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Stone is an enthusiastic Republican and has frequently been honored by election to office. In 1895 he was elected county treasurer and in 1897 was re-elected, and although his residence was 10 miles away he never missed a single day at his office, driving every day during the four years. He was a careful and capable public servant, and was held in high esteem by his constituents. He was also highway commissioner in Avon township, of which he was also for some time the treasurer. He is an important factor in the county conventions of his party, and is one of the most enthusiastic workers for party success.

In 1881, Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Ella F. Lomason, a daughter of G. G. and Dolly (Crawford) Lomason, the former a native of Belvidere, New Jersey, and the latter of Warren County, New Jersey. G. G. Lomason, familiarly known as “Doc” Lomason, came to Michigan with his father, Peter Lomason, in the early “thirties,” and located near Rochester, Oakland County. He died in 1891, at the age of 73 years. His wife died July 2, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are the parents of one child, Bessie. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., of Rochester. He is also a Forester and a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees.