A History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 
800 Biographical Sketches, J. H. Spencer, Manuscript Revised and 
Corrected by Mrs. Burilla B. Spencer, In Two Volumes.  Printed For the 
Author.  1886.  Republished By Church History Research & Archives 1976 
Lafayette, Tennessee. Vol. 2, pp 102-103 [Hancock County]

FRANCIS WINTER STONE, son of Elder J. E. Stone, was born In Hawesville, 
Ky., July 10, 1842. He was carefully educated in his boyhood, first in 
his native village, and then in an academy at Greenville, Ky.  At the 
age of thirteen years he professed conversion, and was baptized by his 
father, into the fellowship of Hawesville church.  After finishing his 
academic studies, he spent some time in reading law.  In 1860 he entered 
Georgetown College, where he remained one year, and then entered the 
Confederate Army.  When his term of service expired, he returned home, 
and entered the Seignior [sic] class in Bethel College, in 1864, where 
he graduated, in June, 1865.  He had not entered college with a view to 
the ministry; but while at Georgetown, he became so deeply impressed 
upon that subject, that he could find no rest, until he resolved to 
devote his life to preaching the gospel.  While at Russelville [sic], 
after his return from the army, he became much troubled about the 
condition of his soul, and was finally led to the conclusion that he had 
never been "born again."  For some time he was deeply overwhelmed with a 
sense of guilt and condemnation.  That he was a member of the church at 
Hawesville, in good standing, rather added to the anguish of his spirit, 
than relieved it.  But at last he found great joy of soul, in trusting 
in Christ.  He now sought and obtained membership in the church at 
Russellville, being baptized by W. W. Gardner.  He began at once to 
exercise his gifts in exhortation and preaching.  Immediately after he 
graduated, he visited Maysville, with the view of accepting the pastoral 
care of that church, at that place, and that of Washington church, in 
the same county. To the charge of these churches, he was ordained, at 
Maysville, by Cleon Keys, W. Pope Yeaman, and H. W. Mitchell, Jan. 3, 
1866. He served these churches two years, and then resigned.  After 
this, he preached, with great zeal, over several counties, extending his 
labors into the mountain region.
	On the 29th of April, 1867, Mr. Stone was married to Hattie 
Warder, a grand-daughter of the famous Elder Walter Warder.  The 
marriage was a most happy one.  The brilliant and godly young couple 
gave promise of great usefulness.  But God's ways are not as our ways.  
Three days after the birth of their first-born (a daughter), Mr. Stone 
started on a preaching tour, which led him to Winchester.  Here a false 
report of the illness of his wife caused him to hurry homewards.  He 
proposed to go by stage; but failing to make connection, he went to 
Cincinnati by Rail Road.  Here he took passage for Maysville, on the 
steamer Magnolia.  On the way a boiler exploded, and set the boat on 
fire.  Mr. Stone was injured on the head.  He said to a friend:  "I 
would rather be drowned than burned to death."  Then kneeling on the 
deck of the burning boat, and spending a moment in prayer, he plunged 
into the turbulent waters, hoping to swim to the shore.  But after 
struggling a few moments with the furious waves, he sank to rise no more 
in mortal flesh.  Thus passed away on the 18th of March, 1868, this 
gifted and consecrated young man. 
	
Stone Gardner Keys Yeaman Mitchell Warder
=
Greenville-Muhlenberg-KY Russellville-Logan-KY Maysville-Mason-KY 
Winchester-Clark-KY OH

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/hancock/stone.fw.txt