STOUT, WILLIAM J

STOUT, RIGG, SEARS, MARTIN, MORRIS, MOORHEAD, SKINNER

Posted By: Carla Hillgren (email)
Date: 3/18/2019 at 08:48:20

Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 4:46 PM
Decatur County Journal
January 27, l898
WILLIAM J. STOUT died at 3 o'clock p.m., Sunday, January 23, l898, at
the home of his son, JOHN A. STOUT, in this city, aged 8l years, 4
months and l day.
The deceased was one of the oldest and most respected citizens and
pioneers of Decatur County. He was born in the city of St. Louis,
September l6, l8l6, and his parents were GEORGE and PHOEBE (RIGG) STOUT,
natives of Tennessee and Ohio respectively. They removed to Illinois in
l8l8 and to Iowa in l836, settling in what is now Jefferson County.
In l854, WILLIAM came to Decatur County and located one mile north of
Leon, where he was the proprietor of 400 acres of land. He was the
owner of part of the land on which Leon is now situated. He built a
woolen factory in this city and managed it for three years, employing as
high as seventeen hands. He also owned and operated a saw and grist
mill near Leon.
MR. STOUT was married at the age of 23 years to MISS LETITIA SEARS,
daughter of DANIEL and ELIZABETH (MARTIN) SEARS, and a native of Howard
County, Mo. Their children are--SARAH, wife of T. MORRIS; ANNA, wife of
WILLIAM MOORHEAD; JOHN A., DANIEL M. and SUSAN, wife of HENRY SKINNER.
MR. STOUT was for many years a prominent and faithful member of the
Dunkard Church. He was for many years an elder in the church and
solemnized numerous marriages in our county.
A number of years ago, he discovered a remedy for sore eyes, which
proved successful in many cases. His remedy attracted considerable
attention and was much sought after by the afflicted.
Another sturdy pioneer has gone--one familiar with the early struggles
and triumphs of the settler who located here more than forty years ago.
He had seen the prairie fires burn over the site where the thrifty city
of Leon is now situated. He had seen an unimproved and unbroken
wilderness transformed into a land of cultivated fields by the industry
of an enterprising people. He was familiar with the wonderful
change--"all of which he saw and part of which he was".
The funeral occurred Monday afternoon, ELDER LEWIS KOB officiating. The
funeral was largely attended by friends and acquaintances. The remains
were placed in the Dunkard Cemetery, northeast of town, there to await
the resurrection morn.
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