My Genealogy Hound

A. R. STONER, miller, McLean. The firm of Stoner, Aldrich & Co., proprietors of the Mount Hope Mills, is without a doubt the most prominent milling firm in McLean Co.; Mr. Aldrich does the general outside business of the firm, Mr. Stoner being the practical miller, and Mr. Bachman, foreman, the elevator in connection with the mill being the individual property of Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Stoner, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Harrisburg, Penn.; he learned the trade of a miller in Lebanon Co. of that State; served a two years apprenticeships and before leaving had entire charge of a seven-run mill; this alone, is pretty good evidence of his practical ability; he has done considerable traveling to have succeeded so well, if we remember the old maxim, “A rolling stone gathers no moss;” in 1853, he came West and began milling in Peoria; he was there but a short time; from there he went to Mackinaw, then back to Peoria, and, in 1860, went West, where he spent four years; one and a half years of the time he spent in the Walla Walla Valley; made his home trip in 1864, to the East; same year he came West, and, in 1867, located at McLean. In 1868, they began building the mill of which he is still one of the proprietors; they have three run of stone, with a flouring capacity of about one hundred barrels daily; their trade is about equally divided between custom and merchant milling; their manufacture of flour is so well-known that no commendations are required; they are, as a firm, men who have won the entire confidence of the community by honorable and square dealing.