Stone, Robert, Hon.

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Hon. Robert Stone, one of the ablest members of the Topeka bar, where he had been in active practice for the past quarter of a century, is a former speaker of the House of Representatives in the Kansas Legislature. The service which chiefly identifies his name with Kansas is the intimate influence and connection he had had in the drafting and enactment of all the progressive legislation of Kansas since and including the year 1905. In many ways no state in the Union had done more to conform its legislative program with modern views of social and economie righteousness than Kansas, and in this proeram Hon. Robert Stone had borns a conspienous part.

Mr. Stone is a native of Topeka, Kansas, and his family were among the pioneers of the state. He was born March 2, 1866, a son of Jesse and Sarah C. Stone. His parents came to Kansas from New England, where their ancestors had lived for generationa, and his father assisted in making Kansas a free state. Jesse Stone was born at Fitzwilliams, New Hamoshire, September 8, 1806. He was a direct descendant of Gregory Stone, one of three brothers who came to New England from old England about 1635. Gregory Stone settled in Boston and owned a farm a part of which is now included in the campus of Harvard College.

Mr. Robert Stone was educated primarily in the country public schools of Shawnee County, and in 1889 he was oraduated A. B. from Washburn College. he studied law in the offices of J. G. Sionecker and of Murray & Foster at Topeka, and was admitted to practice in 1892. He soon built up a living practice and his associates look upon him as one of the thoroughly suecessful lawyers of the state. He is head of the firm of Stone & McDermott, with offices in the New England Boilding at Topeka.

Mr. Stone was elected a member of the State Legislature from the Shawnee County District in 1904, and he had been continuously a member of the House since 1905. His seniority of service and experience give him high standing in legislative councils and have enabled him to render so much effective influence in behalf of progressive legislation. He served as speaker of the House in the session of 1915 and his present term in the Legislature expires in 1919.

Mr. Stone is an active republican and was reared in that political faith. He is a trustee of Washburn College, is affiliated with the Scottish Rite bodies of Masonry at Topeka, belongs to the Chamber of Cornmeree, the Shawnee Country Club, the Shawnes Golf Club, the Country Club and the Rotary Club. He had been especially active in the Rotary organization. He was one of the charter members of Topeka Rotary, was its president from July, 1915, to June, 1916, and is now governor of the Eleventh District, including the states of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma of the International Rotary. Mr. Stone and family are members of the First Baptist Church.

He was married at Topeka January 1, 1892, to Miss Lilhan A. Frazenr. Her parents came from Bridgeton, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have one child, Lillian A., who was married January 1, 1916, to Beryl R. Johnson of Topeka. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson both graduated in June, 1915, from Washburn College. They live in Topeka and he is now preparing for the practice of law.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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