WI BIO - Dane Co - STONER, George W. Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893, Vol I, pp 288-290 Hon. George W. STONER, one of the oldest residents of the city of Madison [Dane County], Wisconsin, a residence of so many years in one locality, which has changed as much as has this portion of Dane County, must have had many interesting experiences and, if space could be awarded in a work of this kind, no doubt the personal adventures of our subject would fill the book from cover to cover. When he located here, the great city, which is now known the world over, was but a settlement of two log houses. George W. STONER was born at Euclid [now in Lake County, but until 1840 was in Cuyahoga County], near Cleveland [Cuyahoga County], Ohio, 14 September 1830, and is the eldest son and fifth in order of birth of seven children, four girls and three boys, born to John and Magdalena STONER, natives, respectively, of Maryland and Pennsylvania. John STONER grew up in Maryland and learned the trade of cabinet maker, which he followed for a time in Pennsylvania. He [John STONER] enlisted in the War of 1812 and served to its close, after which he was married, and with his young wife removed to Ohio. They continued to reside there until all their children but one were born, when the limited products derived from a few acres of heavily timbered land became insufficient for the support of a large and growing family, and they sought the broad and fertile prairies of the, then, West, and in 1837 started overland to the Territory of Wisconsin. The last child born to them was the first white male child born in this city [Madison; situated in Dane County when that territorial county was formed in 1836], and was named Madison STONER, in honor of the place. He is now living in Denver, Colorado, being connected with the health department of that city. John and Magdalena STONER, the parents of our subject, started here in the most primitive style and were obliged to undergo many hardships, endure privations and self-denials, which should make their memory honored by those who have come later and now enjoy the benefits of civilization, which could only have been secured by the efforts of the pioneers. Their lives ended here and they passed away respected by all who knew them. John STONER was one of the first cabinet makers in Madison, and was prominent in the management of affairs pertaining to the growth and development of this new city and county. He was the first Treasurer of Dane County [WI], and is yet remembered as a man of unsullied character, thoroughly honest in all his dealings with mankind, and strictly temperate in all his habits, having never indulged in the use of tobacco or strong drink of any kind. In politics he was a firm JACKSON Democrat. The family removal took place from Euclid, now Lake County [then in Cuyahoga County], Ohio, when our subject was seven years of age, the trip being made overland and consuming just four weeks. They arrived in the new location 06 September 1837, at four o'clock in the afternoon, this being the first wagon that had ever come through from Janesville [Rock County], Wisconsin. They had to drive through the oak openings and open prairies without a road or trail of any kind, guided only by the aid of blazed trees made by a party of surveyors who had run a line through but a short time before. Arrived in Madison, they were fortunate in securing a rudely constructed log cabin, with an oak shake roof, without a floor, door or window, or even a fireplace, for which they paid the sum of $200 in cash. This cabin was built before the town was laid out, and after a survey had been made, proved to be in the center of North Hamilton Street, near Fourth Lake, where it remained for many years, until ordered removed by the street superintendent. This was antedated by but few in this locality, and was one of the first houses from which grew the city of Madison. Our subject was one of the first pupils at the State University, having attended school in the red brick in 1849, where the high school building is now located. In this connection may be appropriately mentioned a narrow escape from drowning, which he sustained. On the afternoon of 01 September 1852, while out alone on one of our beautiful lakes in a fine new sail boat, and when near the center of the lake, a severe wind storm suddenly sprang up, capsizing the boat, which being heavily ballasted with stone, rapidly sank to the bottom, leaving Mr. STONER to the mercy of the swells and blinding storm, with nothing to cling to but an empty gallon jug, tightly corked. To this he clung with deathlike tenacity for over three hours, and was driven by the furious wind and rain for a distance of three miles, when a dark object at last loomed in sight, which proved to be the shore. The boat has never been recovered and still reposes at the bottom of the lake. Mr. STONER owes his rescue from a watery grave to his perfect coolness in the face of danger, self-possession and the agency of the jug. After completing his education he went, in 1855, to Prairie du Chien [Grant County, WI], where he engaged in the land agency and insurance business for five years. He then joined the "innumerable throng" in pursuit of gold, crossing the plains to Pike's Peak in 1860, and visited, what is [p 290] the city of Denver, Colorado, before there was a house in the place. Remaining there through one season, he returned home, where he has continued to reside for many years, filling various clerical positions in the different State departments about the capitol. In 1869 he was elected Clerk of the Circuit for Dane County, the duties of which office he discharged with credit to himself and entire satisfaction to the members of the bar. He has been Enrolling Clerk of one branch or the other of the Wisconsin Legislature for more than twenty years, having first been appointed in 1859, under L. H. D. CRANE, Chief Clerk of the Assembly. He has filled every clerical position in that body except that of Chief Clerk. He was also Enrolling Clerk of the lower house of the Colorado Legislature for three successive winters, and is thoroughly conversant with the duties of that important office. Twelve years of the adventurous life of our subject was spent in Colorado, roughing it amid the mountain wilds and snow clad peaks of the old Rockies, engaged in mining and mining enterprises, with varied success. Leaving a temperature of sixty degrees below zero, with the snow from three to four feet deep, in the Gunnison country in the winter of 1888, in three and a half days of travel he was enjoying the Italian skies of Southern California, where flowers were in full bloom, grass several inches high, and lawns as fresh and green as in midsummer in the Northern States. This sudden transition was truly wonderful and can better be imagined than described. Here he was engaged in the cultivation of fruit. He obtained 100 acres of choice Government land in Fresno County, one of the richest and most productive portions of the State. This he designs devoting exclusively to fruit. His experiences on the frontier of the far West are of the deepest interest, as he has had some remarkable escapes and has traveled over a large scope of territory. He is a prolific writer for various periodicals, and his clear, terse style makes his letters from the far West very interesting. In the fall of 1857 our subject was married to Miss Abbie NOONAN, a native of Montgomery County, New York, and a sister of J. A. NOONAN, formerly Postmaster of Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, WI], who was one of the most prominent politicians in the State, now deceased. Mrs. STONER is a lady well known in Madison and among her neighbors near No. 146 East Gorham Street, where she now resides. Her home is regarded with the greatest affection on account of her neighborly kindness and sympathy. Mr. STONER still retains a warm love of his old Wisconsin home, around which cluster so many cherished memories of early pioneer days. He is one of five of the oldest inhabitants left in Dane County, and is highly esteemed by all his old friends and associates. Submitted by Cathy Kubly