Elisha Pinkney Stout
Elisha Pinkney Stout, Vice-President and Acting President of the Cincinnati Savings Society, located at Nos. 43 and 45 East Fifth Street, in the city of Cincinnati, was born in Greene Township, Adams County. April 5, 1834. His mother was a daughter of Jonathan Wait, and was born on Blue Creek in the same county, in 1811. His father. William Stout, was born on Stout's Run, in Greene Township, in 1806. He was the founder of the village of Rome and sold goods there until his death in 1859. He was the first Postmaster at Stout, the name of the postofnce of the village of Rome. Our subject received such education as the common schools afforded and in 1854 went West. He went to Fort Riley, Kansas, but left there when the Border Ruffian troubles began. He went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in October, 1854. and took part in locating and establishing die city of Omaha. In 1856, he was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature of Nebraska, and took his seat therein January 3, 1857.
One Winter's legislative experience was sufficient and in the Fall of 1858, like Jo. in "Bleak House," he "moved on'' with six others to Pike's Peak, on the discovery of gold there, and with them laid out and started the city of Denver. In 1861, he returned to Ohio. From the organization of the 91st O. V. I., he was Sutler of that regiment during its service.
In 1865, he entered into the manufacture of fine cut tobacco in Cincinnati, as one of the firm of Barber & Stout, and caried on an extensive business until 1882, when he retired from active business. In 1887. he became interested in the manufacture of linseed oil. but gave but little personal attention to the business. He still owns the plant located at Winton Junction. He was also interested in the manufacture of woodenware in Paulding County, Ohio, with offices in Cincinnati. The business was conducted under the name of J. P. Gay & Co. Mr. Stout estabHshed a reputation in Cincinnati, and wherever his business relations extended, for integrity and ability. For this reason he was invited to become a Trustee of the Cincinnati Savings Society in 1892. For two years, though nominally its Vice-President, on account of the sickness and absence of the President, he has been its head and chief executive officer. No one could have been found to have managed it with greater ability and success. Mr. Stout has a high sense of honor and is strictly correct in all his dealings. He has great administrative and executive ability and has been successful in all his undertakings. He would succeed in any financial enterprise, because he would not undertake anywhere he could not command the conditions of success. He is a man of forceful character, and would lead in any vocation he might adopt. He has sound judgment, is discreet and prudent, and is unswerving in any course his judgment approves. He investigates any subject he considers, thoroughly, and when his mind is once made up to a course, he is fearless in its execution. He has no guide in politics or business, but his high sense of duty. When he has once determined on a course in any matter, no one can turn him from it, and this is true of him in every relation of life, in banking, in commercial business, or in politics. He was one of the Trustees who built the waterworks of Wyoming, and is a Director of the Electric Lighting Company, which lights Wyoming and several of the surrounding villages. Whenever anything was required to be done for the public, and he was called upon to do it, his services have been eminently successful and satisfactory to his constituents. He is respected and honored by all who know him.
In November 22, 1859, he was married to Miss Margaret Kirk, daughter of A. D. Kirk, of North Liberty, Adams County. He has four daughters, Mrs. William S. Stearns, whose husband is one of the firm of Stearns, Foster & Co., cotton manufactures of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky, another daughter, Mrs. E. E. Moore, whose husband is a cotton broker in New York City, but who resides in Hackensack, New Jersey. He has two daughters at home, Misses Edna and Florence. He lost his only son at the age of fourteen, some six years since. He resides in the most attractive home in Wyoming, a suburb of Cincinnati, having thirty acres of ground attached to it in which trees and flowers do their best to make it like the original Eden.
In politics, Mr. Stout has always been a Republican, but has never hesitated to be independent when he thought a duty to the public required it. Enjoying that high position in business life which his talents have commanded, with an interesting family, and surrounded by the most delightful social relations, it is the hearty wish of his friends that his health and life may be spared many years to enjoy these conditions.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900