Biographical Sketches
JUDGE JOHN BESTOR STONE
Is the highest type of American citizenship, loyal and faithful to every trust. He is now judge of the county court, and in the discharge of his duties there is but one thing that he takes into consideration, and that is justice. Nothing can swerve him from the path which he believes to be right, and the predominant trait of his character is his absolute honesty and fidelity.
A native of Alabama, the Judge was born in Marion, Perry county, December 5, 1842, and is a son of John M. and Permelia Caroline (Roberts) Stone. Two centuries and a half ago there came to the shores of America an English vessel, aboard which were 5 brothers of the name of Stone, who had come to find homes in the new world. They were of English birth, but allied their interests with the adopted land. Four of the number located in the northern colonies, while the remaining brother found a home in Virginia. From the last mentioned the Judge descended. His grandfather, the Judge descended. His grandfather, Robert Stone, was born in the Old Dominion and became the owner of a large plantation there. John M. Stone, the father of our subject, was born in South Carolina, and became a cabinet-maker by trade. He married Miss Roberts, a native of Alabama, and for many years they resided in that state. For a considerable period they were residents of Selma, and Mr. Stone was very prominent in public affairs there, serving as alderman and taking an active part in everything that pertained to the prosperity of the community. His wife died when the Judge was only 15 years of age, and his death occurred in Florida, June 27, 1890, at the age of 77 years and 10 months. They were both members of the Christian church, and had the high regard of all who knew them. Mrs. Stone was a daughter of Reuben Roberts, a native of South Carolina, who removed to Alabama, where he became a large planter. His death occurred there at an advanced age.
In the family to which our subject belongs were 8 children - five sons and 3 daughters, of whom 3 are now living, namely: John B.; Melissa, wife of Walter E. Robbins, of Palatka, Florida; and Fannie G., who makes her home with her brother.
When a lad of 9 years, Judge Stone accompanied his parents on their removal to Selma, Alabama, where he made his home until 1873, and then went to Texas. He was educated in the former city, but his literary studies were ninterrupted by his service in the Confederate army. He was reared in the south, and true to its institutions and beliefs he joined Company A, 4th Alabama infantry, when 19 years of age. In his second engagement - the battle of Manassas - his thigh bone was broken. At the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1864, he was wounded, and also in the seven days' fight near Richmond, and in the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May. At Fort Blakely he was captured and imprisoned on Ship Island until the close of the war. He participated in a number of the most hotly contested engagements of that long struggle, including the first and second battle of Manassas, Chickamauga, the 7 days battle in the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, and a number of heavy skirmishes. He entered the service as a private, but was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. In his military career he exhibited that ardor and enthusiasm, valor and impetuosity characteristic of the true soldier.
When the war was over Judge Stone returned to his old home in Selma, and for 2 years engaged in merchandising. He then removed to Shelby county, Alabama, where he carried on farming for a time, after which he returned to Selma, and was elected city clerk and tax collector. In 1873 he removed to Dallas, Texas, where he engaged in the real-estate business, following that pursuit for some years. During that time he erected the federal government building there and gave it to the state for 10 years free of charge. He also erected many other large buildings in that city. In 1879 he was elected alderman of Dallas, but soon after resigned and removed to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining for 3 years. Returning then to Texas, he made his home in the Lone Star State until 1885, when he came to Kansas City, where he engaged in the real-estate business for several years. He is a practical, thorough-going business man, perfectly reliable in all things, energetic and honorable, and no one has the confidence of the public to a greater degree that Mr. Stone.
This fact was signally demonstrated in November, 1894, by his election to the office of presiding county judge. He was first spoken of for that position by the �reformed democratic� party, but such is his known ability and fidelity to duty that he was indorsed by the republicans and the populists, and also ran as an A.P.A. candidate, being the first man elected to that office in 25 years who was not elected on the regular democratic ticket. Those whose opposition he had to meet in the campaign were mostly professional politicians who place party above everything else and desire personal aggrandizement rather than the good of the country. The Judge has taken quite an active part in political affairs, but devotion to country is to him above party or personal preferment. He has been strongly talked of as the candidate for governor of Missouri in 1896, and the attitude of the loyal American element in the state as opposed to the party element was shown by an article which appeared in one of the leading journals of Missouri and read as follows:
�What Missouri wants is a man in the gubernatorial chair; and it makes little difference whether he calls himself republican, democrat, populist or whatnot, so he is competent, a Christian gentleman and a patriot; and all these we believe Judge Stone to be. We have tried republican rule in Missouri and we have tried democratic; now let us try being ruled by American patriotism and let us put at the head of our ticket one who loves country more than party and Americanism more than personal aggrandizement.�
The Judge is a man of strong convictions, fearless in expressing them under all proper circumstances, but always ready to hear and weigh the views of those who differ from him. He is unswerving in his support of what he believes to be right, no matter at what personal cost to himself. On the bench it is his aim to be absolutely impartial, and no personal feeling is allowed to interfere with the even-handed administration of justice.
On the 18th of June, 1881, Mr. Stone was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary M. Kester, widow of John H. Kester, and a daughter of Joel and Mary Boile (Earles) Haley, both natives of North Carolina. Joel Haley was a union soldier, a member of Company I, third Arkansas infantry, and died in the service. Mrs. Stone was born in Steelville, Crawford county, Missouri, and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, -- Calla G. The Judge and his wife have a handsome brick residence at No. 3032 Prospect avenue, and in social circles are highly esteemed. They are members of Trinity Episcopal church, and the Judge belongs to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities and the American protective Association. In manner he is an affable, genial gentleman, of unvarying courtesy, highminded and scrupulously faithful to every trust. He numbers among his friends people of all classes and no man in Kansas City is more generally esteemed than Judge Stone.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.