FRANCIS MARION STOUT, a large land owner of Mount Sterling, was born near Georgetown, Scott county, Kentucky, January 29, 1823. His ancestors were English, his great-grandfather coming from England, settling in New Jersey at a very early date. His grandfather, Eli Stout, came from New Jersey to Kentucky at the beginning of the present century. He journeyed down the Ohio river, exposed to considerable danger from the Indians, on the banks of the stream. He was a pioneer of Fayette county, Kentucky, and died in Owen county, same State. Isaac Stout, father of subject, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, where he was reared, educated and married. The latter event occurred when he led to the altar Miss Lydia Baxter, native of the same State. He died in Leesburg, Harrison county, Kentucky, of cholera, in 1833, his wife having died a few days previous.

Francis M. Stout was the oldest of four children, and was only ten years old when his parents died. He was reared by his paternal grandfather and grew to manhood in Scott county, Kentucky, and in Owen county where he attended the subscription schools, and high schools, at Owenton, Kentucky. In 1844 he came to Illinois, landing in Brown county in June of that year. He first taught school a few years and then began the pottery business, in Ripley, in which he continued for over thirty years. He also embarked in mercantile pursuits and continued in that business for about the same length of time. He has now retired from these pursuits and resides on his fine farm in Ripley, where he is a large land owner.

Mr. Stout was married, the first time to Margaret Alexander, native of Tennessee, and this event took place December, 1846. This wife died, September, 1851, and in January, 1853, he married Nancy C. Alexander, a sister of his first wife, who has proven herself a good, faithful wife.

Mr. Stout cast his first vote for Zachary Taylor, and has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He is a devout follower of the teachings of Alexander Campbell.

This gentleman is a representative citizen of this part of the great State of Illinois, and he enjoys the respect and esteem of all his neighbors and friends.