Family Card - Person Sheet
Misc. Notes
'Frank'-ly speaking - James H. wasn't the only Stout scion to make a name for himself
By John Russell
Dunn Co. News
Sunday, July 19, 2009
When the family name “Stout” comes up in any casual conversation these days most likely the talk centers on the name of James H. Stout, the innovative founder of a tiny, two-room school that would grow to become present-day UW-Stout.
That was not the accomplishment of a man who spent the last 21 years of his life as a resident of Menomonie. There have been many significant accomplishments of this man, who died at the age of 62, that have been recorded many times in books, articles, etc.
The other brother
However, James was not the only Stout that was associated with the giant lumbering operation, the Knapp, Stout & Co. Company of Menomonie. His father, Henry, became a major factor in the success of the firm when he joined the company in 1853. And James’ younger brother, Frank, was to become a major player in the final years of the firm that closed active operations in 1901.
Frank was 47 and a resident of Dubuque when the company’s mills closed down. He, as had his father, served two terms as mayor of the city. And it was his donation of a city lot across the street from his home that led to the construction of the Carnegie Stout Public Library.
He was closely affiliated with his father, until his death in 1900, first as a 14-year- old clerk in the company’s operations in Dubuque beginning in 1868. In 1881, he became a salesman for the company, a position he held until he was promoted, in 1884, to serve as an assistant treasurer and manager of the Dubuque branch of the company.
Between 1888 and 1905, Frank served as a director, vice-president and later, as president of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank. He also was active in the ownership of at least two hotels in the city, and played an active role in the merging of the electric, street railway, and power companies in the city in the early 1900s.
Trotting stock
Frank was also a partner with his father in developing the Highland Stock Farm, raising “trotting stock” horses to run on the track at the Stout’s Nutwood Park.
In 1886, Frank, much to his father’s surprise, took a calculated gamble and purchased a 16-year-old trotter for $22,000. It proved to be a very “remunerative financial investment.” That horse, Nutwood, went on to lead all sires of his age to become known as the “King of Trotting Sires.”
Like his father, Frank was actively involved as a director on the board of directors of area railroads. He was on the boards of the Chicago, St. Paul and Omaha Railroad, the Illinois Central and the Missouri Pacific. While living in Chicago in 1902, he was a director of the Chicago Union Trust Co.
Upon the death of his father, the last of the founders of the company, Frank became president of the Knapp, Stout firm. Most, if not all, of the former pine lands logged by the company, were in the control of Frank Stout and Thomas B. Wilson, Jr., the latter a grandson of Captain William Wilson. It was their job to oversee the sales of the vast acres of deforested land owned by the company.
In September 1903, Stout and Wilson were the owners of all of the land along the east shore of Red Cedar Lake in Barron County. They were busy selling the former Knapp-Stout lands along the western shore of the lake.
Located within the lake were five islands that were also included in the property of the company. Members of the Knapp family purchased two of the islands for their recreational pleasure, and Frank Stout had his eye on the largest of the islands, one that contained more than 26 acres, right in the center of the large Red Cedar Lake. He had big plans for that one.
As it was, he owned half interest in the island. Tom Wilson agreed to sell his half interest to Frank for $15,000. The deed was done, but the story of what Frank had purchased and of his other recreational interests in the immediate area will have to wait until next week’s issue of The Dunn County News.
John Russell, a local photographer and Dunn County resident, writes a weekly column for The Dunn County News. He is curator emeritus of the Dunn County Historical Society.59
By John Russell
Dunn Co. News
Sunday, July 19, 2009
When the family name “Stout” comes up in any casual conversation these days most likely the talk centers on the name of James H. Stout, the innovative founder of a tiny, two-room school that would grow to become present-day UW-Stout.
That was not the accomplishment of a man who spent the last 21 years of his life as a resident of Menomonie. There have been many significant accomplishments of this man, who died at the age of 62, that have been recorded many times in books, articles, etc.
The other brother
However, James was not the only Stout that was associated with the giant lumbering operation, the Knapp, Stout & Co. Company of Menomonie. His father, Henry, became a major factor in the success of the firm when he joined the company in 1853. And James’ younger brother, Frank, was to become a major player in the final years of the firm that closed active operations in 1901.
Frank was 47 and a resident of Dubuque when the company’s mills closed down. He, as had his father, served two terms as mayor of the city. And it was his donation of a city lot across the street from his home that led to the construction of the Carnegie Stout Public Library.
He was closely affiliated with his father, until his death in 1900, first as a 14-year- old clerk in the company’s operations in Dubuque beginning in 1868. In 1881, he became a salesman for the company, a position he held until he was promoted, in 1884, to serve as an assistant treasurer and manager of the Dubuque branch of the company.
Between 1888 and 1905, Frank served as a director, vice-president and later, as president of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank. He also was active in the ownership of at least two hotels in the city, and played an active role in the merging of the electric, street railway, and power companies in the city in the early 1900s.
Trotting stock
Frank was also a partner with his father in developing the Highland Stock Farm, raising “trotting stock” horses to run on the track at the Stout’s Nutwood Park.
In 1886, Frank, much to his father’s surprise, took a calculated gamble and purchased a 16-year-old trotter for $22,000. It proved to be a very “remunerative financial investment.” That horse, Nutwood, went on to lead all sires of his age to become known as the “King of Trotting Sires.”
Like his father, Frank was actively involved as a director on the board of directors of area railroads. He was on the boards of the Chicago, St. Paul and Omaha Railroad, the Illinois Central and the Missouri Pacific. While living in Chicago in 1902, he was a director of the Chicago Union Trust Co.
Upon the death of his father, the last of the founders of the company, Frank became president of the Knapp, Stout firm. Most, if not all, of the former pine lands logged by the company, were in the control of Frank Stout and Thomas B. Wilson, Jr., the latter a grandson of Captain William Wilson. It was their job to oversee the sales of the vast acres of deforested land owned by the company.
In September 1903, Stout and Wilson were the owners of all of the land along the east shore of Red Cedar Lake in Barron County. They were busy selling the former Knapp-Stout lands along the western shore of the lake.
Located within the lake were five islands that were also included in the property of the company. Members of the Knapp family purchased two of the islands for their recreational pleasure, and Frank Stout had his eye on the largest of the islands, one that contained more than 26 acres, right in the center of the large Red Cedar Lake. He had big plans for that one.
As it was, he owned half interest in the island. Tom Wilson agreed to sell his half interest to Frank for $15,000. The deed was done, but the story of what Frank had purchased and of his other recreational interests in the immediate area will have to wait until next week’s issue of The Dunn County News.
John Russell, a local photographer and Dunn County resident, writes a weekly column for The Dunn County News. He is curator emeritus of the Dunn County Historical Society.59
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