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.

~ source: History of Delaware County, Iowa and its People, Illustrated, Volume II. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1914, Chicago. Page 298-301. Call Number 977.7385 H2m; LDS microfilm #934937.

~transcribed and contributed by Constance Diamond for Delaware County IAGenWeb