Edward W. Stone, the efficient and popular mayor of Cheyenne, whose administration is actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good, ranks, too, as a self-made man in the acquirement of business advancement and success. He was born in Belpre, Ohio, in February, 1862, a son of Loring and Johanna Stone. He acquired a common school education and afterward spent some time as a student in Oberlin College of Ohio, but the lure of the west was upon him and, hoping to find better opportunities and advantages in this new and growing section of the country, he made his way to Wyoming in 1884, arriving in Cheyenne on the 1^st of January. He sought a place in which to build his fortune, anxiously ever looking to the future. He secured employment with J. S. Collins & Company in the harness and saddlery business and remained with that house for several years. He was afterward in the employ of A. D. Kelley, a grocer of Cheyenne, and some time later entered into partnership with Pitt Convert and purchased the business of Mr. Kelley, which they conducted for a number of years but eventually sold out, having in the meantime won a substantial measure of success in that undertaking. In fact, they had one of the large and well appointed grocery stores of the city and enjoyed a gratifying patronage. On disposing of the grocery store Mr. Stone aided in the organization of the Citizens National Bank, which was incorporated in 1906 and of which he became the cashier. He served in that capacity until 1917, when he was elected to the vice presidency of the bank and is now its second executive officer. The bank has steadily prospered and expanded and is today one of the strong financial institutions of the state. Mr. Stone, as cashier and vice president, has contributed much to this result. He is thoroughly conversant with every phase of the banking business and from the outset recognized the fact that the bank is most worthy of patronage which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors. His progressiveness therefore has been tempered by a wise conservatism that has produced excellent results.
    In 1888, at Belpre, Ohio, Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Miss Mary Harrison, a daughter of Captain Jack Harrison, a steamboat man.
    In his fraternal relations Mr. Stone is a Knight of Pythias and has filled various offices in the local lodge and has also served as grand chancellor of the state. He is likewise a prominent Mason, connected with both rites, having attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. Moreover, the honorary thirty-third degree has been conferred upon him. He has filled most of the chairs in the order and has been a most earnest worker in its behalf. Possessing a retentive memory, he has been able to easily acquaint himself with the various rituals and forms of work, so that in an official position he has been most efficient. Mr. Stone is a member of the Country Club and also of the Commercial Club of Cheyenne. He is fond of fishing and outdoor sports but never allows such things to interfere with his business duties nor the faithful performance of official service which he has undertaken.
    In politics he is an earnest republican and at the first election after the admission of the state he was chosen county treasurer of Laramie county. He was later elected to the state senate and subsequently was again chosen to represent his district in the upper house of the general assembly and twice acted as president of the senate. In the fall of 1917 he was elected mayor of Cheyenne, which position he is now filling, and his administration is one which is giving uniform satisfaction. As an assemblyman he gave the most thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement and lent the weight of his aid and influence to many progressive measures.
    He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term. He has essentially formulated and given shape to his own character. While he has prospered in his business career, he has not made the attainment of material success the sole end and aim of life. On the contrary, he has ever been cognizant of his duties toward his fellowmen and to the community at large, and patriotism has been one of his marked characteristics–a patriotism that has been manifest in tangible effort for the general good. He is widely known throughout the state, his friends are many and he is honored and respected by all. The record of few men in public life in Cheyenne has extended over a longer period and none has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct or stainless in reputation.