STANTON, SAMUEL M., a carriage and wagon maker, carpenter and general builder, who established himself at Loami, Ill., in the fall of 1908 is an experienced and skillful man in his line of work and enjoys a liberal amount of patronage, for which he gives very satisfactory returns. Mr. Stanton was born amid quiet, country surroundings but a naturally adventurous and inquiring spirit led to his early changing his environment, and before he had reached manhood he had visited different sections of his native land and also had gained considerable experience as to the practical side of life. He was born on a farm near the village of Loami, April 29, 1879, a son of Benjamin and Susan (Cook) Stanton.

Benjamin Stanton, the father, was born at Chattanooga, Tenn., March 4, 1838, and on January 11, 1864, was married in Sangamon County, Ill. To Susan Cook who was born at Hillham, Tenn., August 6, 1842. A colony made up of the Cook, Bilyeu and Lyons families, all settled on the same section of Sangamon County at the same time, although the Cooks subsequently returned to Tennessee. Mrs. Stanton has reached her sixty-seventh year and resides on the old homestead in Loami Township, where she is still the center of the domestic circle, occupying the place that none but a good mother can fill. Of the twelve children born to Benjamin and Susan Stanton, four died in infancy. The brief record of those who reached maturity is as follows: Sarah is the wife of Edward Hayes and they reside at Loami; Jesse is a railroad man and also lives at Loami; James is a section foreman on the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad, and lives at Loami, Ill.; Mary is the wife of Henry Armstrong and they live at Loami; Joseph is a farmer in Sangamon County; Edward resides on the old home place and married Linnie McMann; Lydia, who is now deceased, was the wife of W. D. Hayes, a resident of Loami, and she is survived by three children - Myrtle, Verna and Everett; Samuel M. is further mentioned. On both sides of the family Mr. Stanton can trace an honorable ancestry. His great-grandmother came from Scotland. His paternal grandparents were Jesse L. and Annie (Bilyeu) Stanton, the former of whom was born at Sparta, Tenn., October 8, 1804, and survived until October 8, 1886. He was reared in times and among surroundings that gave him a strong physique, as well as a taste for military life, and in 1824, when troops were required by the United States Government to place certain Indian tribes on reservations, he was a soldier in Florida, and later, when a man of fifty years, was ready to shoulder his musket and fight for a cause he believed at that time to be right. In 1861 he became a private in a regiment of cavalry commanded by Col. Sidney Stanton, under Gen. Bragg, C.S.A. and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Murfreesboro and Franklin, and at the latter place was one of the first to go over the breastworks under the command of his brave relative, Col. Stanton, who fell in this charge. Mr. Stanton was honorably discharged in August, 1863. The fortunes of war left his old southern home in ruins, and with a number of his kindred he then turned his eyes to the North and finally invested in land in Loami Township, with his son Benjamin, settling on the same September 27, 1867. The remainder of his life was one of comparative comfort and both he and wife survived until they were about seventy-one years of age. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was always a Democrat in political views. He had two sons and two daughters: Benjamin, James, Mary and Lydia, James, who resides at Loami, being the only one now living.

Benjamin Stanton grew up in his native place, and when Civil War was precipitated followed his father's example. In 1861 he enlisted for service in support of the Confederate cause. He first entered Capt. Bilberry's company, under Col. Sidney Stanton, but was later transferred to Gen. Morgan's command and participated in the battles in which his honored father also fought. In 1863 he accompanied the party heretofore mentioned and settled in Loami Township, Sangamon County, Ill., where he passed forty-four years, his death occurring on January 26, 1908. As noted above, his widow still survives. Her parents were Sanford and Laura (Rooks) Cook, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. They had five children, namely: Samuel, who died in the Confederate Army; and Sarah, Margaret, Susan and Lutina.

Samuel M. Stanton attended the common schools and helped in a boyish way with the farm duties until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he decided that he would like to see something of the world beyond the environment of the farm. He did not stop to gain his father's permission, but very shortly afterward was glad to have his hearty welcome when the wanderer had realized that home was the best place after all. During the next two years Mr. Stanton faithfully performed all the duties falling to his share in conducting the farm. About 1897 he and one of his friends concluded to join the U. S. Army, and went to St. Louis, Mo., for that purpose, but the former was not accepted on account of his age and then bought a ticket for Russellville, Ky., intending to try his fortune in that State. Want of space prevents an extended telling of the interesting story of how he placed confidence in a stranger and in that way lost his ticket and found himself alone in St. Louis, with a capital of thirty cents in his pocket and of his subsequent makeshifts until he once more reached home. For three and one-half months he was ill with a fever and after he recovered again went south. A natural mechanic, he soon gained a first-rate knowledge of the carpenter's trade and had no trouble in securing work. In Tennessee he built houses and barns, and acquired land, still owning a farm of sixty acres situated in Overton County. On September 1, 1908, Mr. Stanton returned to Sangamon County and bought a building in Loami, which he fitted up as a carriage, wagon building, and repair shop, and is doing a fine business. Being well acquainted with his own and contingent trades, he is able to contract, build and paint any kind of vehicle, or repair the same. He has developed into one of the practical and successful business men of the place.

On October 18, 1899, Mr. Stanton was married (first) to Miss Ora Judson, a native of Illinois, who died August 15, 1903. She was a consistent Christian and had been a church member from the age of twelve years. Their one child died in infancy. He was married (second) in April, 1904, to Miss Grace Wright, of Waverly, Ill., and they had two children, Frances E., born in 1905, and Elizabeth, born in 1907. His third marriage took place March 1, 1908, to Miss Dovie buck, a native of Hillham, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He votes with the Prohibition party. He belongs to the fraternal order of Maccabees, and Mutual Protective League.