Eliphalet Stone (Massachusetts politician)

Col. Eliphalet Stone (May 12, 1813 – February 5, 1886) was an American politician.

Colonel
Eliphalet Stone
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the Dedham district
In office
1861–1863
In office
1869–1869
Personal details
Born(1813-05-12)May 12, 1813
Hubbardston, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 5, 1886(1886-02-05) (aged 72)
Dedham, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElizabeth Barrows

Personal life

Stone was born May 12, 1813, in Hubbardston, Massachusetts.[1][2] His father died when he was six, and he was adopted by a relative.[1] Though he was ambitious to acquire an education, his opportunities to do so were meager given the schooling provided to farmers boys in the district school at that time.[3]

Stone was a major landowner along High Street in Dedham and lived at what is today 19 Mount Vernon Street in Dedham.[4] He married Elizabeth Barrows, the daughter of Thomas Barrows, on October 10, 1839.[5][3][2]

Business career

He settled in Dedham, Massachusetts and engaged in a number of business pursuits.[3] By 1833, he was largely engaged in the baking and grocery business, real estate and building, and for many years was the leading auctioneer in that part of Norfolk County.[3] He was especially active in building residences in the east village of Dedham and labored earnestly to advance the interests of that part of the town.[3]

Agriculture

From early youth, Stone manifested a lively interest in agriculture and horticultural pursuits.[3] He wrote many valuable papers on fruit culture.[3][2]

Political career

Stone represented Dedham, Massachusetts as a Republican in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1869.[4][3][2] He served on the committee that established Brookdale Cemetery.[6]

Philanthropy

It was said that benevolence was one of Stone's leading characteristics and no one was ever turned empty handed from his door.[3] He donated the land upon which Dedham High School and Stone Park were built.[4][7][8] He also donated a waiting room at the railroad stop, Stone Haven station, next to his home.[9]

He was also a great supporter of the men of Dedham who served in the American Civil War.[8][4] During the war, it was said that no person was more interested in the welfare of the soldiers than Stone.[3] He sacrificed his business interests to visit the soldiers in the field and made arrangements to provide for their families.[3][8][10] After the war, he donated a choice plot of land upon a hill and a monument to their sacrifice in Brookdale Cemetery to the local Grand Army of the Republic chapter.[2][8][10]

Death

Eliphalet Stone's grave

Stone died in Dedham on February 5, 1886, of paralysis after a three-month illness.[2]

References

Works cited

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