James Asahel Stone was born in Smithfield, Madison County, New York in 1856. His father died in a Civil War prison in Macon, Georgia in 1864. After attending Evans Academy, a private institution at Peterboro until he was thirteen, James came to Reedsburg with his family, where he continued his schooling. In 1875, he entered the University of Wisconsin but found his funds inadequate, so he left and taught school in Reedsburg during the winter months, supplementing his earnings with farm work during the summer. He saved his money and in 1881 again entered the University where he remained for two years, after which he entered the law office of Giles Stevens and later that of E. R. Perry, where he remained until he was admitted to the bar in 1889. Early in his profession he became more than moderately successful and identified himself with the progressive wing of the Republican Party.
Although Mr, Stone aided many men to gain political offices, he was never very successful in obtaining positions for himself. In 1897 he was defeated as judge of Sauk County; in 1900 Evan Evans won against him as Sergeant of the Assembly; from 1901 to 1903 he was Assistant Secretary of State, but found the salary inadequate, so he resigned; in 1904 he opposed J. W. Babcock for Congress, was again defeated, and when he considered trying for the position of Secretary of State, he wrote a friend on February 15, 1905, “My experience in politics is such as to make me feel that it is hardly worth the powder from a personal standpoint. The position I wish to occupy is one which can be so used as to help shape public sentiment and advance our principles without reference to the candidacy of any individual.” The next office he held was Federal Prohibition Director of Wisconsin from July 1921 to December 1922, resigning because he felt there was too much graft and corruption within the department. In 1928 he applied for a position on the Board of Control but was again unsuccessful. Despite defeat and disappointments, he retained his interest in politics and corresponded with all of the governors, many lieutenant-governors, senators, and congressmen of Wisconsin and elsewhere until his death in 1946. The value of the collection is, no doubt, to be found in this correspondence with important political figures of the times.
As a charter member of the Progressive Party, Mr. Stone was a great friend and admirer of the La Follette family, particularly Robert M., Sr. In 1898 letters between the two men begin to appear and continue until La Follette's death in 1925. He corresponded also with Mrs. La Follette, Robert M., Jr., and Philip. Although there are some personal and family letters, the bulk of the La Follette correspondence concerns important issues of the day. He worked with Robert, Sr. to eliminate the free pass system used so freely by railroads to gain political favors; they discussed the benefits of the primary election, free text books for schools, widows' pensions, woman suffrage (Mrs. La Follette was very interested in this subject), and other timely subjects. In 1912 La Follette telegraphed the attorney to inquire if he would go on a lecture tour in North Dakota. Stone accepted and delivered many political speeches throughout that state. The same year he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago and kept the records of that meeting in a volume that is filed in Box 20 of the collection. Because of his friendship with La Follette, in 1916 he again was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
On the Volstead Act and Eighteenth Amendment the two men differed. La Follette believed that no man had the right to tell another what he might eat or drink, while Stone was a member of the Anti-Saloon League for many years and Federal Prohibition Director of Wisconsin. When La Follette opposed the United States' entrance into World War I, like many other men, Stone broke with his friend and wrote letters opposing the stand he had taken. However, after the Armistice was signed, the two men again became friendly and letters, although less frequently exchanged, were cordial.
In 1925 after the Senator`s death, Stone thought Mrs. La Follette the best qualified person to fill the unexpired term of her husband and wrote her to that effect but she was not interested. Later, both sons received his endorsement, the elder for United States Senator, the younger for Governor of Wisconsin.
Not only was the Reedsburg attorney interested in politics, but he was active in furthering the interests of education in Sauk County. He donated the land in Reedsburg to erect the Sauk County Normal school and served as President of the county school board for thirty-one years, procuring the best teachers to be found; for two terms he was City Superintendent of Schools and for three years he was a member of the board of education. He aided in establishing the Free Public Library of Reedsburg and was a member of the board of directors. City attorney and alderman were other positions he held and letters concerning all of these phases of his life are to be found in abundance in the correspondence.
During his declining years, although often bedridden, his interest in current events never lessened. On January 3, 1938, Stone wrote to Senator Norris protesting Japanese aggression in China and favoring increased naval appropriations to prevent war. But when war was declared, he did what he could to aid his country and wrote articles to Mr. Evjue and other editors expressing his views concerning issues of importance, some of which were published in the Capital Times and other papers.
