Biography - William Stout
WILLIAM W. STOUT, Superintendent of the Johnson County Infirmary, lives in Elvira Township, and was born in Washington County, Ind., August 4, 1833. His father, John Stout, was born in Iredell County, N. C., and his father. Joseph Stout, was also born in North Carolina. He was of Dutch ancestry, was reared and married in his native State, and was one of a number of families that removed from that State to the Territory of Indiana, the removal being made overland with teams, and many of them had carts, the wheels of which had wooden tires. Joseph Stout located in Washington County, being among the earliest settlers in that part of the State, Indiana at that time being thickly populated by the Indians. These immigrants from North Carolina erected a fort to which they could repair in case of an attack by the red men. Mr. Stout purchased a tract of timber land nine miles from Salem, cleared up a farm and resided on the same some years, being a resident of the county until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy Underwood, of North Carolina, and she died in Washington County, Ind. John Stout was nine years old at the time of the removal from North Carolina to Indiana, and he was reared and married in this latter State. He was a natural mechanic, learned the trade of a millwright, and followed his trade, engaging some in carpentering and general wood-working. He passed the last years of his life in Washington County, Ind., dying in 1850, aged forty-five years. His wife was Miss Clarkey Low, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of George and Tabitha (Bagley) Low, both natives of the same State. She died in 1854, aged fifty years, having reared seven children.
William W. Stout was reared and educated in his native county, and began at the age of sixteen years to learn the trade of a tanner, continuing to work at his apprenticeship until twenty-one years old. In 1S55 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, by steamer, and thence by team to Winterset. At that time there was not a mile of railroad in the State, and wild game of all kinds abounded in the woods in large numbers. In 1856 he removed to the Territory of Kansas, stopping first at Leavenworth, then at Lawrence and finally at Emporia. In the autumn he returned to Iowa, and remained there until the fall of 1857, when he returned to Indiana and engaged in farming in Washington County later moving to Jackson and Scott Counties, and remaining in that State until 1870, when he removed to Johnson County, ILL., purchasing land in Elvira Township.
In 1872 our subject was chosen Superintendent of the Johnson County Infirmary, and has occupied that position ever since. He was married in 1858 to Ann J. Boomer, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Benjamin T. Boomer, who bore him four children, namely: S. Oscar, George A., Louisa J. and Wellington. They are both members of the Christian Church. Both the grandfathers, paternal and maternal, of Mr. Stout fought in the Revolutionary War, his maternal grandfather fighting in the battle of Brandywine. Our subject is well known throughout this locality for his characteristic traits of manliness, honesty and perseverance.
Extracted 15 Apr 2002 by Rick Girtman from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 316-317.
