David B. Stayton, Jr.

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BARTLEY, BIRDZELL, STAYTON

DAVID B. STAYTON, Jr., senior member of the firm Stayton & Son, dealers in general merchandise, is numbered among the representative business men of St. Joseph, among whose people he has grown up and among whom he was born on his father's old homestead in St. Joseph Township, Dec. 2, 1862. Our subject is the son of David B. and Sarah (BARTLEY) STAYTON, who are numbered among the oldest and most respected residents of St. Joseph Township. The father, a native of Mason County, Ky., was reared to farming pursuits, and at an early period in life became skilled in its various duties, also receiving fair advantages educationally. By the assistance of his worthy and intelligent wife he became an important factor in the business and agricultural community, establishing a good homestead and rearing a fine family of sons and daughters.

The subject of this sketch took kindly to the excellent parental training which he received at home, and has continually improved his mind by the perusal of books and various periodicals of the day, which have kept him well posted upon the affairs of the world in general. He remained a member of his father's household until the spring of 1881, and then was united in marriage with Miss Lydia BIRDZELL, of this county. Mrs. S. is the youngest daughter of John and Catherine BIRDZELL, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The former was born in 1828, and died in March, 1884. His wife was born in 1832. Mrs. S. was born Nov. 6, 1864 and reared on the farm by her parents, receiving a fair education. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born three bright daughters, name respectively Maude, Lettie and Oral Anna.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. S. located in St. Joseph Township, where they continued until July, 1884. Mr. S. then formed a partnership with William H. Swearingen, and they embarked in the grocery business. At the end of six months Mr. Swearigen disposed of his interests to D. B. Stayton, Sr., the father of our subject. The firm is a strong one, and carries a full stock of dry-goods, groceries and notions, and has an extensive and constantly increasing trade. Their straightforward methods of doing business and promptness in meeting their obligations have commended them to the respect of the people in that section, by whom they are generously patronized and whose confidence they enjoy in a more than ordinary degree.