Biography - Robert Stone
ROBERT W. STONE. Prominent among the steady business men of the county is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who is a progressive merchant of Simpson, Johnson County, born in Pope County, Ill., February 20, 1860. He is a son of John and Almedia (Jackson) Stone, the former a native of Tennessee, as was also his grandfather and grandmother. John Stone was a farmer in Tennessee, but sold out and came to Illinois at an early day, purchasing land in Johnson County, which he afterward sold and then removed to Pope County, where he purchased two hundred acres of uncultivated land, which he improved and lived upon until his death. During his life he was regarded as one of the leading farmers of the county.
Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then went to Louisiana, where he stayed but a short time, later going to Texas, but not long afterward came back to Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time, after which he ran a huckster wagon to very good advantage. He next followed the mercantile business in Simpson, opening up in 1888, and by skillful management is now the leading merchant of this thriving little village. He carries a general stock of merchandise and his trade extends miles around and is well known as being conducted upon correct and honest principles. He was married October 11, 1882, to Rebecca Koch, and by this union became the father of four children: Ernest C., Lula, Charlie and Homer. He is a member of Simpson Lodge No. 772, I. O. O. F., and is liberal in his religious views. Politically, Mr. Stone is a warm supporter of the Democratic principles and platform, for which he has cast his vote for a number of years.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 337-338.
