Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Stone, Amasa

STONE, Amasa, philanthropist, b. in Charlton, Mass., 27 April, 1818; d. in Cleveland, Ohio, 11 May, 1883. He began life as an architect, at twenty-one was engaged in the construction of railroad bridges, and while still young became the first bridge-builder in the country. In partnership with two friends he constructed the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati railroad, and afterward the Cleveland and Erie, of which roads he was made superintendent. He was next engaged in building the Chicago and Milwaukee road. He was the president and director of numerous railroads and other industrial and financial corporations, was frequently consulted by President Lincoln in regard to matters of army transportation, and was offered by him an appointment as brigadier-general. He spent a year in Europe in 1868-'9. Mr. Stone gave large sums in charity to the city of Cleveland. He built and endowed the Home for aged women and the Industrial school for children, and gave $600,000 to Adelbert college of Western Reserve university.