A Stouthearted Stone

Charles Stone, Jr. was born May 6, 1757 in Stockbridge, MA.  He served as waggoner in the Revolutionary War carrying supplies to the Army.  In 1782 he married Polly Springs (1764-1838) and sometime after his marriage he went into the Mohawk Valley to establish a home.  Because of his wife's ill health at the time, he left that region and in 1791 moved his family to Broome Co., New York.  He settled on the bank of the Chenango River about 5 miles north of Binghamton.  Part of this time and until around 1800 he carried the mail on horseback through the woods from Owego to Catskill and related experiences with man and beast on these journeys.  His daughter Lura rode horseback to Catskill to attend school about a 50 mile round trip.

Leaving this location that was clear of debt he moved west. But "in an evil hour" trying to do a good deed for a reported reliable friend, he signed a security bond for $5,000.  The friend did not turn out to be so reliable and Charles was required to pay out this amount.  He was just recovering from this when not long after this as he was deciding where to build a mill, he was persuaded to purchase a certain site.  On this site there was not water sufficient to run a mill and this event left him absolutely penniless. It was said that his wife, Polly, had more practical wisdom and opposed many of his unfortunate undertakings.

Later, Charles and Polly were forced to live with their children.  At one time living with daughter Harriet and her daughter in Port Crane among the wild basket makers of that region.  It is reported that he was so lame with sciatica that he had been seen hoeing corn on his knees, being too lame to bend over.  His remarkable conscientiousness was noted by the fact that in spite of these infirmities he picked huckleberries to pay a second time a note for a yoke of cattle, rather than run the risk of making the mistake by swearing he had paid for them.

In the spring of 1837, after selling his personal effects at auction, Charles now in his 80s was so crippled he could barely walk with two canes. With his wife, daughter Harriet and Granddaughter Frances he traveled on a raft down the river, took the canal as far as they could, over the mountains by emigrant wagons and then by steamboat to Cincinnati, Ohio to live with Charles' brother Ethan.

Polly Springs Stone died there in the fall of 1838.  Charles died in the summer of 1848.  I have nine children listed for Charles and Polly, however, I believe the last child Aaron, to be either a grandson or nephew they had taken in to live with them.  The birthdate for Aaron is 18 years after the 8th child on the family tree.  Clarification of this mystery still eludes me.

A paper found among family histories and photos recounts the above story.  It was dated 1909 but no author is listed.  This account was also found reprinted in the bicentennial publication by The Chenango Bridge Civic Association in 1976, titled, Chenango Bridge, Our Heritage.

Great Grandparents

We did not have a chance to meet Grandpa Stone's parents.  We have only this picture of Aaron Stone and except for genealogy facts and dates we have no anecdotal information about him.  Aaron was born in1818 and died in 1898.  He grew up on the homestead that had been in the family for generations.  The census records have  always listed Aaron as a farmer. Grandpa and his father had a strained relationship when Grandpa moved to Nebraska.  As far as we know Grandpa never returned to New York and only Aaron's siblings visited him.                                                       

We had this picture, a nickle silver spoon engraved 'Jane Temple' and a letter written to Grandpa in 1888. Researching this summer I have found a bit more factual  information.  Jane Gray Temple was born in 1822 in Chenango, New York and died in October 1890.  Jane was one of 10 children born to James Temple and Manda Alenda Sherwin.  Her mother was born in New Jersey and her father in Connecticut.  The genealogy of her family reaches back into England even farther than the Stone family.                                                                 

                                                                      

  Aaron and Jane were married 3 November 1844 and produced 6 children.                                                                      

More information and facts about the Stones and Temples keep popping up so perhaps there will be more stories to come.                                                                                         

                             

This day in history --

When I read the morning newspaper I'm always happy when I find something that connects with me or the family. Today is the anniversary of the Chicago Fire in 1871.  I remembered a story I had read about a member of the Story family with ties to the Chicago Fire.

Wilbur Fisk Story, a cousin of Bob's great grandfather, was born in Salisbury, VT, attended local schools and worked many years in Vermont, New York City and Indiana.  He went to Jackson, MI, and after being proprietor of a drug store, established a newspaper and read law for two years.  He was appointed postmaster by President Polk and was removed from office by President Tyler.

His newspaper career continued when in 1853 he bought an interest in The Detroit Free Press and eventually became the sole owner.  Under his leadership the Free Press came to be regarded as one of the leading democratic newspapers in the west.  In 1861 he purchased from Cyrus H. McCormick, the The Daily Chicago Times bringing with him a large part of his staff.  He changed the title to Chicago Times and continued the paper with a democratic voice.  His paper was  unpopular because of his support of the Civil War.  Because of his views on the Civil War his plant was raided and partially destroyed.  However, popular sentiments prevailed and the paper reopened.  After the Civil War, Story using the motto "to print the news and raise Hell," turned the Times into an outspoken, eccentric and critic of Chicago Society.

The Chicago fire of 1871 destroyed his plant but Wilbur rebuilt the building and continued to publish.  Wilbur edited the Times until 1884 when failing health intervened.  He died Oct. 27, 1884.

The Chicago Times, after a few merges and name changes was eventually bought by a Melville Stone, but Melville Stone apparently is not a link to the Stone side of the family.

Family trivia is fun to find.