Hide Article Text (OCR)
The history of his life is another one added to the long list of examples of the indomitable energy and sterling worth of the old Puritan stock. The founder of the American branch of his family landed at Boston in 1632, from the ship Increase, which brought a colony of Puritans from England. Amasa Stone was born in the town of Charlton, Worcester County, Mass., April 27, 1818, and was consequently a few days over sixty-five years of age. When he was seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to his elder brother to learn the trade of builder. After following this business for some vears he became interested in the Howe Truss Bridge, and in 1842 entered into the firm of Boodv, Stone Co., formed for the construction of railways and rail wav bridges, the mechanical branchof the work to be under his care. In 1843 he was appointed Superintendent of the New Haven, Hartford Springfield Railroad. still continuing his relations with the firm. The business of the latter became so heavy that he was obliged to resign the office of Superintendent. Mr. Stone, in conjunction with A. Boodv, had purchased the Howe truss bridge patent at an expense of $40,000, and after a few years’ test it was found to be defective in its construction, but after many sleepless nights, during which his busy mind pondered upon thesubject, improvements were perfected byhim by which the bridge became a pro-nounced success.A number of, at that time, remarkable bridges were constructed, one a quarter of a mile in length, for the New Haven, Hartford Springfield Railroad Company, being completed so that a train of cars passed over it within forty days from the day the order was given for its erection. Mr. Stone regarded this as one of the most important events of his life, and he was rewarded by complimentary resolutions and a check for $1,000 given by the company.In 1830 Mr. Stone was appointed Superintendent of the C. C. C. I. and removedto this eitv, where he has since made hishome. .The construction of the Cleveland, Pames* ville Ashtabula road, in which he wasen-gaged soon after, was attended with almost insuperable difficulties, not only on account of the natural obstacles in the way, but the unaccountable prejudice of the Pennsylvania Legislature toward any road along the Lake Shore. Finally the undertaking was carried through and Mr. Stone appointed the Superintendent for both ofthese companies.During the war Mr. Stone was prominent in the work of recruiting and supplying troops for the Union. President Lincoln at one time offered him a commission as Brigadier General for the purpose of building a military railroad through Kentucky to Knoxville, Tenn., but the project was afterward relinquished by the Government.He made the foundation for his colossal fortune out of the Howe truss bridges, with which all railroad men are familiar, but made the first great stride forward in that direction in building the Cleveland, Columbus Cincinnati Railroad, in 1848-50. He added to the accumulation of this enterprise bv building the Cleveland, Painesville Ashtabula, in 1850-53, and then greatlyaugmented it in constructing the Chicago lt;fc Milwaukee road. Later he was prominently identified with the building of the St. Louis, Keokuk Northwestern road, with which he some time since severed allconnection.Since 1875 Mr. Stone’s attention was devoted to the care of his own estate and to works of public and private charity. Much of his beneficence will forever remain unknown, thus obeying the mandate of his Master in not letting his right know what his left hand did. The monuments to his large public spirited generosity are the Industrial School, on the \\ est Side, to which he gave over $4,0000; the Home for Aged and Indigent Women, to which he gave about $45,000, and Adelbert College, to which he gave the princely sum of $500,000. This institution of learning was named after his onlv son, Adelbert B. Stone, a youth of remarkable promise, who was drowned in the Connecticut River when a student at Yale.Mr. Stone was an exemplary member of the First Presbyterian Church, and was for many years a trustee.
Newspaper Details
New Philadelphia Argus
New Philadelphia, Ohio, US
Thu, May 17, 1883
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 18 Nov 2019
Other Publications Near New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Philadelphia Ohio Democrat
New Philadelphia Ohio Democrat and Times
New Philadelphia Times
The Times Reporter
New Philadelphia Daily Times
