NEWTON W. STOUT, who resides on section 22, Ora Township, Jackson
County, where he successfully carries on general farming, is a native of
Union County, Ill., born February 8, 1842, and is a son of Henry C. and
Cynthia A. (Roberts) Stout. His father was born in 1798, on a farm where now
stands the town of Belleville, St. Clair County. There he grew to manhood,
and after arriving at mature years married Miss Roberts, who lived in the
same neighborhood. For five years they lived on a farm near Springfield,
Ill., and then sold out, removing to Union County, where they continued to
make their home for many years. The father there died at the age of
seventy-two. He was a prominent member of the Hillerite Church and held many
offices in the same. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and a great
admirer of Andrew Jackson, whom he saw at his home, the "Hermitage," in
Tennessee.
Mrs. Stout was born in Virginia, was reared in East
Tennessee, and when a young lady of seventeen emigrated with her family to
Illinois. She reached the advanced age of ninety-one years and died at the
home of her son-in-law, Peter Clutts, in Union County, March 14, 1893. For
some time prior to her death she attended the Old Settlers' meetings in
Jonesboro, and for several years was the oldest person there seen. Fourteen
days before her death she was present at a dinner where five generations of
her descendants were gathered. She retained her faculties to the last to a
remarkable degree.
George Stout, the paternal grandfather of our
subject, was born in Virginia in the early part of the eighteenth century
and lived as a pioneer through much of his life, moving to the west again
and again. He finally located on the present site of Belleville, Ill., where
he accumulated about six hundred acres of land. He served in the
Revolutionary War, and at one time, while he was home on a furlough, the
British soldiers burned his barn, and he was concealed so near the building
that the fire scorched him. His death occurred at the home of his son, Henry
C., in Union County.
Our subject was one of the following children:
Rachel Ann, wife of Lewis Holland, of Jackson County; Jane, who became the
wife of Matthew Pratt, and died at her home in Pocahontas. Ark., in 1892; W.
J., of Union County; Catherine, who became the wife of Peter Clutts, of
Union County, and there died twenty-two years ago; Lorenzo, of Union County;
Wesley, who died at the age of eleven; Elizabeth, wife of John F. Kerr, of
Murphysboro, and N. W.
Newton W. Stout remained upon the home farm
in his native county until after attaining his majority. On the 5th of
December, 1867, he married Susan J. Doty, and then purchased a part of the
farm on which he now lives. Three children came to bless their home: Mary
J., who was born September 10, 1869, and became the wife of Enos Perry, by
whom she has one child, Clyde; Mattie, who was born November 9, 1871, and is
now engaged in teaching in the public schools; and Henry C, born September
9, 1873. Mrs. Stout is a daughter of Ephraim and Martha (Williamson) Doty.
Her father was born in Somerset Township, Jackson County, May 8, 1829, and
throughout life followed farming. He married Miss Williamson September 18,
1849. He held membership with the Free Will Baptist Church, in which he
served as Deacon, and in politics took an active part, supporting the
Democracy. He served as Deputy Sheriff for many years, and was Coroner of
the county at the time of his death, which occurred in the house in which he
was born.
Socially, Mr. Stout is connected with the Knights of
Pythias and Odd Fellows' fraternities, in which he is a prominent member.
He, too, votes with the Democratic party, and does all in his power to
insure its success. For several years he has served as Constable. A
public-spirited and progressive citizen, he takes an active interest in all
that pertains to the welfare of the community.
Extracted 28 Aug 2019 by Norma Hass from 1894 Biographical Review of Jackson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 592-593.