11/30/2025
This is a stunning photo donated by Tom and Brenda Sloan of the William H. Stone home. This Queen-Anne Victorian home was built in 1892 and the photo shows who we can presume to be his family on the right: wife, Hattie and children, Leo, Leroy and Ruby.
According to online records, William H. Stone came to Iowa with his parents in 1860, at the age of eight years, crossing the river at McGregor and driving by team from there to Eden, in Fayette County. There, the family home was set up on a farm about four miles southeast of Waucoma. The family of four children grew up in this neighborhood and all of them lived in Fayette county the remainder of their lives. Mr. Stone, the second child in this family, was the last survivor.
Mr. Stone was educated in the public school at Eden, and studied two terms at Upper Iowa University where he roomed with Senator Newberry, of Strawberry Point. Beginning at the age of 18, he taught school several terms at Eden. In 1873 he went to Butte, Mont., which then had a population of 30 people. He spent two and one-half years prospecting for gold.
Mr. Stone married Hattie M. Moody on May 29, 1879. To them were born five children: Leo C. Stone, Waucoma; L. Oliver Stone, Jacksonville, Fla.; Ruby C. Antes, West Union, and two children who died in infancy. Mrs. Stone died May 25, 1914. On Dec. 10, 1916, Mr. Stone was married to Norma J. Searles who died July 2, 1939.
After his marriage, Mr. Stone engaged in farming for a short time. Then he moved to Waucoma and operated a hardware store for two years and for a time was a partner in a dry goods store. In 1882, he opened the Bank of Waucoma, which he owned and operated for 49 years. He also acquired extensive farming property and managed the same for many years. For approximately 30 years, he was treasurer of the Fayette County Mutual Fire Insurance association and for about the same period he served on the Waucoma School board, and as superintendent of the Sunday school of the Congregational church, at Waucoma.
