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ne was sevt*nit cii jrauv ****prenticed to his older brother to learn the trade of builder. After following this business for some years he became interested i?i the Howe Truss Bridge, and in 1842 entered into the firm of Boody, Stone I o., formed for the construction of railwaysand railway bridges, the mechanical branch of the work to be under his care. In 1845he was appointed Superintendent of the New Haven, Hartford Springfield Bail-_ - « . • * A % A, \road, still continuing his relations with the firm. The business of the latter became soheavy that he was obliged to resign tho ice of Superintendent. Mr. Stone, in coffice of Superintendent. Mr. Stone, in conjunction with A. Boody, had purchased the Howe truss bridge patent at an expense of ^40,0»)0, and after a few years’ test it was found to be defective in its construction, hut after many sleepless nights, during which his busy mind pondered upon thesubject, improvements were perfected byhim by which the bridge became a pronounced 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,beingcompleted 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 given by the company.In 1S50 Mr. Stone was appointed Superin-tendent of the C. C. C. 1. and removed to this city, where he has since made hishome. .The construction of the Cleveland, Paines-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 tho 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 prominentin 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.lie made the foundation for his colossal fortune out of the Howe truss bridges, with which all railroad men are familiar, hut made the first great stride forward in that direction in building the Cleveland, Columbus Cincinnati Railroad, in 1848-50. Headded to the accumulation of this enterprise bv building the Cleveland, Painesville Ashtabula, in 1850-53, and then greatly- m . m * ft *augmented it in constructing the Chicago Milwaukee road. Later he was prominently identified with tho building of the 8t. 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?f his beneficence will forever remain unknown, thus obeying the mandate of his Master in not letting his right know whathis left hand did. The monuments to hislarge public spirited generosity are the Industrial School, on the West Side, to which he gave over .lt;1,0000; the Home for Aged and Indigent Women, to which he gave about $45,000, and Adeltert College, to which he gave the princely sum of $500,000. Fhis 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
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