Following the recent restoration of the mausoleum of Thomas Struthers – a founding father of Warren – the Oakland Cemetery has begun its next significant preservation project: the monument of Charles W. Stone and his family.

Stone was a prominent figure in both Warren County and Pennsylvania’s political landscape during the late 19th century. Born in 1843 in Massachusetts, he moved to Warren in 1863 and quickly became woven into the fabric of the community. He first served as superintendent of schools in Warren County and, after studying law, was admitted to the bar in 1867. He practiced law in Warren for the rest of his life, except for his years in public office.

Stone’s public service began locally but soon reached the state and national levels. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1870-71) and the Pennsylvania Senate (1877-78).

From 1879 to 1883, he was the second lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, and later was appointed secretary of the Commonwealth in 1887, resigning the position to accept a congressional nomination.

Times Observer Photo by Monica Keller Pictured is the house Stone lived on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Liberty Street.

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Stone served five consecutive terms from the 51st to the 55th Congress, ultimately rising to chairman of the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. Though his 1898 run for governor of Pennsylvania was unsuccessful, he returned to Warren to resume his legal practice and remained a well-regarded community member until his death in 1912 at the age of 69.

His home – an elegant structure that still stands at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Liberty Street – is a reminder of his enduring legacy in Warren.

Stone and his wife, Lizzie Moorhead of Erie, raised four daughters. Their second daughter, Ann Stone DeFrees, married Joseph Hutton DeFrees, and their family’s legacy would continue to leave a mark on Warren long after Charles’s passing.

One of their children, Joseph DeFrees (1905-1982), later resided in his grandfather’s historic home and converted the adjacent Hazeltine House into a museum honoring Charles W. Stone’s life and contributions. But Joseph DeFrees’ greatest gift to Warren may be his philanthropic foresight: he and his siblings established the DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, which has for decades provided vital support to community nonprofits and public projects.

Now, the DeFrees Family Memorial Fund is fully funding the restoration of the Charles W. Stone family monument at Oakland Cemetery.

Shown is the monument in Oakland Cemetery that is going to be restored.

Oakland Cemetery is not just a resting place but a living museum, containing the graves of individuals who helped shape the community – and, in some cases, the nation. Recognizing this, the cemetery’s leadership has committed itself to preserving these monuments before time erases their stories.

The recent restoration of the Struthers family mausoleum drew attention to this important mission. Now, the Stone family monument restoration is the latest chapter in that ongoing work. The cemetery especially values restoration for monuments of families that no longer have living descendants to take on the responsibility themselves.

“We believe it is a duty and an honor to restore and maintain the memorials of Warren’s founding fathers and influential citizens,” said a cemetery representative. “Their contributions helped build this community, and their memory deserves to be preserved.”

The Oakland Cemetery Association welcomes donations and community involvement to continue these vital preservation efforts. Contributions directly support restoration projects and help safeguard Warren’s historical heritage for future generations.

For more information, call the cemetery office at 814-723-6090.