Biography - Jacob Stump
JACOB STUMP. The most imperishable monuments erected to commemorate the
virtues of our deceased friends are not built of perishable marble, but are
found in the memories and affections of friends and fellow-men. Our subject,
Jacob Stump, who passed away from this life to seek the light of upper day,
April 8, 1876, was one whose monument though unpretentious, is as enduring
as the memory of man, for his thoughts and acts and words were such as to
make the world better and wiser and to bring humanity into nearer relation
with the great Infinite. He was a genial, whole-souled man who was the
confidant and friend of every person who needed a sympathetic ear in which
to pour their joys or grievances.
Our subject was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 20, 1820. He comes
of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage, who were early settlers in Fairfield
County, Ohio. His father and mother lived and died where our subject was
born. They were both old people at the time of their decease, and had seen
much experience in pioneer life. They were members of the German Reformed
Church. Our subject grew to manhood and attained his majority in his native
county. There he was educated and having an aptitude for study, he began his
career as a teacher and was thus engaged until he was twenty-nine years old.
In 1849, Mr. Stump was united in marriage in Pickaway County, Ohio, to Miss
Sarah Brinker, a native also of that place, being there born March 13, 1827.
She was the daughter of George and Mary (Shafer), natives of the State of
Pennsylvania, and of Dutch ancestry with a mixture of Irish. After marriage
in Pickaway County, George Blinker and wife began life as very poor people.
They made a home far back in the depths of the woods of Pickaway County,
Ohio, where they began their domestic life in the most primitive style. They
were surrounded by wild game of all kinds, and before their little log cabin
was built their cooking was done in the lea of two logs, which they rolled
together in lieu of a fireplace. They were industrious and ingenious young
people, and as their children increased and grew in stature and strength,
they made a comfortable little home, where the parents lived and labored
together for many years, surrounded by a family of children that were
blessed with robust constitutions, and bright, clear, vigorous minds; and
although they did not afford a great deal of style, they had plenty to live
on and a comfortable abode. Here the parents lived until the time of their
decease, being old people when taken away. For years their social life was
closely connected with their church relations, being ardent members of the
Methodist denomination. Mr. Brinker's home, humble as it was, was always
large enough to entertain the traveling preacher, and they did not regard it
as anything but a privilege to transform their house into a temporary
sanctuary. The thought seems fitting that in the little house snuggled down
among the great trees in God's own temple, that the handful of settlers
should meet to hear the Gospel expounded.
Mrs. Stump, the wife of our subject, was early acquainted with pioneer life,
and was fitted to be the wife of a man who was determined to make a place
for himself in the world. After the birth of three of their children, one of
whom died, Mr. and Mrs. Stump set out, in 1854, for what was then considered
the wild West. They took the overland route, coming hither with teams, thus
bringing their household goods and two small children.
The journey was a difficult one, for the mother had a baby who was less than
a year old, and who was taken sick on the way, compelling them to make a
stop of a week. Mothers of to-day, who are frantic if a physician cannot
respond to their call within ten minutes to attend upon their children who
are slightly indisposed, can realize the anxiety of the mother whose
situation rendered it so difficult to alleviate the suffering of her little
one. After reaching this State, they settled in Pickaway Township, on a farm
in section 19, which was then only slightly improved. It comprised one
hundred and sixty acres, and here they began life anew, and here they have
lived and labored together until the father and husband was taken away. He
lived, however, to enjoy the result of his early labor.
Mrs. Stump still owns eighty acres, and here she makes her abiding place. It
is a well improved farm, and does not suffer from lack of care. The lady has
been a hard worker, and for many years did the work that our grandmothers
discarded, that of spinning her own yarn and thread, and then weaving it
into cloth and carpets. After living to see her children grown up about her,
and taking honorable positions in life, she is still hale and active for one
of her years. One of her greatest pleasures and comforts has been in church
work, both she and her husband having been for many years members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stump was a great Sunday-school worker.
Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and occupied several
local offices, having been Justice of the Peace for a number of years.
Mrs. Stump is the mother of twelve children, four of whom are now deceased.
Their names are respectively: Mary, George, Henry, and an unnamed infant.
The living children are: Catherine, Salome, Wayne, Elizabeth, Charles, John,
Ida B. and Carrie. Catherine is the wife of John Porter, and resides on a
farm in Todd's Point Township. Salome is the wife of Frank Sloan, who owns a
farm in this township. Wayne, who took to wife Sarah Davis, is a farmer in
this township. Elizabeth, who married S. B. Cole, lives on and operates the
home place. Charles took to wife Lucretia Hoy, and lives on a farm in
Pickaway Township. John resides with his brother-in-law, John Porter, at
this place. Ida B. is the wife of B. A. Richhart, of whom a biographical
sketch may be found in another part of this volume. The youngest daughter,
Carrie, is the comfort and support of her mother's declining years; she is a
well educated and refined woman, holding a desirable position in the public
schools of the county.
Extracted 17 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 691-692.
