A native of Chautauqua County New York, and was born in the town of Ellery, on the 24th of February, 1831, his parents being George and Catherine (Cheney) Stoneman. John T. prepared for college at the Jamestown Academy, devoting his summers of this period to labors on a farm. At twenty he went to Covington, Kentucky, and taught school one year. He then entered Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and graduated in 1856. While in Kentucky, Mr. Stoneman commenced reading law with Judge R. B. Carpenter, and during his college course he spent his vacations at the Albany New York, law school. He was there admitted to the bar in January, 1855. In graduating from college, he came West and located in McGregor in October, 1856. There he was in steady practice of his profession from that time till the spring of 1882, when he removed from McGregor. Mr. Stoneman was the first recorder of the town of McGregor, being elected in 1857, he was mayor of the city in 1863, and was elected to the State Senate in 1875. He was originally a Whig, and for the last twenty-four years has acted with the Democrats, being one of the leading members of his party in Northern Iowa. He has been a candidate for different offices, but being in the minority side in politics, has usually been defeated. He was the Democratic nominee for Congress once; two years later the Democratic and Liberal candidate, and twice received the votes of the Democratic members of the legislature for the U. S. Senate. In March, 1858, Mr. Stoneman was united in marriage with Caroline Southland.

A native of Chautauqua County New York, and was born in the town of Ellery, on the 24th of February, 1831, his parents being George and Catherine (Cheney) Stoneman. John T. prepared for college at the Jamestown Academy, devoting his summers of this period to labors on a farm. At twenty he went to Covington, Kentucky, and taught school one year. He then entered Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and graduated in 1856. While in Kentucky, Mr. Stoneman commenced reading law with Judge R. B. Carpenter, and during his college course he spent his vacations at the Albany New York, law school. He was there admitted to the bar in January, 1855. In graduating from college, he came West and located in McGregor in October, 1856. There he was in steady practice of his profession from that time till the spring of 1882, when he removed from McGregor. Mr. Stoneman was the first recorder of the town of McGregor, being elected in 1857, he was mayor of the city in 1863, and was elected to the State Senate in 1875. He was originally a Whig, and for the last twenty-four years has acted with the Democrats, being one of the leading members of his party in Northern Iowa. He has been a candidate for different offices, but being in the minority side in politics, has usually been defeated. He was the Democratic nominee for Congress once; two years later the Democratic and Liberal candidate, and twice received the votes of the Democratic members of the legislature for the U. S. Senate. In March, 1858, Mr. Stoneman was united in marriage with Caroline Southland.