He was descended from Simon Stone, Jr (1631 - 1708), who was born in Bocking, Essex, England, and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

[2] In 1864, Stone enlisted in the Union Army as a private during the American Civil War, and became a second lieutenant in 1865.

Stone served four terms in the United States House of Representatives before running for governor in 1898.

During his term in office, Pennsylvania's state debt was eliminated, and a new capitol building was commissioned.

After serving as governor, Stone joined his son in private law practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.