Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters. 49 
a strong and popular institution. By virtue of the 
wholesale and jobbing trade which Sioux City has in Ne- 
braska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, the First National 
Bank has extensive business connections in all the vast 
northwest region. In early days Mr. Stone foresaw from 
its location that Sioux City must in time become a large 
and important place, and he began to purchase lots in 
choice locations, which as the city grew would increase 
rapidly in value. As years went by his most sanguine 
expectations were realized, and many of the lots are now 
covered with the best business blocks of the city. 
“Mr. Stone was connected with the private company 
which built the waterworks plant now owned by the city. 
He was president of the Library and Building Associa- 
tion which erected the magnificent stone building at the 
corner of Sixth and Douglas streets. He was one of the 
chief spirits in building the Congregational church and 
the Samaritan Hospital.” 
Mr. Stone had many friends and few enemies. In 
an editorial in the Sioux City Journal at the time of his 
death Mr. Geo. D. Perkins said, “Mr. Stone, while cau- 
tious in making loans, was very forbearing with his 
friends. Those familiar with his dealings say he never 
foreclosed a mortgage where he had confidence in the 
integrity of his customer or the sufficiency of the prop- 
erty. In other words, he never availed himself of the 
financial distress or embarrassment of men with whom 
he did business. He wanted his own but beyond that 
he wanted every man to have whatever he could 
realize for himself. So it was that here and there in the 
earlier times he held up many men. He nursed their 
property for them, and with their death he cared as best 
he could for their widows and children. He never made 
display of his benefactions, but his gentleness, his liber- 
ality, his continuous consideration will be remembered 
by many.” His happiest moments were spent with his 
four little grand-children on Sabbath afternoons. One 
of his most marked characteristics was his charity for 
his enemies of whom, however, he had exceedingly few. 
He never spoke unkindly or harshly of any one even in 
the presence of those nearest and dearest to him. He 
was much interested in literature and scientific subjects. 
