History of DeWitt County Illinois: with biographical sketches of prominent representative citizens of the county.
Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1910
LAWRENCE ELMER STONE. (Volume II, Page 29)
Lawrence Elmer Stone, attorney at law of Clinton, was born in Creek township, DeWitt county, December 19, 1875, the youngest of the three sons of William and Minerva (Murphy) Stone. His paternal grandfather was a native of Tennessee and in his family were a number of children including William Stone, who was born in Tennessee and devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He came to Illinois about 1870 and settled first in Piatt county, whence he removed to DeWitt county about 1872, taking up his abode on a farm near Lane. He was twice married, and by his first union had seven or eight children including: John A., of Bement, Illinois; Monroe, deceased; James, a farmer near Mount Vernon; Martha A., the deceased wife of James Plummer; Mary, the widow of J. A. Coppenbarger; and Lucinda, who married J. F. Ward, of Mansfield, Illinois. After the death of his first wife, William Stone wedded Minerva Murphy, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Richard and Sarah Murphy. Mr. and Mrs. William Stone became the parents of three sons: Charles, who is living in Paxton, Illinoi; Nathan L., who follows farming near DeLand; and Lawrence E. The mother had also been previously married ere becoming the wife of Mr. Stone. Her first husband was a Mr. Pennington, who was killed while serving as a soldier in the Civil war. There were three children by that union but only one is now living, a daughter, Martha. The death of Mr. Stone occurred in January, 1908, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years, and he is still survived by his wife who is a resident of Clinton. She holds membership in the Christian church to which Mr. Stone also belonged and his upright life won him the high regard and respect of all with whom he was associated.
Lawrence E. Stone spent his youthful days upon the home farm in this county and attended the district schools until he had mastered the elementary branches of learning. He afterward spent five years as a student in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, after which he returned to DeWitt county and was appointed deputy county clerk. While acting in that capacity he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in October, 1906. He then began practice in Clinton, where he has since remained, and is gradually building up a good clientage, his law work increasing in volume and importance as the months pass by. He is regarded as a young attorney of promise but of modest and quiet disposition. He stands well in the community and is a valuable acquisition to the ranks of the legal fraternity.
On the 9th of October, 1907, Mr. Stone was married to Miss Adah H. Griggs, a daughter of George A. and Susan (Humphrey) Griggs. Mrs. Stone was born in Auburn, Illinois, and her parents, who are also natives of this state, are now residing in Normal. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stone have been born two sons, William Griggs and Lawrence Elmer. Mr. Stone is a member of the Christian church and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is well known in the county where he has always resided, and where the record of his manhood is in harmony with the promise of his boyhood.
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