William J. Stout 1816 - 1898

MARTIN, MOOREHEAD, MORRIS, RIGG, SEARS, SKINNER, AND STOUT

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 11/11/2004 at 23:20:24

Decatur County Journal
January 27, 1898

William J. Stout died at 3 o'clock p.m., Sunday, January 23, 1898, at the home of his son, John A. Stout, in this city, aged 81 years, 4 months and 1 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 16, 1816, and his parents were George and Phoebe (Rigg) Stout, natives of Tennessee and Ohio respectively. They removed to Illinois in 1818 and to Iowa in 1836, settling in what is now Jefferson County.

In 1854, 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, Missouri. Their children are-Sarah, wife of T. Morris; Anna, wife of William Moorehead; 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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