Born: Clinton County, Ohio, 1822.
Died: Pekin, Illinois, 1900.
Was brought by his parents to Illinois in 1827. The family settled near Bloomington, in what came to be known as Stout's Grove. His mother died soon thereafter, and his father when Isaac was fifteen. Then he made his home with an uncle. There he learned many kinds of hard manual labor. In his manhood he was a farmer, carpenter, brick mason and house-painter. To him belongs the credit of inventing and patenting the first riding cultivator. The rise of prices consequent upon the Civil War made their manufacture unprofitable. His education came in the log schoolhouse period, but both his mind and heart were finely trained.
He was baptized by Min. James A. Lindsey in 1842 and began at once to speak in the social meetings of the church. A basket meeting had been well announced for a certain Sunday at the Antioch Church, south of Tremont. A great concourse of people assembled, but W. P. Bowles, the star preacher for the occasion, failed to come. The elders assembled and with moral compulsion absolutely impressed Isaac Stout to address the multitude. An elder announced: "Bro. Bowles has not come, so Bro. Isaac Stout will talk to us a while and give the invitation." Mr. Stout shook like a pendant leaf in the wind. At the invitation three persons went forward to become Christians. Mr. Stout sat down. "Take their confessions," said the elder to him. It was announced that Bro. Stout would preach again in the afternoon. He could eat but little dinner, but he preached. Then four more people turned to the Lord. Whereupon, Mr. Stout assuredly gathered that God had called him to preach the gospel.
His ministry was mainly in Tazewell County, but evangelistic work reached into McLean, Logan and DeWitt. He was a successful preacher, measured by the best standards. He built with his own hands the chapel of the Concord congregation, from foundation to pulpit. When he came to dedicate it, he spoke not one word about his own labor on the building. In his judgment, far more important interests then demanded the attention of the assembly. He was a fine soul whose modesty was a measure of his greatness.
In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, 108th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was at Spanish Ford and the battle of Mobile.