Colonel John Marshall Stone

Governor of Mississippi for a longer period of time than anyone else, Colonel John M. Stone once refused promotion to major general because it would have meant leaving his troops.

Born on April 30, 1830 in Milan, Teneessee, Stone's family was fairly poor and he hence did not attend college. Nonetheless, he was a studious young man and eventually taught himself and began to teach school. In 1855, he moved to Mississippi and became a station agent in Iuka for the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

When the War between the North and South broke out, Stone quickly enlisted in the Southern army. He saw action in Virgina commanding Company K of the 2nd Mississippi regiment (the "Iuka Rifles") at rank of captain. Eventually rose. to be elected colonel and to take command of the regiment by April 22, 1862. Stone's regiment served for a period of time in John Bell Hood's division and he was wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg. Transfered to Davis's brigade in Heth's division, he was also severely wounded in a tangle with the 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade at the Railroad Cut on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg. Stone eventually had temporary command for periods of time when Brigadeir General J.R. Davis was absent. He performed especially good service in the Wilderness leading Henry Heth to declare Stone had fairly earned promotion as Major-General. In early 1865, Stone was sent to recruit troops for the 2nd Mississippi. However, he was captured when Stoneman’s cavalry raided Salisbury, North Carolina in mid-April 1865, even though he led a spirited defense. He was held at Camp Chase and on Johnson's Island in Ohio until paroled June 25, 1865.

When the War ended and he was released, Stone returned to Mississippi and was elected mayor and treasurer of his home county. Stone married in 1872 to Mary G. Coman. He was then elected to the state senate in 1869 and 1873, eventually becoming President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate. When Union General Adelbert Ames, who had been installed as Mississippi's governor, resigned in 1876, Stone became the acting governor of Mississippi when the lieutenant-governor was impeached and removed from office. He was elected as a Democrat back to the office in 1877 (the Republicans ran no-one against him and he won 97,729 votes to 47), but lost re-election to Robert Lowry in 1881. Stone ran again for governor in 1889, winning a term that was eventually extended until 1896. Stone was a popular governor because of his tax cuts and his involvement of railroad development in the state. He was also a supporter of the new state consitution. Stone was somewhat active in Confederate veteran affairs after the War.

After serving as governor, Stone served as president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College at Starkville. In July 1894 he was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service on charges of counterfeiting, but the charges held no water -- the state of Mississippi had issued a special state warrant that was similar in color, size, shape, and appearance to United States currency. Stone called it “a most outrageous proceeding.”

Stone had two children with his wife, but unfortunately both died at early ages. However, Stone eventually adopted three children of his brother's which were raised as his and Mary's own. Stone died in Holly Springs, Mississippi on March 26 (some sources say the 2d), 1900. He was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Iuka. Stone County, Mississippi is named for him. His home, Twin Magnolias in Iuka still stands today. General Henry Little died in the house after the battle of Iuka in the master bedroom; the house held many wounded soldiers.