John Marshall Stone (April 30, 1830 – March 26, 1900) was an American politician from Mississippi. A Democrat, he served longer as governor of that state than anyone else, from 1876 to 1882 and again from 1890 to 1896. He approved a new constitution in 1890 passed by the Democratic-dominated state legislature that disfranchised most African Americans, excluding them from the political system[1] for more than 75 years.
With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Stone enlisted in the Confederate States Army that April. He commanded Company K of the Second Mississippi Infantry and saw action in Virginia. In 1862, Stone, a colonel, was placed in command of another regiment due to a reorganization. Stone was highly commended by his division commander Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, and in 1864, he frequently commanded the brigade. In January 1865, he recruited in Mississippi and commanded local troops countering Stoneman's 1865 Raid. He and his men were captured in North Carolina and imprisoned in Camp Chase, Ohio; later transferred to Johnson's Island, Ohio.
Political careeredit
Governor John M. Stone
At the end of the war, Stone returned to Tishomingo County. He was elected mayor and treasurer. In 1869, he won a race to become state senator, winning re-election in 1873. State elections were marked by fraud and violence; the Red Shirts, a paramilitary group, worked to disrupt and suppress black voting and turned Republicans out of office. After Governor Adelbert Ames resigned in 1876, Stone, who was president pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate at that time, served as the acting governor.
In the 1877 election, Stone won the governor's office as a Democrat. In 1881 he was defeated for re-election by Robert Lowry. Stone became governor again after winning the 1889 election. The gubernatorial term was extended through 1896 by the new Mississippi Constitution of 1890. Determined to keep control and maintain white supremacy, the Democratic-dominated legislature effectively disfranchised most blacks in the state by adding a requirement to the constitution for voter registration for payment of poll taxes. Two years later, they passed laws requiring literacy tests that were administered by white officials in a discriminatory way. These requirements, with additions in the legislation of 1892, resulted in a 90% reduction in the number of blacks who voted in Mississippi.[3] In most counties a handful of prominent black ministers and local leaders were allowed to vote. African Americans were essentially excluded from the political system for 75 years until after the passage of federal civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s.[3] When this constitution and laws survived an appeal to the US Supreme Court, other former Confederate states quickly adopted the "Mississippi Plan" and passed disfranchising constitutions through 1908.[3] Voter rolls dropped dramatically in other former Confederate states as well, and white Democrats dominated politics except in a few Republican areas, primarily in Appalachia but also in the Ozarks and Texas Hill Country, that had resisted secession during the Civil War era.
After the war, Stone married Mary G. Coman in 1872. The couple had two children who died young. They adopted three children of John's brother and raised them as their own.
Stone Boulevard at Mississippi State is named for him.
The John M. Stone Cotton Mill in Starkville was formerly named in his honor. However, it was renamed the E.E. Cooley Building after being purchased by Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1965. This building was used for many years to house the university's physical plant.[7] The building reopened in 2015 as an event center.[8]
^Stone, John M. (March 11, 1890). . Jackson Mississippi: Executive Office of the State of Mississippi. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
^Chester County, TN November 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2018-04-21.
^ abcMichael Perman, Struggle for Mastery: Disfranchisement in the South, 1888–1908 (2000), ch 4
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For other people named John Stone see John Stone disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John Marshall Stone news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message John Marshall Stone April 30 1830 March 26 1900 was an American politician from Mississippi A Democrat he served longer as governor of that state than anyone else from 1876 to 1882 and again from 1890 to 1896 He approved a new constitution in 1890 passed by the Democratic dominated state legislature that disfranchised most African Americans excluding them from the political system 1 for more than 75 years John Marshall Stone31st and 33rd Governor of MississippiIn office March 29 1876 January 2 1882LieutenantVacant 1876 1878 William H Sims 1878 1882 Preceded byAdelbert AmesSucceeded byRobert LowryIn office January 13 1890 January 20 1896LieutenantM M EvansPreceded byRobert LowrySucceeded byAnselm J McLaurinMember of the Mississippi State SenateIn office 1869 1876Personal detailsBorn 1830 04 30 April 30 1830Milan TennesseeDiedMarch 26 1900 1900 03 26 aged 69 Holly Springs MississippiPolitical partyDemocraticSignature Contents 1 Early life 2 American Civil War 3 Political career 4 Later life 5 Personal life 6 Legacy and honors 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editBorn in Milan Tennessee Stone was the son of Asher and Judith Stone natives of Virginia who were part of the migration to the west He did not attend college since his family was fairly poor but he studied a great deal and eventually taught school He lived in Jacks Creek Tennessee before moving to Tishomingo County Mississippi in 1855 2 Stone became a station agent at Iuka when the Memphis and Charleston Railroad opened American Civil War editWith the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 Stone enlisted in the Confederate States Army that April He commanded Company K of the Second Mississippi Infantry and saw action in Virginia In 1862 Stone a colonel was placed in command of another regiment due to a reorganization Stone was highly commended by his division commander Maj Gen Henry Heth and in 1864 he frequently commanded the brigade In January 1865 he recruited in Mississippi and commanded local troops countering Stoneman s 1865 Raid He and his men were captured in North Carolina and imprisoned in Camp Chase Ohio later transferred to Johnson s Island Ohio Political career edit nbsp Governor John M Stone At the end of the war Stone returned to Tishomingo County He was elected mayor and treasurer In 1869 he won a race to become state senator winning re election in 1873 State elections were marked by fraud and violence the Red Shirts a paramilitary group worked to disrupt and suppress black voting and turned Republicans out of office After Governor Adelbert Ames resigned in 1876 Stone who was president pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate at that time served as the acting governor In the 1877 election Stone won the governor s office as a Democrat In 1881 he was defeated for re election by Robert Lowry Stone became governor again after winning the 1889 election The gubernatorial term was extended through 1896 by the new Mississippi Constitution of 1890 Determined to keep control and maintain white supremacy the Democratic dominated legislature effectively disfranchised most blacks in the state by adding a requirement to the constitution for voter registration for payment of poll taxes Two years later they passed laws requiring literacy tests that were administered by white officials in a discriminatory way These requirements with additions in the legislation of 1892 resulted in a 90 reduction in the number of blacks who voted in Mississippi 3 In most counties a handful of prominent black ministers and local leaders were allowed to vote African Americans were essentially excluded from the political system for 75 years until after the passage of federal civil rights legislation in the mid 1960s 3 When this constitution and laws survived an appeal to the US Supreme Court other former Confederate states quickly adopted the Mississippi Plan and passed disfranchising constitutions through 1908 3 Voter rolls dropped dramatically in other former Confederate states as well and white Democrats dominated politics except in a few Republican areas primarily in Appalachia but also in the Ozarks and Texas Hill Country that had resisted secession during the Civil War era Later life editFollowing his term as governor in 1899 Stone accepted a position as the 2nd President of Mississippi A amp M now Mississippi State University in Starkville Stone died in Holly Springs Mississippi in 1900 at 69 He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Iuka Mississippi 4 5 6 Personal life editAfter the war Stone married Mary G Coman in 1872 The couple had two children who died young They adopted three children of John s brother and raised them as their own Legacy and honors editIn 1916 Stone County Mississippi was named in his honor posthumously Stone Boulevard at Mississippi State is named for him The John M Stone Cotton Mill in Starkville was formerly named in his honor However it was renamed the E E Cooley Building after being purchased by Mississippi State University MSU in 1965 This building was used for many years to house the university s physical plant 7 The building reopened in 2015 as an event center 8 See also editList of governors of Mississippi List of lieutenant governors of Mississippi List of presidents of Mississippi State UniversityReferences edit Stone John M March 11 1890 Proclamation Jackson Mississippi Executive Office of the State of Mississippi Archived from the original on October 2 2015 Retrieved August 5 2015 Chester County TN Archived November 16 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2018 04 21 a b c Michael Perman Struggle for Mastery Disfranchisement in the South 1888 1908 2000 ch 4 Political Graveyard entry Mississippi Governor John Marshall Stone John Marshall Stone Thirty first and Thirty third Governor of Mississippi 1876 1882 1890 1896 Archived October 9 2010 at the Wayback Machine E E Cooley Building John M Stone Cotton Mill Archived November 3 2013 at the Wayback Machine History of the Mill The Mill at MSU Retrieved February 11 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Marshall Stone Mississippi State University General Information Gallery of the Presidents John Marshall Stone entry at the National Governors Association John Marshall Stone entry at The Political Graveyard John Marshall Stone at Find a Grave Party political offices VacantTitle last held byBenjamin G Humphreys Democratic nominee for Governor of Mississippi1877 Succeeded byRobert Lowry Preceded byRobert Lowry Democratic nominee for Governor of Mississippi1889 Succeeded byAnselm J McLaurin Political offices Preceded byAlexander K Davis Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi1876 1878 Succeeded byWilliam H Sims Preceded byAdelbert Ames Governor of Mississippi1876 1882 Succeeded byRobert Lowry Preceded byRobert Lowry Governor of Mississippi1890 1896 Succeeded byAnselm J McLaurin Academic offices Preceded byGeneral Stephen D Lee President of Mississippi State University1899 1900 Succeeded byJohn Crumpton Hardy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Marshall Stone amp oldid 1161497793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
