Charles Stout, deceased, was throughout life identified with the interests of Cedar county and at the time of his death was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 36, Cass township. He was born in that township on the 28th of November, 1857, a son of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Stout. He was the youngest of their seven children and was reared and educated in much the manner of farm boys of his period. On starting out in life for himself he chose the occupation with which he had become familiar while aiding in the work of the home farm, and eventually became the owner of a well improved place of eighty acres on section 36, Cass township, besides a valuable tract of twenty-three acres of timber land on section 7.
On the 31st of December, 1884, Mr. Stout married Mrs. Eliza C. Edwards, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, August 9, 1862. Her father, Josiah Wagaman, was also a native of that county, his birth occurring on the 12th of December, 1841. He was the eldest child of John and Eliza Wagaman, the others being: David, deceased; Alexander and John Calvin, both residents of Darke county. He continued to reside there until his removal to Cedar county ,Iowa, in November, 1869, at which time he settled at Cedar Bluff, which remained his home until his death, May 7, 1873. At the age of sixteen years he began learning the carpenter’s trade and continued to follow that occupation throughout life and at the same time worked at the shoemaker’s trade during the winter months. His home was in the village of Cedar Bluff, Cass township.
It was on the 15th of August, 1861, that Mr. Wagaman was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Marker, who was also born in Darke county, Ohio, August 13, 1841, her parents being Eli and Catharine (Epard) Marker, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively, though the greatest part of their lives was passed in Darke county, Ohio. In 1864 they came to Cedar county, Iowa, where both died. There were fourteen children in their family, of whom three died in infancy and one at the age of seventeen years, while the others all reached years of maturity, married and reared families of their own. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wagaman are: Eliza Catherine, now the widow of Charles Stout; Mary Ann, the wife of Henry Miller, of Cedar Bluff; John Eli, who resides with his mother and is engaged in farming in Cass township; Della Jane, the wife of Jacob Stout; William Alexander, a resident of Cass township; and Cora Arminta, the wife of James Johnson, of Pioneer township.
For her first husband Mrs. Stout married David Edwards, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1881. By that union there were two children: Abbie May, the wife of Ed Lehman, of Cass township; and Enoch Calvin, who died in infancy. By her second union Mrs. Stout had five children, but two died in infancy, the others being Alice Ethel, now the wife of James Elliott, of Cass township; Clarence Melvin, at home; and Millie, who died at the age of two months.
Politically Mr. Stout was a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called upon him to serve in school and road offices, the duties of which he faithfully performed. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Tipton and was a man of worth and ability, who commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he was brought in contact either in business or social life.
