Stone was born on January 15, 1875, in Nevada, Missouri, to Louise and William J.

Stone,[1] Stone received a Bachelor of Letters degree from the University of Missouri in 1895 and attended Harvard Law School, though he read law to enter the bar in 1898.

[2] On December 19, 1916, Stone was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Judge Elmer B. Adams.

Stone was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1916, and received his commission the same day.

He assumed senior status on May 15, 1947, serving in that capacity until his death on February 27, 1958.