J. Newton Stone (1837-1902) was born and died in Paris, Kentucky. In 1876 he opened a small grocery store in Georgetown, Kentucky, with his brother, Kinzea Stone, and they remained partners until 1879. Then J. Newton Stone owned and operated several grocery stores in Georgetown with other partners. In 1885, he became interested in Christian Science and received Christian Science treatment through prayer from Caroline D. Noyes, a student of Mary Baker Eddy's. Soon after that, he studied with Mary Baker Eddy, taking Primary class alongside his sister, M. Bettie Bell, in November 1885. He joined the Christian Scientist Association on December 2, 1885, and on December 29, 1894, he joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was a member until his passing.

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