J. Riley Stone

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This article is about the 20th century Wisconsin state legislator. For the 20th century Canadian Army officer, see James Riley Stone.
James Riley Stone
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Sauk County district
In office
January 3, 1949 – January 5, 1959
Preceded byGeorge J. Woerth
Succeeded byWalter Terry
Sheriff of Sauk County, Wisconsin
In office
August 15, 1945 – January 3, 1949
Appointed byWalter Samuel Goodland
Preceded byClayton H. Wilcox
Succeeded byJames W. Hayes
Personal details
Born(1886-10-17)October 17, 1886
Sully County, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 1978(1978-02-25) (aged 91)
Reedsburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeGreen Wood Cemetery, Reedsburg
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Vera Amalia Milhaupt
​
​
(m. 1916⁠–⁠1978)​
Children9
RelativesFrank J. Remington (son-in-law)
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
ProfessionFarmer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceWisconsin National Guard
United States Army
Years of service1917–1918
Rank1st Lieutenant, USA
Unit
Battles/warsWorld War I

James Riley Stone Sr. (October 17, 1886 – February 25, 1978) was an American farmer, businessman, and Republican politician from Reedsburg, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for five terms, representing Sauk County from 1949 through 1959. He also served four years as sheriff.

Biography[edit]

James Riley Stone was born in Sully County, South Dakota, in October 1886. As a child, he moved with his parents to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where he resided for most of the rest of his life. He was educated in the Reedsburg public schools for elementary and high school, and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University's College of Commerce (now the Wisconsin School of Business) in 1907.[1]

Stone was involved for some time in the Wisconsin National Guard, and when the United States became involved in World War I, he was selected for service in the United States Army.[2] He initially served as an enlisted soldier in the 341st Infantry Regiment—a mobilized Wisconsin National Guard unit—but after a series of transfers, ended up serving as a first lieutenant in the 75th Field Artillery Regiment.[3]

After the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Volstead Act, creating a legal framework for alcohol prohibition, Stone was appointed the federal prohibition director for Wisconsin.[4] After several years in that role, in 1925, he was appointed postmaster at Reedsburg.[5][6]

Stone was also involved with his father in a large farm real-estate business. By 1930 they owned ten farms which were rented to tenants, and Stone later purchased two dairy farms for his own use.[7] After the implementation of the New Deal, Stone served for ten years as an agent of the Federal Land Bank. Through his farm interests, he was also an active member and officer in the Sauk County Farm Association.[8][9]

Stone first served in county office in 1945, when he was appointed sheriff of Sauk County by Governor Walter Samuel Goodland, to fill a vacancy.[10] He was subsequently elected to a full term as sheriff in 1946, running on the Republican Party ticket.[11]

Two years later, Stone chose to enter the race for Wisconsin State Assembly in Sauk County, launching a primary challenge against George J. Woerth, who had previously been a member of the Wisconsin Progressive Party. Stone narrowly defeated Woerth in the September 1948 primary, and went on to win the general election with 73% of the vote.[12][13] He was re-elected four times, but was unsuccessful seeking a sixth term in 1958. He was defeated in the Republican primary by Walter Terry, who went on to succeed him in the Assembly.[14]

Stone remained active in local politics after leaving the Assembly, and served several terms as member and later president of the Reedsburg school board.[15][16]

He died at his home in Reedsburg on February 25, 1978, at age 91.[1]

Personal life and family[edit]

James Riley Stone was the second of three children born to James Aschel Stone and Mary "Minnie" Louise Stone (née Corwith). James R. Stone's mother was born and raised in Sauk County, Wisconsin, before her marriage to James A. Stone and their brief move to South Dakota. After their return to Wisconsin, James A. Stone served on the Sauk County board of supervisors.

Stone married Vera A. Milhaupt, of New Holstein, Wisconsin, on October 10, 1916.[17] They had nine children, though one son died in childhood, and were married for 61 years before his death in 1978.[1] Vera died three years later, at the time of her death, they had 30 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.[18]

Four of Stone's sons served in the armed forces, three in World War II, one in the Vietnam War:

  • Richard W. Stone (born 1919) was an officer in the United States Army and rose to the rank of captain, serving in the headquarters company of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. He participated in the Normandy landings on D-Day, and fought in northern France for three months before being mortally wounded on September 8, 1944.[19]
  • Edward L. Stone (born 1920) was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was wounded at the Battle of Corregidor in May 1942 and was taken prisoner as the Japanese conquered the Philippines. He remained a prisoner for the rest of the war, surviving three years of captivity.[20] After the war he had a successful career with International Dairy Supply Co.
  • Frederick Stone (born 1923) was enlisted in the Army and served in a combat engineering battalion in France during World War II.
  • Lawrence J. Stone (born 1930) was too young to serve in World War II, but served more than 15 years as a U.S. Army officer. He earned a bronze star while serving in the Vietnam War as commanding officer of the 156th Aviation Company. He ultimately attained the rank of lieutenant colonel, serving as commander of the 1st battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, after his return from Vietnam.[21]

Their other children also had notable public service:

  • Susan (born 1922) left school to work in an ammunition factory during World War II. She married Frank J. Remington, then a U.S. Army pilot.[22] Frank Remington went on to become a prominent figure in the evolution of the University of Wisconsin, and a nationally renowned legal scholar in reforming the criminal justice system. He is the namesake of the Frank J. Remington Center at the University of Wisconsin Law School.[23]
  • Mark H. Stone (born 1926) spent most of his life as an educator, and was superintendent of the Little Chute School District from 1971 to 1990.[24]
  • Patrick E. Stone (born 1932) was city treasurer for many years in Reedsburg and was director of the Sauk County Fair Board.[25]

Electoral history[edit]

Sauk County sheriff (1946)[edit]

Sauk County Sheriff Election, 1946[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1946
Republican James Riley Stone 9,227 93.54%
Socialist Carl F. Bloedau 637 6.46%
Plurality 8,590 87.08%
Total votes 9,864 100.0%

Wisconsin Assembly (1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1948 Primary[13] Sep. 21 James R. Stone Republican 3,072 54.69% George J. Woerth Rep. 2,545 45.31% 5,617 527
General[13] Nov. 2 James R. Stone Republican 9,279 72.97% Melvin H. Flath Dem. 3,304 25.98% 29,741 5,103
Ethel Dahir Soc. 133 1.05%
1950 General[26] Nov. 7 James R. Stone (inc) Republican 7,637 61.24% Herbert R. Meyer Dem. 4,756 38.14% 12,470 2,881
Carl F. Bloedau Soc. 77 0.62%
1952 General[27] Nov. 4 James R. Stone (inc) Republican 11,303 66.36% Arnold E. Davis Dem. 5,730 33.64% 17,033 5,573
1954 General[28] Nov. 2 James R. Stone (inc) Republican 7,374 62.94% James R. Head Dem. 4,341 37.06% 11,715 3,033
1956 Primary[29] Sep. 11 James R. Stone (inc) Republican 2,741 50.95% Oscar L. Laper Rep. 2,479 46.08% 5,380 262
Frank Harmeyer Rep. 160 2.97%
General[29] Nov. 6 James R. Stone (inc) Republican 10,390 66.32% Wencle Bulin Dem. 5,276 33.68% 15,666 5,114
1958 Primary[14] Sep. 16 Walter Terry Republican 1,570 55.40% James R. Stone (inc) Rep. 1,264 44.60% 2,834 306

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "James Stone". Baraboo News Republic. February 27, 1978. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "District Board Selects List". Baraboo News Republic. August 31, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Camp Grant Notes of 341st Inf. "Wisconsin Eagles"". La Crosse Tribune. April 5, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Medical Beer Permits Issued". Wausau Daily Herald. November 4, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Senators O.K. Fifty Badger Postmasters Backed By Lenroot". The Capital Times. January 12, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Stone Named as Postmaster at Reedsburg". The Capital Times. December 19, 1924. p. 11. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Buys Reedsburg Farm Property". Baraboo News Republic. March 29, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "Members of the Legislature". Wisconsin Blue Book 1950 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. p. 67. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Stone Appointed Sheriff for Sauk". Wisconsin State Journal. July 24, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Stone Stars Work as Sauk Sheriff". Wisconsin State Journal. August 16, 1945. p. 7. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Sauk Republicans Victorious but Socialists Surprise 'Em". Wisconsin State Journal. November 6, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Hayes, Stone win Sauk Nominations". Wisconsin State Journal. September 22, 1948. p. 7. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "Parties and Elections". Wisconsin Blue Book 1950 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 664, 762. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 664. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "School Board Seat Goes to J. Riley Stone". Baraboo News Republic. April 14, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "School Project Defeated". The Capital Times. September 14, 1966. p. 46. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "The marriage of Miss Vera Amalia Milhaupt ..." Wisconsin State Journal. October 13, 1916. p. 5. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Vera Stone". Baraboo News Republic. February 11, 1981. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Richard Stone Dies of Wounds". Wisconsin State Journal. September 27, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Stone Arrives from Prison in Japan". Wisconsin State Journal. October 3, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Bronze Star Award for Major Stone". Baraboo News Republic. November 5, 1966. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Remington, Susan". Wisconsin State Journal. June 26, 2011. p. B3. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Filak, Vincent (February 10, 1996). "Remington, UW Leader, dies at 73". Wisconsin State Journal. p. B1. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Mark H. Stone". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 23, 1997. p. 21. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Patrick E. Stone". Baraboo News Republic. June 17, 2002. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 685, 751. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1954 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 666, 764. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1956 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 714, 754. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1958). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1958 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 677, 779. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Sauk County district
January 3, 1949 – January 5, 1959 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Clayton H. Wilcox
 Sheriff of Sauk County, Wisconsin
August 15, 1945 – January 3, 1949 		Succeeded by
James W. Hayes
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