STONER, William Payne - Putnam

A man who has long been active and influential in the affairs of Putnam County, reaping a just reward for his many years of endeavor along legitimate lines, and now living in honorable retirement in the city of Greencastle, surrounded by the evidences of his former years of thrift and good management, is William Payne Stoner. He comes down to us from the pioneer days in this county, the Stoner family having ived here when this city was a village. He was born on the old homstead two miles from Greencastle, Feb 7, 1843. A complete sketch of his parents and ancestors is to be found on another page of this work, under the caption of Lycrugus Stoner. William P. Stoner remained at home until he was 18, when although a lad, he could not repress his patriotism at President Lincoln's urgent call for troops to suppress the rebellion in the Southand in the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, 78th Regt Indiana Volunteer Infantry for the purpose of serving along the Ohio River. After being in the field 30 days he was captured by the Confederates at Uniontown, Ky who made a raid on the Union camp, taking two companies of the regiment at that time. They were soon paroled and Mr. Stoner came home and was discharged; however, he was not contented to remain idle when he was needed in the field and in 1864 he enlisted in the heavy artillery for one year and served until August 1865 principally at Baton Rouge. His company was detached from the main army and was sent to Ft. William until after Lee's surrender. They were sent up the Red River for the purpose of securing stores that had been surrendered. Mr. Stones (sic) was educated in the common schools of the county. With his two brother he bought a farm near Manhattan, Washington Twp, where he remained 11 years, during which time he got a good start. At the death of his father in 1876 he returned to the old home place and began farming a part of the same, part of the original entry from the government, known as the Hathaway farm, lying in Greencastle Twp, adjoining the orginal Stoner farm. He erected a comfortable and substantial dwelling and other buildings on the place in 1878 and lived there very comfortably until 1905, making, besides general agricultural pursuits, stock raising a specialty, becoming widely known in this special feature, being one of the first men in this locality to breed heavy draft horses. For a period of 15 years he spent the major part of the winters in Louisiana, 53 miles north of New Orleans, having bought land there and stocked it with cattle. He understood well thep roper care of all kinds of livestock and the greater part of his income was derived from this source. One thing that took him to the South during the winter was rheumatism, with which he has been troubled for 26 years. He added 40 acres to the old farm, making a total of 222 acres, which he still retains, having disposed of his other valuable property about 5 years ago. He is reluctant to part with his farm here, all of which was formerly owned by his father. It is still very productive, having been very skillfully tilled and property cared for. He purchased his entire attractive and tastily furnished city residence some time ago; it was known as the Ed. Hanneman homestead, the latter known as the builder of the local opera house. Mr. Stoner's sons are now operating the farm in partnership. Politically, Mr. Stoner is a Republican but he has never held office, preferring to lead a quiet life and give his attention exclusively to his farm and stock. he is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Stoner was married Feb 7, 1872, while living on his farm in Washington Twp, to Mary Parritt, daughter of Burr G. and Almeda Benedict Parritt, a well known family of Hamricks, this county where they conducted a store. Mrs. Stoner was born in the state of Conn and came to Putnam County when 7 and grew to maturity here and was educated in the public schools. Her father died in this county being over 70. He took considerable interest in public affairs. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoner: Ernest, employed in the post office at Greencastle; Omer is active manager of the farm; Mary Almeda married James Lynch of Danville, Indiana; Andrew P. also lives on the home farm, but he is a civil engineer by profession adn is engaged most of the time in railroad work in the civil engineering department. This family deserves a very high rank among the leading citizens of Putnam County, having always been industrious, honorable in all the relations of life and interested in the public welfare.