Person:William Stout (9)

AKA: John One Source: RADMHerald F. Stout, USN (ret.) of San Diego, CA Second Source: Nancy Weaver

From Margaret Stout Burks: When John Stout married Myrtle Arnn in 1909, they left Arkansas for John to take a position with the railroad in Chicago. After their first child was delivered still-born, John became restless to move, so he applied for a job with the Southern Pacific railroad in Walnut Creek, CA. Their trip west included a stop-over in Tucson, AR. We were told that when John stepped off the train in Tucson, helooked around at the valley and beautiful mountains and said, "This is where I want to spend the rest of my life." He then went into the office at the depot to ask if they had an opening in Tucson. They did, and he accepted on the spot. Later, John sold property he purchased in Walnut Creek, just as he had bought it, sight unseen.

When the Stouts arrived in Arizona, it was about to become the baby state, and John saw a great potential in real estate. In the following 13 years to his death, John purchased two rental properties, a small house and a duplex. Next he found a large, brick, fully furnished home for the family, then built another duplex on the lot adjoining the home. John was smart, diligent and ambitious and his vision in property allowed his widow to remain in Tucson and to raise their children without hardship, as well as to enable her to live all her 84 years independently.

For our lives, and for this, we thank you dad.

We still own the family home in Tucson. It has now been designated as an historical home along with others in the neighborhood.

The flu epidemic after World War One took John at the age of 42. He is buried in a common grave with his son John Arnn.

Margaret Stout Burks

1. ↑ Tucson, Pima, AZ
   Buried: Tucson, Pima, AZ (Evergreen Cemetery)