Stone was born in Jefferson County, New York, and moved with his family to Coshocton, Ohio in 1834.

In 1854, he moved to Knoxville, Iowa, where he opened a law practice and bought the local newspaper.

He was quickly promoted to captain, and then major, of Company B, 3rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Stone was named the Republican nominee for governor in June 1863, and resigned from the Union Army in August.

[2] However, no known primary or contemporaneous accounts describe that happening, and in fact, it is otherwise known that four members of a Pennsylvania artillery regiment actually handled the President.