From early pioneer times clear to the present Anthony STOUGHT has been a resident of Keokuk county. He has seen its wild land transformed into good farms dotted here and there with splendid homes. He has seen towns and villages spring up and all of the industrial and commercial interests known to the east introduced here. With the work of improvement and progress he has been identified as a promoter of agricultural interests and he is still carrying on his farming pursuits, making his home in Warren township.

Mr. STOUGHT was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 8th of July, 1837. His father, Thomas STOUGHT, was a native of Ohio, born in Miami county, November 19, 1812. There he spent his childhood days and acquired his education. In Indiana he was married on the 24th of March, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth WILLIAMS, who was born in that state on the nth (sic) day of June, 1816. They became the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters: Hannah, born February 23, 1834: William A., born August i, 1835; Anthony, born July 8, 1837; Ruth, born September 7, 1839; Josiah, born October 23, 1840: Amanda, born August 8, 1843; Thomas, born June 8, 1845; Mary M., born September 27, 1847; David W., born March 8, 1850; Barbara R., born December 19, 1852; and Frances E., born August 15, 1855. The father came to Iowa in 1839, settling in Des Moines county, where he remained for about seven years, after which he returned to Illinois, taking up his abode in Logan county. There he remained until the fall of 1853, when he once more came to Iowa and this time settled in Keokuk county. He entered a farm of forty acres of raw land, which he soon afterward sold, and then removed to Ringgold county, Iowa, where his wife died on the 28th of June, 1857. At that time he returned to Illinois, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1862.

Anthony STOUGHT was only two years of age when he first came to Iowa. He remained with his parents, accompanying them on their various removals until he was about twenty years of age, when he started out in life to make his own living. He was employed in various capacities and at length, when his labors had brought him sufficient capital, he invested in land and began farming on his own account. He was married in Springfield, Keokuk county, on the 27th of October, 1859, 10 Miss Louisa HASTY, a native of Morgan county, Indiana, and a daughter of John HASTY, who was born in Morgan county, Indiana, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county, Iowa. Mrs. STOUGHT spent her girlhood days at her father's home in this county, remaining with her parents until she gave her hand in marriage to our subject. This union was blessed with two children, but one died in infancy. The other son, Alvin E., born August 27, 1862, is living on his father's farm. His birth occurred near Delta, and he was married on the 15th of December, 1886, to Emma LISTER, by whom he has three children, one son and two daughters, who add life and light to the old home place.

Mr. STOUGHT and his son are to-day the owners of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation. He has resided upon this farm since 1872, covering a period of thirty years. His marked energy and enterprise soon wrought great changes here. He erected good buildings, planted his fields and in course of time had rich harvests as a result of the progressive methods employed. Everything about his place is kept in a neat and thrifty condition and a glance indicates to the passer-by that the owner is a progressive and practical agriculturist. Mr. STOUGHT lias always been a stanch advocate of the Republican party and interested in the welfare of his county, state and nation.

SOURCE:  A Genealogical and Biographical History of Keokuk County Iowa p. 430. Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago. 1903.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009