[1] Over the next few years he practiced law and worked at newspapers in Evansville, Indiana, and Omaha, Nebraska.

[1][4] Now married to Sallie Sadler, in 1866 he moved to Pueblo, Colorado, to practice law.

Also in 1868, upon the founding of The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper, Stone became its first editor, a position he held until 1873.

[2][5] Stone promoted and worked for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, serving as its attorney until he was appointed to serve as an associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court in 1877 following the resignation of Ebenezer T. Wells.

He practiced law and held several positions until President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to serve as one of five judges on the Court of Private Land Claims on June 10, 1891.