See also
1 John B. STOCKDALE1,2 (c. 1864- ) [5437]. Born c. 1864.2
2 David STOCKDALE1 (1838-1922) [5421]. Born 26 Jul 1838, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England.1 Marr Susan A. YOUNG 1859.1 Marr Mary E. DOXEY 5 Aug 1874.1,3 Died 1922.4
From A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Mich. edited by Dr. Henry F. Thomas, 1907
" Hon. David Stockdale - To perform all of life's duties well as they presented themselves to him, and at the same time constantly seeking to increase his knowledge and to improve his condition, seems to have been an innate characteristic of the subject of this sketch, and as a consequence he has all through life constantly ascended in his career, ever improving his surroundings and before middle age reaching a position very high in the community where so much of his life has been passed. Few men who began life's real duties at the blacksmith's forge have been possessed of sufficient intelligence and power of application to obtain a liberal education and become so thoroughly posted along certain lines as to be able to enter upon a professional career and to succeed therein, and Hon. David Stockdale is one of these few.
Mr. Stockdale is of English birth and comes of good old British stock. His parents were William and Jane (Pridgeon) Stockdale, also of English birth, who came to America in 1854, locating in Branch county, Michigan, where the remainder of their lives were passed and where they died each at about the age of eighty years. His father was a farmer in this country and was a man of sterling character, while his mother was a true and noble woman in every sense of the term. Their son David was born in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England, July 26, 1838. His early education was obtained at a private school at Croft, England, where he studied until he was twelve years of age. Then he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the blacksmith trade, the period of his apprenticeship being six years. Thus, when he had served his time and attained the age of eighteen years he had his trade well learned, but his other earthly possessions consisted merely of suit of clothes. He worked as a journeyman blacksmith for four years and came to America and Michigan in 1858, whither his parents had proceeded him several years. He located at Wayland, Allegan county, where he established a blacksmith shop, conducting the same until 1864. In the following year he purchased a farm in Wayland township and operated the same for three years. While at the blacksmith's anvil he became interested in legal affairs and read law, and continued his studies in this direction throughout his farm life and after his removal to the village of Wayland, which occurred in 1868. This has been his home ever since, although he has been called upon to reside a number of years at the county seat when holding office.
Mr. Stockdale's eminent fitness for the performance of the duties of public office have led to his selection on numerous occasions to positions of trust and responsibility. He was the supervisor of Wayland township for ten years and was also chairman of the county board of supervisors for one year. For twenty-four years he has been a justice of the peace and in this office he improved the ample opportunity for the study of the law. He was admitted to the bar in 1884 and has since this time been a general practitioner. During his residence in Wayland Mr. Stockdale has served almost continuously upon the village board of trustees and has been president of Wayland village for no less than nine years. In 1885 he was elected as probate judge of Allegan county and was twice re-elected, filling this responsible position for twelve continuous years. In 1905 he was elected as a member of the Michigan state legislature and performed his duties in so satisfactory a manner that his party placed him in nomination again for a second term. During his first term in Lansing, although a new member, he was placed upon some of the more important standing and special committees and performed most capable and efficient work thereon. He served upon the committee on elections and his activity thereon resulted in the passage of the direct nominations law, commonly called the primary reform law, which was enacted by the legislature of 1905 and which had its first trial by the people of the state of Michigan in 1906. He also served upon the committee for the amendment and revision of statutes of the state of Michigan and was chairman of the committee having in charge the affairs of the Michigan state prison at Jackson. But his main committee work was done upon the direct nominations law, concerning which there was more interest manifested by the general public than any other new laws passed by the legislature of 1905.
Mr. Stockdale has been a lifelong Republican and has always taken a deep interest in the doings of his party. He has been a power in local politics, active in all party matters and served as chairman of the county Republican county committee for fifteen years. He has been delegated to represent his township, county and district at very many conventions and has missed but one state Republican convention in forty years, going nearly every time as a delegate.
Mr. Stockdale was married in 1859 to Miss Susan A. Young, who died in 1872, leaving three children: William H., who is in the employ of the Rock Island Railway Company at Kansas City, Missouri; David A. Wayland, of Wayland: and John B. Stockdale, who is the law partner of his father, the firm name being David Stockdale & Son. Mr. Stockdale was married a second time, in 1874, to Miss Mary E. Doxey, of Shelbyville, and one child resulted from this union, Leila M., who is the wife of Geo. E. Ryno, of Wayland.".
4 William STOCKDALE5 (c. 1820- ) [2978]. Born c. 1820.5 Marr Jane PRIDGEON 12 Sep 1837, Wainfleet All Saints.5
8 George STOCKDALE5 ( - ) [2923]. Marr Frances ANDREWS 17 Mar 1801, Wainfleet All Saints.5
9 Frances ANDREWS5 ( - ) [2924].
5 Jane PRIDGEON5 (1812- ) [489]. Born 1812, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England.5 Bap 10 Jun 1812, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England.
10 Joshua PRIDGEON5 (1772-1850) [464]. Born 29 May 1772, Friskney, Lincolnshire, England.5 Marr Mary HAYES 23 Mar 1795, Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England. Marr Ann ROBSON 13 Jun 1825, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England. Died 1850, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England.5
11 Mary HAYES (1770-1824) [465]. Born 1770, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England. Died 1824, Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England.
3 Susan A. YOUNG1 (c. 1840-1872) [5434]. Born c. 1840, NY.6 Died 4 May 1872.1,7
| 1 | "A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Mich. edited by Dr. Henry F. Thomas, 1907". |
| 2 | "1870 MI, Allegan, Wayland, census.". |
| 3 | "Information provided by Lisa Mecham, email of 18 Sep., 2001.". |
| 4 | "Michigan, A Centennial History of the State and its People, edited by George N. Fuller, 1939.". |
| 5 | "Information provided by Richard Brothwell". |
| 6 | "1860 Allegan, Wayland, MI census.". |
| 7 | "Bench and Bar of Michigan, George Irving Reed, ed., 1897.". |