Leanore STOCKDALE (1916- )

1 Leanore STOCKDALE^1,2 (1916- ) [7002]. Born 17 Jul 1916.¹

2 John F. STOCKDALE^1,3 (1895- ) [7000]. Born 17 Jul 1895.^1,3 Marr Pearl E. TRIMBLE 4 Jan 1914.¹

From Michigan; A Centennial History of the State and its People.

JOHN F. STOCKDALE, who is filling the office of county treasurer of Allegan County and makes his home in the city of Allegan, was born at Wayland, Michigan, July 17, 1894. He is a son of David A. and Belle (Sims) Stockdale, the former also a native of Wayland, Michigan, while the latter was born in Goshen, Indiana. The grandparents of John F. Stockdale in both the paternal and maternal lines came from Lincolnshire, England. His paternal grandfather, David Stockdale, crossed the Atlantic to the new world when eighteen years of age. This was prior to the Civil War. or about 1856, and he located in Coldwater, Michigan. He was a blacksmith by trade but took up the study of law at home and afterward walked from Wayland, Michigan, to Detroit, a distance of 175 miles, to take the bar examination. He removed to Wayland, Allegan County, about 1860 and there continued in the active practice of law until he was elected judge of the Probate Court, which office he filled for three terms or twelve years. He then returned to Wayland. where he continued in the private practice of his profession until his death. For a number of years he was associated in practice with his son, John B. Stockdale. He died in 1922. His son, David A. Stockdale, was a contract mail carrier for forty-four years and had the contract at the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1934, when he was seventy-four years of age. His wife survived until July, 1935.
John F. Stockdale began his education in the schools of Wayland, where he was graduated from high school with the class of 1914. He afterward attended Parsons Business College at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and later was associated with the Michigan Hardware Company at Grand Rapids for a year. He next became
connected with a general store in Wayland. where he continued until 1918. He then bought a garage, which he conducted until 1929 and then sold, but continued as a salesman with the purchasers until 1934. In November of that year he was elected
treasurer of Allegan County, assuming the duties of the position in January, 1935. He was reelected in November, 1936, so that he is now the incumbent in the office for the second term.
Mr. Stockdale married on January 4, 1914, Pearl E. Trimble, a daughter of William E. and Josephine (Fox) Trimble, both of whom were natives of Allegan County, the former born in Otsego and the latter in Wayland. The father was a millwright who fol-
lowed his trade throughout his active business career but is now living retired, making his home in Holland. Michigan. His wife passed away in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale have become the parents of four children. Leanore, born July 23, 1916, is now serving as deputy county treasurer of Allegan County- William, born February 18, 1918, is a student at the Western State Normal School at Kalamazoo. Betty, born July 2, 1920, died February 10, 1926. Marlyn Jo, born November 29, 1936, completes the family.
Mr. Stockdale has been quite active in public affairs and served as president of the school board of Wayland for four years. He was also township treasurer for two terms and city treasurer for two terms. In addition to serving as county treasurer at the
present time he conducts an insurance agency at Wayland. His grandfather was agent for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, an English company, for more than forty years and John F Stockdale how has the same agency, which between them they have carried on for sixty-five years. Mr. Stockdale is also a member of the James Finton Masonic lodge of Wayland and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the consistory of Grand Rapids and is identified with the Eastern Star. His wife is a past matron of her Eastern Star chapter and he i» a past master of his blue lodge. During the World War he was with the American Steam Pump Company at Battle Creek He still owns his home in Wayland. although residing in Allegan. Politically he has always been a Republican, giving stalwart support to the party, and is now serving as chairman of the county committee. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, and that he is appreciative of the social amenities of life is indicated in his connection with the Otwellegan Country Club. He greatly enjoys football and baseball and has keen pleasure in watching a well played game of either. Much of his life has been spent in Allegan County and the sterling traits of his character am attested by all with whom he has been brought in contact.

4 David A. STOCKDALE^4,5 (c. 1862-1934) [5436]. Born c. 1862.⁵ Died Sep 1934.¹

From the Illustrated Atlas of Allegan County, Michigan from official records and local inspection, 1895.

"DAVID A. STOCKDALE, Proprietor of the Wayland Sale, Feed and Livery Stables. Commercial travel over this and adjoining counties given strictest attention".

8 David STOCKDALE⁴ (1838-1922) [5421]. Born 26 Jul 1838, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England.⁴ Marr Susan A. YOUNG 1859.⁴ Marr Mary E. DOXEY 5 Aug 1874.^4,6 Died 1922.¹

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.".

9 Susan A. YOUNG⁴ (c. 1840-1872) [5434]. Born c. 1840, NY.⁷ Died 4 May 1872.^4,8

5 Belle SIMMS¹ ( -1935) [6999]. Died Jul 1935.¹

3 Pearl E. TRIMBLE¹ (c. 1893- ) [7001]. Born c. 1893.²

6 William E. TRIMBLE¹ ( - ) [7006].

7 Josephine FOX¹ ( - ) [7007].

Sources

1	"Michigan, A Centennial History of the State and its People, edited by George N. Fuller, 1939.".

2	"1930 Allegan, Wayland, MI census.".

3	"WWI Selective Service registration card".

4	"A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Mich. edited by Dr. Henry F. Thomas, 1907".

5	"1870 MI, Allegan, Wayland, census.".

6	"Information provided by Lisa Mecham, email of 18 Sep., 2001.".

7	"1860 Allegan, Wayland, MI census.".

8	"Bench and Bar of Michigan, George Irving Reed, ed., 1897.".