James Andrus Blinn Stone (1810–1888) was a minister, professor, and school administrator. He was the first president of the

Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College is a private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833 by American Baptist Churches USA, Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute, K ...

. His wife, Lucinda Hinsdale Stone, was a partner and administrator at the school. He helped establish the Republican Party.

Biography

James Andrus B Stone was born on October 28, 1810, in Piermont, New Hampshire. He was educated at the local district school and a college preparatory school in Royalton, Vermont. He graduated with honors from

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists, Middlebury w ...

in 1834. After graduation, he was a tutor at Middlebury, and was then a principal at Hinesbury Academy. He attended

Andover Theological Seminary Andover Theological Seminary (1807–1965) was a Congregationalist seminary founded in 1807 and originally located in Andover, Massachusetts on the campus of Phillips Academy. From 1908 to 1931, it was located at Harvard University in Cambrid ...

for three years. He then was a minister at

Gloucester, Massachusetts Gloucester ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of North Shore (Massachusetts), Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census. ...

. He taught at the Newton Theological Institution. Stone led the school that became

from 1842 through 1863. Stone was responsible for institution of high academic standards that allowed the college to receive its

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

in 1855 and secured the support of the Baptists to establish the college. He became the first president about 1860. In 1843, Stone married Lucinda Hinsdale after he moved to Michigan. She was the first principal of the Ladies Department at the Kalamazoo Branch of the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, which became Kalamazoo College. Both administrators, the Stones introduced coeducation. They also promoted women's rights and abolitionism. Stone also played a role in the creation of the United States Republican Party. A meeting of disgruntled Michigan Whigs, Democrats, and abolitionists at the Stones'

Kalamazoo Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 73,598. It is the principal city of the Kalamazoo–Portage metropolitan are ...

residence set the date for an anti-slavery convention in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

that resulted in one of the formal births of the Republican Party. Stone died on May 19, 1888, in Detroit, Michigan, during a visit to his son James H. Stone.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stone, James 1810 births 1888 deaths Kalamazoo College faculty Presidents of Kalamazoo College People from Grafton County, New Hampshire Middlebury College alumni Andover Theological Seminary alumni