JOAB P. STOUT. Joab P. Stout, living on section 10, Ball township, is one of the extensive landowners of Sangamon county, owning six hundred and ten acres of land and operating six hundred of this. His present farm was also his birthplace, his natal day being April 3, 1860. His father was Philemon Stout, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, April 19, 1822, while the grandfather, Philemon Stout, Sr., was born in new jersey, May 15, 1789. The family were among the first settlers of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and on leaving that state the grandfather became a resident of Kentucky, whence he came to Illinois in 1836, settling in Ball township, Sangamon county. The father of our subject was then a lad of fourteen years and he assisted in the arduous task of clearing and developing a new farm. He was married in this county, September 7, 1848, to Melissa Shoup and there were four children by this union, but Samuel J. Stout, a prominent farmer of Ball township, is the only one now living. The wife and mother died February 26, 1855, and Mr. Stout was again married October 26, 1856, his second union being with Miss Louisa P. Brassfield. There were four children by this marriage, James B.; Joab P., Melissa J., the wife of William T. Lewis, of Springfield; and Clara, who died in infancy. The father still resides on the old family homestead and is one of the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of Sangamon county. He has in recent years left the care of his property largely to others and is now practically living retired, but is a hale and hearty old gentleman of eighty-two years. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and he served on the county board of supervisors for six terms. There are few residents of the county who have so long been located within its borders and as one of the honored pioneers he is well known and highly esteemed.

Joab P. Stout, spending his boyhood days on the old homestead, became familiar with the farm work in all its details. He was educated in the home school and in Lincoln University and he remained with his father until the time of his marriage, which occurred in Coles county, September 15, 1886, the lady of his choice being Miss Ida F. Sawin, a native of that county, reared and educated there. They began their domestic life on a part of the old home farm, Mr. Stout erecting a house and necessary outbuildings, after which he gave his undivided attention to the cultivation of his land and the further improvement of his farm. In connection with the cultivation of the fields he was engaged in the raising of good graded stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stout have been born four children: John P., Frank L., Edith L., and George D. Like the others of the name, Joab P. Stout is a Democrat of strong Jeffersonian principles and he cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland