CHESTER D. STONE
Chester D. Stone, who passed away at Delhi on the 16th of January. 1910, in the
sixty-ninth year of his age, was long and successfully identified with mercantile
interests of the town as proprietor of a general store. His birth occurred in Oswego county, New York,
on the 7th of May, 1841,
his parents being Andrew and Priscilla (Pepper) Stone. In 1853 the family came to Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa, and here the parents
of our subject spent the remainder of their lives.
Andrew Stone followed farming
and merchandising and thus it was that
his son later took up the latter pursuit.
Chester D. Stone,
who was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to this county, acquired a public-school education
and on attaining his majority started out
upon an independent career. In 1890 he left the farm with his wife
and located in Delhi, entering the store
conducted by his father. After the latter's demise he took over the business
and managed the same successfully until 1897, when the establishment was
destroyed by fire and Mr. Stone retired as a merchant. He had been accorded an
extensive and profitable patronage, carrying a large and carefully selected
line of goods which he sold at reasonable prices, and he enjoyed an enviable
reputation for reliability, integrity and fair dealing. On abandoning
mercantile pursuits he was chosen justice of the peace, filling that office in
a highly acceptable manner during the remainder of his life.
On the 19th
of March, 1862, Mr. Stone was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary D. Van
Antwerp, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Van Antwerp. To them were born eight children, as follows: Ida
May, who died in infancy; Erwin R., a hardware and lumber dealer of
Delhi; Edith A., who gave her hand in marriage to George Angell
of Delhi township; Charles, who is employed in the lumberyard of his brother
Erwin R.; Clarence, who is engaged in the jewelry business at Fort Collins,
Colorado; Emily Maria, who died in infancy; Harlan L., who is also employed by
his brother Erwin R. in the latter's hardware store; and Roy L., who operates the old homestead farm.
Mr. Stone gave his political allegiance
to the republican party and took an active and helpful
interest in public affairs. His wife was a Methodist in religious faith but he
did not join the church. The period of his residence in Delaware county covered fifty-seven years and he gained and
maintained a reputation as one of its esteemed, substantial and respected citizens.
Mrs. Stone is also widely and favorably known here, the circle of her friends
being almost coextensive with the circle of
her acquaintances.
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