Person:Thomas Stout (15)

Thomas' middle name from his daughter's birth record.

1880 Census: Thomas J. STOUT Self M Male W 21 WV Farm Laborer WV WV Sarah J. STOUT Wife M Female W 18 WV Keeps House WV WV Albert LEWIS FatherL W Male W 36 WV Carpenter WV WV Mary L. LEWIS SisterL S Female W 13 WV At Home WV WV Wm. D. LEWIS BroL S Male W 12 WV At Home WV WV Cassie B. LEWIS SisterL S Female W 4 WV WV WV Source Information: Census Place Grant, Harrison, West Virginia Family History Library Film 1255404 NA Film Number T9-1404 Page Number 295A

I'm curious as to why Thomas was considered the head of the family at 21 instead of his father-in-law unless perhaps Thomas had acquired ownership of the property where they were living??

Thomas' marriage record to Sarah J. said he was a widower at age 20. I have not found any record of an earlier marriage.

Harrison County, WV Marriages 1785-1894, (Wes Cochran), Pg. 271. Stout Thomas J (W) 20 Harrison Tanner Sarah J 17 Roane; Harrison Edward & Amanda Noah & Mary E (Sarah's birth records agree that Noah & Mary E. are her parents.) 20 Mar 1879

Now comes the question: if he married Sarah J. Tanner, how come the 1880 census above says Albert Lewis is his father-in-law? I believe the answer lies in the marriage record of Albert Lewis and the 1870 census record for Albert Lewis and Mary E Davis Farnum (widow) below. Albert's bride Mary E Davis was Widow Farnum(Tanner). She had been previously married and the two oldest children in the census must have been children she brought into the marriage and are Albert's step-daughters. Albert and Mary E. were married in 1865. The two daughters were therefore born before the marriage date and must have been from Mary E.'s previous marriage.

Harrison County, WV Marriages 1785-1894, (Wes Cochran), Pg. 183. Lewis Albert J 26 Harrison Farnum Mary E (W) 25 Harrison (I believe this is a transcriber's error. Image: Mary E. Tanner.) David & Mary William & Sarah Davis 1 Nov 1865

1870 Elk Twp. Harrison County, WV Series: M593 Roll: 1688 Page: 177 Surname GivenName Age Sex Race Birthplace State County Location Year LEWIS ALBERT J 31 M W VA WV HARRISON ELK TWP 1870 taken 14 August 1870 Line 11 # 143-145 Lewis Albert J 31 M W farmer ------- 290 VA Mary E 30 F W keeping house VA Malvina E 10 F W VA Sarah J 8 F W VA Mary L 3 F W WV William L 1 M W WV Census error here: the enumerator should have listed Malvina E's and Sarah J's proper last name. Albert was their step-father. Albert and Mary E. had married in 1865 and these two oldest children are the result of Mary's previous marriage to Noah Tanner.

In the 1900 Grant, Harrison Co, WV census Thomas, Sarah and dau Allie B. are on the same page as his brother George, wife Malona and mother Amanda Stout. In this census it says Thomas' birthdate is Aug 1857. His online birth records says birthdate if 4 Oct 1857.

1. ↑ United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
   Grant, Harrison Co, WV.
2. ↑ West Virginia, United States. Vital Research Records Search Selection. (West Virginia, United States: West Virginia Archives and History).

   Aug 1857. A second record was also found recorded 4 Oct 1858.

3. ↑ Death Certificate
   # 5278.

   JPEG file rec'd from Paula Mellor.
   http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=1886669&Type=Death

4. ↑ Harrison County Genealogical Society (Clarksburg, West Virginia). Cemeteries Grant Magisterial Dist. (Clarksburg, West Virginia: Harrison County Genealogical Society [W. Va.], 198-)
   6.
5.   Website: duskcamp.itgo.com/Stout2.htm.
6.   United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9)
   Grant, Harrison Co, WV.
7.   Misc..

   His daughter Allie's birth record gives his middle name.