STOUT, SAMUEL PHILEMON . Some of the most enterprising of Sangamon County's young farmers have been free to experiment as to the best methods of farming because of the liberality of their parents, who have given them property with which to begin their life battle. Because of this the agricultural interests of the county have prospered, many following along the lines laid down by those who were progressive enough to seek better ways to perform old tasks. One of these thoroughly scientific and up-to-date farmers is Samuel Philemon Stout, of Section 26, Woodside Township, who belongs to the old established Stout family, prominent there since 1836. Mr. Stout was born in Ball Township, June 9, 1885, a son of Samuel J. and Emma A. (Davidson) Stout, the former born in Ball Township, August 22, 1849, and the latter also a native of Sangamon County, was born March 25, 1852. She died September 13, 1891, but the father survives and is one of the richest men in the county. The grandfather, Philemon Stout, was born in Kentucky, April 19, 1822, but came to Sangamon County in 1836 with his father, and died there October 1, 1910. The maternal grandfather was born in Kentucky, October 19, 1821, came to Sangamon County at a very early date, and is now residing in Divernon Township with his wife, he being eighty-nine and she seventy-nine years of age.

Samuel Philemon Stout was educated in the schools at Pleasant Plains, Ball Township, Sangamon County, and in the University of Illinois, spending two years in the latter institution. Returning home he began farming and has continued in that line ever since. His fine 160 acre farm was a gift from his father, but since he received it he has improved it very materially until it is now one of the best properties in the county.

Mr. Stout is fond of traveling, having made two extended trips to western States, and while on the last, was married, at Helena, Mont., August 31, 1910, to Blossom Stanley, a beautiful girl, highly accomplished and well educated . She was born in Wichita, Kan., June 10, 1887, daughter of Edward B. Stanley, who was born at Alton, Ill., January 18, 1861, and was in the office of the Secretary of State under Gov. Altgeld, but later went prospecting in Alaska, later to Oklahoma, and died at Guthrie, February 17, 1904, where he was buried. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Phylis Dohrer, was born at Morris, ill., May 22, 1863, and survives her husband, living in Springfield. The paternal grandfather, Jesse Stanley, was born in Kentucky in 1825, and died in Guthrie, Okla., June 25, 1899. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Stout, Joseph Dohrer, was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 22, 1834, but moved to Missouri at an early day, dying at St. Joseph, September 20, 1908.

Mr. Stout, like his father, is a strong Democrat, and has been called upon to fill the office of Tax Collector of Ball Township, being elected in 1909. His college fraternity is the Phi Kappa Psi, and he is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 500 of Springfield. He is a member of the first Methodist church, of Springfield, while his wife is a member of the First Baptist Church, of that city. While too young to have had any military experience, Mr. Stout took a two year course in military training at the university, and if his country had need of his services, he would without doubt be one of the first to raise a company. Happy in his home life, successful in his business, owning one of the best farms in the township, Mr. Stout has a bright future before him, and as he stands so high in the estimation of his fellow citizens, he will doubtless be sent to represent them in some of the high offices within their gift. If such a demand for his services should ever arise, it is to be hoped he will respond to the call, for the country has need of such men as he, resourceful, honorable, possessed of a sense of the true value of things, and connected with men of high integrity, who will make good laws and see that they are enforced.