William Joel Stone | |
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United States Senator from Missouri |
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In office March 4, 1903 – April 14, 1918 |
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Preceded by | George G. Vest |
Succeeded by | Xenophon P. Wilfley |
28th Governor of Missouri | |
In office January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897 |
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Lieutenant | John Baptiste O'Meara |
Preceded by | David R. Francis |
Succeeded by | Lawrence Vest Stephens |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 12th district |
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In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891 |
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Preceded by | Charles H. Morgan |
Succeeded by | David A. De Armond |
Personal details | |
Born |
Madison County, Kentucky |
May 7, 1848
Died | April 14, 1918 Washington, D.C. |
(aged 69)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Sarah Louise Winston (1852–1933) |
William Joel Stone (May 7, 1848 – April 14, 1918) was a Democratic politician from Missouri who represented his state in the United States House of Representatives from 1885 to 1891, and in the U.S. Senate from 1903 until his death; he also served as the 28th Governor of Missouri from 1893 to 1897.
Stone was born near Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky on May 7, 1848, and attended Richmond's public schools as a child; he graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1867, whereupon he began the study of law. Admitted to the bar in 1869, he began practice that year in Bedford, Indiana. Soon he moved back to Columbia, where he was the city attorney for a time in 1870. Later that year he moved to Nevada, Missouri, and continued his practice, becoming the Vernon County prosecuting attorney from 1873 to 1874 and was a presidential elector for the Democratic ticket in 1876. His son, Kimbrough Stone, was born in 1875.
In 1884 Stone was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served until 1891; he did not seek renomination in 1890. In his time there he served as the chairman of the Committee on War Claims. From 1893 to 1897 he served as Missouri's governor, moving to Jefferson City in 1893. Beginning in 1896 he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, serving in this capacity until 1904; he was the committee's vice-chairman from 1900 until his departure. In 1897 Stone moved to St. Louis, where he continued his practice; he returned to Jefferson City in 1903. In 1902 he was elected to the Senate, being reelected in 1908 and serving until his death.