STEPHEN STONE, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Sweetwater; was born in Adair Co., Ky., Oct. 16, 1829; is a son of John and Lucy (Preston) Stone; both natives of Kentucky; in 1830, they came to Illinois and settled in Irish Grove; they were the parents of twelve children; the mother died in 1872. Stephen passed his early life with his father on the farm; he began business for himself when quite young; he received but an indifferent education, and what he now possesses he has made by hard work and economy. His marriage with Mary C. Young was celebrate March 2, 1863; she was born in Menard Co., Ill., Sept. 25, 1839; she is a daughter of John and Rachel (Purkapile) Stone, both of whom were among the early pioneers of Menard Co. From this union there are three children - Carrie V., Morris G. and Charles H. Mr. Stone owns 188 acres of nicely improved land, and is emphatically a self-made man.