There is listed in the International Genealogical Index Thomas B. Stout born 1815 in Harrison County to Hezekiah Stout. Thomas B. Stout is, of course, recorded in the 1870 U.S. census as the father of the only "Tom" Stout in Braxton County who is eligible to be the father of Lon E. Stout, and his brother 2F#4 Charles V.

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Some history on the Braxton County area -- Braxton County was formed in 1836 out of parts of Lewis, Nichols, and Kanawha Counties. The Little Otter, Flatwood and Salt Lick Districts, all census reporting seats for the Braxton stouts, are located in the Lewis County part that became Braxton County.

Lewis County, whose county seat is in Weston, was founded in 1816. It was created from parts of Harrison County (founded 1784) which came from Monongalia County (1776), which came from the West Augusta District (1774). All the counties were originally part of Virginia's Augusta County, which was formed in 1745.

It is necessary to know the year of the founding of a county in order to determine where a birth or a marriage record is to be found. * * *

Thomas B. Stout (Sr.) was born about 1815, according to his age listed in the census. Thomas B. Stout, listed as the son of Hezekiah Stout of Harrison County in the IGI, is listed as recorded in 1815, one year before the founding of Lewis County.

The IGI also lists any number of other Harrison County and Lewis County Stouts. In 1788 (a) Hezekiah Stout is born to Hezekiah Stout. A Thomas B. Stout, presumably an uncle of 2F#16 Thomas B. Stout, Sr., was born to Hezekiah in 1792. And a John Wolf Stout was also born in 1810 to Hezekiah Stout. This is important since a Hezekiah Stout is recorded on 2 April, 1807 as marrying Nancy Wolf in Harrison County; and John W. Stout is generally recorded in the census residing near-about to 2F#16 Thomas B. John W. would surely be Thomas's brother, and Nancy Wolf his mother -- even though in 1850 a Hezekiah -- the only qualifying Hezekiah of three that are listed in the region -- resided in Lewis County with spouse Mary.

It is interesting to note, by way of legitimizing the Bosley/Stout records, as her name was used to do, that the same Phoebe Jane Bosley, wife of 2F#4 Charlie V. and 2F#5 Gertrude's uncle William A. Bosley -- who was Phoebe J. Smith upon marrying Bosley -- and Phoebe J. Shobe before Smith, is listed in Lewis County Marriages (WRHL F17X L673S7 1816-1865) on 21 October, 1845 (Donna's birth date, by the way) as 'Phebe Jane Gillespie', marrying Oliver Shobe. She'd have to be an Irishwoman to have sustained three Braxton County marriages. She had at least two children: 2F#20.2(1.1) Mary C. Shobe- b 1849; 2F#20.1(1.2) Malissa Smith- b 1858.

Nancy Stout, whose birth surname and family this author at this writing has no further information on, was 34 years old and listed as born in Virginia according to the census; thus, she was presumably born about 1816. Nancy and Thomas B. Stout, Sr. had at least eleven children:

2F#16.1 Louisa Stout- b 1836;

2F#16.2 Hanson Stout- b 1837;

2F#16.3 Johnson Stout- b 1839, m about 1866 to Miss Martha Ann- b 1841; four children: 2F#16.3.1 John M. (or E.?) Stout- b 1867; 2F#16.3.2 William M. Stout- b 1873; 2F#16.3.3 Minerva Jane Stout- b 1876; 2F#16.3.4 Bettie May Stout- b March 1880.

2F#16.4 Minerva Stout- b 1841;

2F#16.5 Isaac M. Stout- b 1846, m 1.) to Miss Amanda E. -b 1849; at least seven children: 2F#16.5.1 Flora M. Stout- b 1868; 2F#16.5.2 James H. Stout- b December, 1869; 2F#16.5.3 Clara Bell Stout- b 1873; 2F#16.5.4 Laura J. Stout- b 1875; 2F#16.5.5 Reid E. Stout- b 1875; 2F#16.5.6 Dora E. Stout- b 1877; 2F#16.5.7 Counird [?] Stout- b 1879; m 2.) to Miss Louisa;

2F#16.6 Elizabeth Stout- b 1847;

2F#16.7 Mary A. Stout- b 1849;

2F#16.8 Martha M. Stout- b 1854;

2F#16.9 William L. Stout- b 1856;

2F#16.10 Thomas B. Stout, Jr.- b 1859;

2F#16.11 (male, name not in census) Stout- b 1860.

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