Stone, Julius F. (Julius Frederick), 1855-1947

Trustee of the Ohio State University, businessman, explorer and philanthropist.

Julius Frederick Stone was born June 1, 1855, near Devil's Lake, Lenawee County, Michigan, the son of Franz Theodore Stone and Emilie Julie Johanna Sydow Stone. Franz Theodore, an astronomer, came to the United States following the German Revolution of 1848. It was then that his original last name, Stein, was changed to Stone. Julius Stone was one of the eleven children produced by Franz Theodore and Emilie Stone.

Although Julius Stone spent his early years on a farm and completed only six years of formal education, he gained broad culture and knowledge through extensive reading. At age 12 (1867), he began work as a railroad telegrapher and continued to work on the railroad until 1880. He was involved in coal mining in Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois and Iowa until 1903. In 1900 he married Edna Alice Andress, who graduated from the Ohio State University that year. Their marriage produced five children: Julius F. Stone, Jr.; George Andress Stone; Franz Theodore Stone; Theodora Martha (Stone) Sutton and Natalia Sydow (Stone) Gage.

In 1909 Julius Stone led a major expedition by boat along the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He recounted his travels in a book entitled Canyon Country: The Romance of Water and a Grain of Sand . Later, he served as president of several large companies: Columbus McKinnon Chain Company; Chisholm Moore Hoist Company of Canada; Case, Crane and Colborne-Jacobs Company; and Banc Ohio Corporation. He also served as chairman of the board of Seagrave Corporation, manufacturer of fire equipment.

In 1925 Julius Stone purchased Gibraltar Island, once the summer home of Jay Cooke, and donated it to Ohio State University for Lake Erie research. The laboratory is called the Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory in honor of Julius Stone's father.

Julius Stone also served on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University. He was initially appointed to the board in May 1909 and served until March 1917. In March 1925 he filled the unexpired term of Charles F. Kettering; that term ended in 1930. Stone was appointed for another term from 1930 until 1937. He served a total of 20 years on the board of trustees.

In 1938, Julius Stone was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from Ohio State. He continued to aid in philanthropic projects of the University.

On July 25, 1947, at the age of 92, Julius Stone died in Santa Monica, California.