SAMUEL STEAD - Among the many prominent English farmers of Macoupin county may be mentioned the name that heads this sketch. He was born in Skelmanthorpe, Yorkshire, England, May 17th, 1823; was the son of Benjamin and Martha Stead. The Stead family were quakers, and have lived in Yorkshire for many generations. Mr. Stead's father was a farmer, and owned a small place, but as he carried on farming rather extensively, he also rented land of Lord Lumley Savel. In the spring of 1840, he emigrated to America with his wife and family of seven children; the subject of our sketch remaining in England. Mr. Stead landed at New York in April, and immediately came to St. Louis, where he remained two months; he then came into Macoupin county and settled on section 1, in Nilwood township, this being in the summer of 1840. On the trip from St. Louis he accidentally shot himself and received injuries from which he never entirely recovered; he lingered along until the following Christmas, when he died. His wife survived him many years. The subject of our sketch remained in England for four years afer his father's removal. In 1844 he came to Nilwood, Macoupin county, direct from England. For four years he lived with his mother and assisted on the farm. June, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Howard, a native of Kentucky. Her father, Samuel Howard, settled in Macoupin county in the fall of 1830. After Mr. Stead's marriage he began farming for himself and has so continued up to the present time, and had made a success out of his chosen vocation. Mr. and Mrs. Stead started out if life littled aided, and what they have acquired in this world has been gained by industry and economy; they have a good home and everything around them to make their declining years comfortable. They have had a family of six children; four living, namely: Helen, now the wife of Frederick Garst, living in Kansas; Robert T., now farming in Nilwood township; Lucinda D. and Jonas K. D., now at home. In politics Mr. Stead is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Stead is a member of the Christian church. Such is a brief sketch of one of the old and much respected citzens of Nilwood township.