| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Some may note her name as Mary in lieu of Polly but I have not seen any documented source using Mary. John Stoker's journal quoted below specifically calls her Polly.
2. Censuses:
1800 US: Ashe County, North Carolina. The total population for Ashe County, North Carolina in 1800 was 2785, including slaves. The 1800 Ashe County Census was the first for the northwestern most county in the Tar Heel State. This county was formed in late 1799 and included all of Wilkes County west of the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain. The 977 square miles that then composed Ashe County has been further divided, first in 1849 to form Watauga County, North Carolina and again 10 years later to form Alleghany County. This record includes families who may have been living in those areas at the time. The original census was in rough alphabetic order, and this does not facilitate the research of particular communities. I include all interrelated families of this time and place to better show relationships. A word of explanation on some of these families:
A. Mary and Barbara Burkett who married Peter and David Graybeal, had a father named Christian - unsure as to which is correct of the two.
B. Elizabeth Eller appears to be Elizabeth Dick, the wife of Peter Eller who had just died per his probate of 1799.The one daughter is probably Mary; unsure who the two boys are since there should be three: Jacob, Henry, and George. John Eller would be Elizabeth's eldest son and married to Susannah Kerns.
C. Henry Graybeal would have recently married Celia Henson and also the eldest son of [John] Peter and Christina [Wampler] Graybill who also appear to be in this same census. Note that Peter evidently had owned slaves at that time - the census does not say how many.
D. One of the William Hensons could be somehow related to William Henson who marries Nancy Graybill and to Celia Henson who marries Henry Graybeal.
E. The two Koons are probably brothers and are sons of Devault Koon judging from their ages. This would make them uncles to George Koons who eventually marries Mary Eller.
F. James Lewis, b. abt. 1790, marries Christena Graybill in 1807 - there may be a connection with these two James Lewis.
G. William Pennington marries Barbara (or Elizabeth) Eller and may be the younger of the two here listed.
H. Michael Stucker is a misspelling for Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker with their three oldest children: Polly, David, and Elizabeth.
Head of Family; Males 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Females - 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Burkett, Christian; 1-2-0-1-0; 1-0-2-0-0
Burkett, Christian; 4-1-0-1-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Eller, Elizabeth; 1-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-1
Eller, John; 3-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0
Graybeal, Henry; 0-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Graybeal, Peter; 2-1-1-0-1; 3-1-0-0-1
Henson, William; 0-1-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Henson, William; 3-0-0-0-1; 1-1-1-0-0
Koons, George; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1
Koons, John; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-1-2-0-1
Lewis, James; 2-2-1-0-1; 4-1-0-0-1
Lewis, James, Jr.; 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Pennington, William; 0-1-0-1-0; 1-2-1-0-1
Pennington, William; 0-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-0
Stucker, Michael; 1-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
1820 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 195, township had a little over 40 families; related families include James Lackey, Michael Stoker, and Michael Graybill. In neighboring Madison Township, related families David Stoker, Peter Graybill, Nancy (Graybill) Henson, and James McDaniel are found. Columns are male 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, 45+// female 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Michael Stoker: 2,1,0,1,0,1//1,1,0,1,0.
Michael Graybill: 3,0,0,0,1,0//1,0,0,1,0. [Appears to be Michael, his wife Polly, and their children David, Catherine, Simeon and Levi.]
James Lackey: 2,2,1,2,0,1//1,2,1,1,5.
1830 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 109-112, note whole township had 527 people living in it, related families include Michael Stoker, Michael Stoker Jr., Alexander Lackey, James Welker, Michael Graybill, and John Stoker:
Michael Graybill. Males 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 10-15:2; 15-20:1 40-50:1. Females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1. [Appears to Michael, his wife Polly, and their children David, Catherine, Simeon, Levi, George, William, Juliana, and Michael.]
1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 128b, dwelling and family 1020:
Michael Graybel, 63, labour, NC.
Polly, 58, NC. [Wife]
Cimiel, 34, M, OH. [Son; should be Simeon.]
Michael, 22, OH. [Son]
Elizabeth, 17, OH. [Daughter]
Sidney, 14, OH. [Son]
Almeda, 14, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
Maridith, 12, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
David, 7, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
Amanda, 4, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
William, 10, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Andrew, 8, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Aaron, 5, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Cathern Stoker, 77, NC. [Most likely Catherine Eller, Polly's mother, before she died; census was taken 11 Nov 1850.]
1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
Grabill: Michael 65, Polly 58, William L. 26, Michael Jr. 23, Elizabeth 17, Sidney R. 15, Almeda 15, Marideth 13, David 7. Also in household are Catherine Stoker 78 and Amanda Grabill 5. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]
1854 Iowa: Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, listed as males, females, voters, militia (note that there are 8 pages of listings and only pages 5 and 6 list the following:
Michael Grabill, 5-5-2-0.
William L. Grabill, 1-2-1-1.
Geo. Grabill, 5-3-1-1.
Eller Stoker, 4-4-4-4.
Philip Gatirop, 3-2-1-1.
Simeon Grabill, 4-0-1-1.
1860 US: Council Bluffs Post Office, Kane Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, dwelling 504, family 445, neighbors to William Lenore Graybill:
Polly Graybill, 67, farmer, $592 real estate, NC.
Michael, 32, farmer, $117 real estate, OH.
Elizabeth, 26, housework, OH.
Sidney R., 24, farmer, $506 personal property, OH
Meredith, 22, farm hand, MO.
David, 17, farm hand, IL.
Amanda, 14, IL.
3. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 17-31, clarifies early North Carolina counties and land grant practices:
"Land grants in North Carolina originated with an entry application which was filed in the county where the land was situated and if not lost are now on file there. This was followed, sometimes soon and sometimes years later by an order from the land office for the tract to be surveyed. Sometimes soon and sometimes years later the survey was made and a surveyor's plat filed with the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Then came the grant which may have been issued reasonably near the date of the survey or sometimes several years later. These grants, orders to survey and the survey itself are on file now in the Secretary of State's office at Raleigh...
Many counties were formed from what originally was Rowan County, namely Surry and Guilford in 1770, Burke and Wilkes in 1777, Randolph in 1779, Iridell in 1788, Stokes in 1789, Buncomb in 1791, Ashe in1799, Davidson in 1822, Yancey in 1833, Davie in 1836 and Yadkin in 1850. Some of these counties were grandchildren of Rowan County; for instance Wilkes was taken partly from Burke and partly from Surry, Randolph from Guilford, Buncomb and Yancy form Burke, Ashe from Wilkes and Stokes and Yadkin from Surry. These facts must be kept in mind when tracing early Rowan County families."
4. From Sep 2006 Internet, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge.2509/brownson.html: It appears the Stoker family probably knew the Seymour Brunson family of nearby Lawrence Co., Ohio. Brunson had served with Luke Johnson in 1832. In 1833 he is again with Luke in the area as are Zerubbabel Snow and Amasa Lyman. He is also specifically in Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio in Nov. 1834 when his son his born and also per letters he wrote. He appears generally in Kirtland thereafter. His journal notes that in July 1836 he visited the church in Bloomfield. He does note the baptism of John Stoker 13 Nov 1837. It was at his funeral in Nauvoo in 1840 that Joseph Smith first revealed the doctrine of baptisms for the dead.
5. From the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. The following is a partial excerpt from the longer article entitled "David Stoker and Barbara Graybill," which is quoted in its entirety in the notes of David Stoker:
"By August of 1815 David and Barbara had settled into family life in Bloomfield, Jackson County, Ohio. It was on the 24 August 1815 that their first child was born: Christine Stoker. By the spring of 1816, David's parents had also joined them on the new frontier of the Ohio River Valley. David and his father, Michael, are listed on the Jackson County, Ohio, voting registry for an election that was held on 1 April 1816. Also, David's youngest brother, Eller, was born in Bloomfield, Ohio...
David and his family are not listed on the 1830 census records for Ohio or Indiana. (The family of John Stoker listed on the 1830 census in Ohio is that of David's brother, John W. Stoker.)...
Between the years of 1830 to 1836 David and Barbara Stoker along with some of the extended family received missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of these missionaries were: Seymour Brunson, John A. Fisher, and Luke Johnson. All baptized members of the Stoker family into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John Stoker (David's son) was baptized by Seymour Brunson and Luke Johnson in 1834. David's younger brother, Michael Jr., baptized Barbara in 1836. ('LDS Biographical Encyclopedia.' Andrew Johnson Vol 2 pg. 252. Luke Johnson, Autobiography in 'Millennial Star' 1864, Lewis p 92)
Some members of the Graybill family also joined the church as their baptismal dates and offices they held within the church are listed in the records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
An article in the local paper records that there was strong religious persecution against members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Vega area. This fighting lead to some families leaving Vega. ('Jackson Herald,' Friday, February 27, 1959 and cited in Jim Stoker's Stoker history 1993)
It was in the fall and winter of 1836 that David Stoker, his father, Michael, with their families and some of the Graybill families left the Ohio valley traveling west. On the 15 August 1838, David bought 52+ acres of land in Harrison County, Indiana. His brother, William, bought 120 acres in Madison County, Indiana. (Bureau of Land Management- Eastern States- General land Office, records of the Ohio River Valley Survey)
Other members of the extended Stoker family were already living in Indiana. David's sister, Elizabeth and her husband, James Welker, were married in Henry County, Indiana in 1828, and it's possible that their first son was born there. Albert Koons, a relative of Catherine Eller (David's mother), lived in Henry County, Indiana along with other Eller families. (The Indiana connections need to be fully researched to understand the detail of the different families movements.)...
The census records and genealogical family groups sheets illustrate some of David and Barbara's journeys. The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints records members of the Graybill, McDaniel, and Welker families migrated west staying with the main body of the church to settle in Caldwell County, Missouri, near the town of Far West.
[Picture, pg. 61: "Caldwell County, Missouri. Township 55 North of the base line. Range 28 west of the 5th principal meridian.
Section 8 NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 John W. Stoker's land -1837.
Section 8 SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 James Welker's land -1837.
Section 9 SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 Eller Stoker's land -1837.
(From the map archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)")...
During July of 1837 three families of the Stoker clan filed forty acre land deeds in Missouri. They were located seven to eight miles southeast of Far West, Missouri in the Grant Township near Log Creek. They were: James Welker (brother-in-law to David), Eller, and John W. Stoker (David's brothers). (Vital statistics indicate other family members were in this area, but no land records have been located at this time.)...
The next notable record of David and his family are found in the 'Redress Petition' to the United States government on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This petition listed all those who lost property and effects due to the "Mormon Expulsion" order given by the governor of Missouri. This order simply stated that all of the Mormon church people had to immediately leave or die. Groups of raiding parties against the church members ensured the order was carried out to the extreme. The Stokers and their relatives reported that these 'mobs' had stolen their plow, wagons, tools, mill wheel, beehives, pigs, and horses. Their furniture was damaged, guns and rifles taken, and crops and homes were burned. There are 36 family members listed on the petition. ('History of the Church,' Vol 4)
The following is one journal recounts how volatile the Log Creek area became: "A sketch that I was an eye witness to in the State of Missourie Charles C. Rich on the 24th of October 1838 Messengers Come into Farwest stating that the mob was on Log Creek burning houses and Loaded waggons and threatening the lives of the people those was a few men Sent out to ascertain the movements of the mob these men returned a bout eleven O clock at night Stating that thare had been considerable Damage Done and also that they had taken three of the Brethern prisoners and intended to kill them..." (Stoker 1993).
David's nephew and the son of Polly Stoker Graybill, recorded this time also: "I went with my father's family and others, to Caldwell County, Missouri, in the autumn of 1837, and was with the Saints there in their time of terrible trials. We planted a crop which we were never allowed to harvest. I was a member of the State Militia under Colonel Hinkle. The mob came upon us near Farr West, in October, 1838... for weeks they had been stealing and driving off our stock, taking a team of horses from my father, and all the horses I owned" (ibid).
By 1840 the Missouri Governor's expulsion order had forced every member of the church to leave their homes, many fled into Illinois for safety. David's father, Michael, died during this event. One family tradition is that he was buried in the "Saint's Cemetery" in Far West. (There have been no records found as to when and where he died or is buried.)...
Other church members fled into Adams County, Illinois as the local citizens promised them safety. David, his brothers, and brother in law found work on farms south of Columbus, Illinois.
The 1840 census records for Adams County, list David, his son John, and their extended families. After taking time to restock and restore, the Stoker families moved further west as did the body of their church; into the state of Illinois. Their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith sent word to all church members to gather in and around the town of Commerce, Hancock County, Illinois where they could homestead new land and start over. It was a piece of swamp land on the bend of the Mississippi River heavily infested with disease carrying insects. The people drained the swamp land and built a city that housed thousands of church members. The name of Commerce was changed to Nauvoo. Tax and historical records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints show that some of the Stoker families settled a few miles south of the city of Nauvoo...
David's brother, Eller Stoker, owned land along the "Carthage road" between the cities of Nauvoo and Carthage. Most of the family members settled in the Bear Creek Township twenty miles south of Nauvoo. (Historical Records, Nauvoo, Illinois)
County historical records list "Bear Creek" as the name of a city, township, and river but all names encompass the same area. Bear Creek was used as a timber and corn producing area.
Today corn and soybean farms still cover all of the prairie flats with old trees growing along the water ways. Bear Creek is itself a slow moving creek; with steep banks in places giving indications of the water power the creek can have in flood stages. Residents of the farm town of Basco, Hancock County, Illinois still refer to this area as Bear Creek.
Basco's official records begin in 1876. Today Bear Creek city and towns are only a remnant of it's former size as the settler's descendants are forced to move out to the larger towns to earn a living.
Early Church references to Bear Creek are:
1. Missionary town where the Saints lived among non-Mormons included Carthage, Bear Creek, La Harpe, and Fountain Green. ('Historical Atlas of Mormonism,' p.56)
2. Went to Bear creek, visited the Saints, held meeting, and preached on the subject of the building of the Nauvoo House and temple;... (Watson p.131)
3. Went to Knowlton Settlement on Bear Creek... (Watson p.160)
[Picture, pg. 67: "Log Creek Today. This is the general area of what would have been some of the Stoker families holdings. Located south of Kingston, Missouri."]
[Picture, pg. 67: "Trees in the background line Log Creek today. Except for the creek all is farm land."]
The Final Expulsion Order
Religious persecutions again plagued the fledgling church. During the winter of 1846, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were again asked to leave. Peaceably at first, but eventually they were driven out in the same fashion as from Missouri. Members were forced to leave their newly built homes and anything they could not put in the wagons or carry. This time they fled across the Mississippi River into the unknown Iowa territory. Mormon journals from the residents living in Bear Creek record the trials they went through. Mobs were again burning homes to force the Saints to leave even though they were not fully prepared for a journey.
The Bear Creek region is close to the town of Warsaw, Illinois, a place where these mobs could gather and/or flee for safety. Listed below are journal entries from people who lived in the Bear Creek area. I have included this information to give the reader a sense of what the Stoker families endured.
1. "...On reaching a point midway (between Warsaw and Carthage) they were informed of new depredation by the mob. The sheriff then sent his family to Nauvoo under a small guard and proceeded to the scene of the mobbers. The mobbers saw them coming and took a flight, the posse pursuing with orders to arrest them if possible, if not to fire upon them. After pursuing them for some distance the posses fired upon them and killed two, and wounded it is believed others. This was on Bear Creek about two o'clock this afternoon." (Hosea Stout p39, 40)
2. "On Saturday, the 5th inst., as Pres. Joseph Smith was on his return from Quincy, to which place he had accompanied Pres. Hyrum Smith and William Law, on their mission to the East, he was arrested, at the Bear Creek Hotel,..." (Times and Seasons, Vol 2., p447)
3. "...I made ginger beer to sell this summer and I tended the Nauvoo House meat market, good guard, etc. until the 1st of September [1845] and then there began to be trouble in the regions of Bear Creek, Carthage and Warsaw, so that we had to fly to arms again to protect ourselves against the mob..." (Allen Stout p.23)
4. "July harvested my wheat, which was on ground rented of Mr. Ezra Chase. It was very heavy, but owing to the heavy rains all summer, there was not so good a yield as was expected. During the fall and shortly after harvest, there were a great many buildings burned in the southern part of the county, belonging to the brethren on Bear Creek and Morely settlements. I went on one or two expeditions to repel the burners. To go through a thickly settled portion of country and see where had stood houses, barns, stacks, but now burned to the ground and some tragedies enacted amongst a nation claiming to have attained to the height of civilization. I was not surprised nor grieved to hear that the mob had said that we must, as a people, leave the ensuing spring, as soon as grass grew and water runs and that the authorities of our church had assented to these proposals." (Lorenzo Brown Journal BYU-S p.10)
5. "This is the number as usually stated, Gregg says: "For a week the burning continued until the whole of Morley-Town was in ashes, with many other residences in the Bear Creek region and that of Green Plains. In all it is stated that as Many as 100 or 125 houses were burned and their occupants driven off." (History of Hancock County p.340)
6. "In a very few days afterwards, bands of organized mobbers commenced the work of burning our houses in Yelrom, Green Plains and Bear Creek settlements, and throughout the country." (George Albert Smith p.22)
7. "Governor Ford puts the number at 175, houses and hovel that were burnt the inmates having to flee for their lives." (History of Illinois p.407)
Between 1847 and 1857 there were at least twelve family members that passed away. Included were: David Stoker who died on the 27 May 1852, his brother: John W. Stoker and his wife Electa Sarah McDaniel, David's brother, Eller Stoker, Michael Graybill (Mary's (Polly) husband), three children of Jacob Stoker and Catherine Burcham, two of John W. Stoker and Electa Sarah McDaniel, and two children of Michael Jr. and Martha McDaniel. It is believed that they with many others are buried in the family cemetery on the east edge of Council Bluffs...
William and his wife, Almira Winger, settled in Spanish Fork, Utah."
6. A partial quote from the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT, from an article entitled: "Polly Stoker":
"Polly Stoker, also called Mary, was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. Her mother lived with Polly in her old age in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In North Carolina Polly married MIchael Graybill, born May 14, 1787 to Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler, both natives of North Carolina and children of German parents. When Christina was five years old she had been stolen by Delaware Indians, but had been returned to her family when twelve. Her family were Dunkards or Anabaptists, both groups stemming from German Portestants. The Graybills lived in the German communities of early America, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, Frederick County in Maryland and Ashe County in North Carolina.
After a forest area of Ohio had been cleared in the early 1800's, the main body of Stoker and Graybill relatives crossed the northwest line into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Some Graybills moved into Indiana where they married the daughters of John Smith and Massie Koons, great granddaughters of Peter Eller. In 1837, the Graybills left Ohio and Indiana for Caldwell County in Missouri. During the Mormon persecutions in Missouri, they fled to Illinois, coming to Pottawattamie County in Iowa in 1846-48.
Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families. I will note the names of Michael and Polly's children and how they relate to other families in this book. I do have most family names if anyone wants to check it.
1. David Graybill, b. 9/24/1812 Ashe Co., N.C. m. Mahala Hill
1. Alamedia Graybill
2. Meredith Graybill, married Mary Ellen Downs, son Sidney married his 4th cousin, Emily Stoker, Orson Stoker's oldest child.
3. William Graybill
4. Mary Ann Graybill
5. Marvin Graybill
6. David Graybill
7. Amanda Graybill
2. Catherine Graybill, b. 6/9/1814, Ashe Co., N.C. m. Philip Gatrost
1. Henry Gatrost, b. 1848 m. Emily Downs
2. Michael Elmer Gatrost, b. 1850 m. Anna Carlisle
3. Simeon Peter Graybill, b. 3/26/1816, Jackson County, Ohio, m. (1) Amanda Hill, who died in Adams Co., Ill. in 1848.
1. Rachael, b. Mar., 1838
2. William Graybill, b. July 28, 1840 m. Agnes Spears, sister to William Spears. William Graybill, William Spears, Andrew Graybill and Orson Stoker were early settlers in Washington Township, Harrison County, Iowa. William's great grandson, Donald Nelson married Elaine Dollen, daughter of Harold Dollen.
3. Andrew Graybill, b. Dec. 29, 1842
4. Aaron Graybill, b. Oct. 30, 1848, killed at Camp Creek, Georgia Aug. 31, 1864 in the Civil War.
m. (2) Frances Graham Downs, widow of Ezekial Downs, who named Downsville, Iowa.
5. George A. b. 4/2/64
6. Emily Jane b. 4/12/65
7. Willis M. b. 1/22/68
8. Amanda M. b. 5/8/69
9. Almeda b. 10/8/70
10. Mary Ellen b. 7/31/72
4. Joseph Levi Graybill, b. 3/12/1818, Jackson Co., Ohio. m. 3rd cousin Patience Smith. Levi and Patience settled Wheeler's Grove with George Graybill and his wife Mary Smith, sister to Patience.
1. Salathiel Graybill
2. Lafayette Graybill
3. David Graybill
4. John Graybill
5. Patience Graybill m. Sidney Pitt
5. George Washington Graybill, b. 6/25/1821, Jackson Co., Ohio. m. Mary Smith. Mary died Feb. 16, 1860, when 35 years of age.
1. Brigham Graybill, b. 5/10/1840
2. Hannah Graybill, b. 8/5/1842
3. George Graybill, b. 1847
4. Polly Graybill, b. 1849
5. John Graybill, b. 5/12/50
6. Isaiah Graybill, b. 1/30/54
7. Mattie Graybill, b. 2/3/55
8. Sarah Graybill, b. 4/ /56
9. Catherine Graybill, b. 12/25/58
10. Lydia Graybill, b. 1/31/60
m. (2) Hannah Smith Oman Sexton, the twice widowed sister to Mary. Hannah had two children by Perry Oman, one my great grandmother, and four children by James Sexton. These families are listed in the Smith section. She had three children after this marriage. Cooking for such a large family presented its problems. Over a dozen loaves of bread were made at one time, and a half dozen pies. Hannah commented later in life, she never wanted to make another pie. Hannah and George lived by Underwood and they are both buried in the cemetery west of town.
11. Julia Ann Graybill, b. Jan. 24, 1864
12. Samuel Graybill, b. Oct. 24, 1865
13. Zenis Graybill, b. Mar. 14, 1867
6. William Lenore Graybill, b. 1/25/25 d. 1/25/80 m. Hannah Pilling, daughter of Thomas Pilling of Oldham, Lancashire, England. She came to America with her parents as Mormon emigrants in 1850.
1. Elizabeth Graybill, b. 1853 m. Eli Collins (son of John and family lived on the neighboring farm by Yorkshire, Iowa, where I grew up.)
2. Sidney Graybill, b. 1855
3. Levi Graybill, b. 1855
4. Rebecca Graybill, b. 1860
5. David Graybill, b. 1862
6. Lafayette Graybill, b. 1866
7. Jesse Graybill, b. 1869
8. Ira Graybill, b. 1876
7. Juliana Graybill, b. 1/19/26 d. at 25 years, 5/8/1851 m. Wilford Hudson
8. Michael Graybill, b. 7/6/27
9. Mary Ann Graybill, b. 2/25/30 m. Wilford Hudson
10. Elizabeth Graybill, b. 9/16/33
11. Sidney Rigdon Graybill, b. 4/6/1836 m. Jane Davis."
BIOGRAPHY:
1. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City): "Graybill, Polly; Birth: 24 Nov 1792, Ashe County, North Carolina. Polly Graybill was bapt. and conf. a member of the [RLDS] on 1 Jul 1860 by E.C. Briggs. Sources: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-71, book A, pp. 90, 305, 311."
2. Mentioned in the following biography of his grandson: "George H. Graybill, of section 14, Garner Twp., was born Dec 23, 1846 in Pottawattamie Co. and was one of the first white children born in this county. His father was George W. Graybill, a native of Jackson Co, Ohio, son of Michael Graybill, who was born in North Carolina; and the mother, nee Polly Stoker, was born in North Carolina. The parents were married in Indiana, but afterward moved to Missouri, and thence to Hancock Co, Illinois. They were members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and followed the Mormon leaders to this county where they were early pioneers. The father settled in Pottawattamie County in 1846 near Wheeler's Grove, and afterward near the place where his son, George, now lives. He now resides at Underwood. The mother died when our subject was 13 years of age, leaving 9 children. The father afterward married a widow who had three children. George H., our subject, was reared in Pottawattamie Co. in the pioneer days, and passed his youth upon a farm, receiving his education in the district schools. He now owns 150 acres of valuable bottom land situated five miles from the city limits of Council Bluffs. December 8, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Flora Brower, who was born in Marion Co, Iowa, the daughter of Moses and Nancy (Jones) Doty; she has one child, Lucy. Her father was born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Graybill have two children: George and Lee. Politically Mr. Graybill is a Republican and is yet in the prime of life, intelligent, frank and cordial in his manner and address." Source: 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County Iowa, by The Lewis Publishing Company.
3. Mentioned in grandson William's biography per two sources: www.rootsweb.com/~iaharris/ and FHL book 977.747-H2n, partial excerpt: "History of Harrison County, Iowa," 1891, pp. 686, 687: "William A. Graybill... To learn something of his early career the reader will be informed that he was born July 28, 1840, in Adams County, Ill., and accompanied his parents, who were among the early pioneers to locate in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, coming, as they did, before Council Bluffs had an existence, that location then being known as Miller's Hollow. Our subject remained with his parents until 1864. For nine years prior his father, himself and brothers A. J. & L., kept bachelor's hall in Pottawattamie County. [His father] Simeon P. Graybill was born March 26, 1816, in Jackson County, Ohio, and was the son of Mr. Graybill, a native of New York and of German ancestry. The father, Michael Graybill, was the son of Peter Graybill, who was born in Pennsylvania and married Christena Wampler, who had been taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians when a child and kept with the tribe for seven years and then returned to her parents. Peter Graybill was a son of John Graybill who came from Germany in the days of the Revolutionary War. Simeon Graybill's father, Michael, was married to Polly Stoker, in Ashe County, N. C., May 1811, removed to Jackson County, Ohio, and reared a family of eleven children: David, Catharine, Simeon, Levi, George, Lenore, Julian, Michael, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Sidney."
4. Mentioned in the book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124:
P. 87: Michael Stoker, the son of (John) Michael Stoker, was a 28 year old bachelor in Wilkes County, NC when the US census was taken in 1790. The farm which Michael Stoker bought from John Dick was on the north fork of New River in Ashe County. (The boundary line had been changed from Wilkes.) In 1792 Michael married Catherine Eller, the oldest daughter of Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick. The Ellers and Dicks were settlers in this same area and all of Michael and Catherine's children, except Eller, were born and raised among numerous family members in North Carolina. In 1815, the family joined a migration of relatives moving west into Ohio. This party of Graybills and Stokers, all ages from babies to the elderly crossed the border into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Michael and his son David, who had just turned 21, took part in the first election held in Jackson County on April 1, 1816. John Michael Stoker, Michael's father, settled in Perry County, Ohio, about 60 miles north. While in Ohio the Stokers became members of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1837 [error: Feb 1836?], Michael, Jr., who was now a man and a member of the Priesthood, baptized Eller's future wife and her mother, Margaret and Rhoda Judd. Pauline Stoker of Council Bluffs has Michael Jr.'s old notebook where he kept records of baptisms, birthdays and deaths. On October 27, 1836, Michael and Catherine Stoker sold their land in preparation of the move to Missouri where the Saints were gathering. Michael was then 74 and Catherine 63 years old. Great persecutions took place in Missouri during the next two years and the family had to flee to Illinois for safety. Michael was not among those who reached Illinois, and how or when he died is not known. Catherine was at Nauvoo, IL, when the Saints again had to flee in February of 1846. She settled in Pottawattamie County, living with her eldest daughter, Polly, where she died. She is buried in the Stoker-Graybill Cemetery east of Council Bluffs, Iowa." Also: "Polly Stoker, b. 24 Nov 1792 at Ashe Co., NC, d. 18 Feb 1864 at Council Bluffs, m. Michael Graybill."
Pp. 90-91: "Polly Stoker, also called Mary, was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. Her mother lived with Polly in her old age in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In North Carolina Polly married Michael Graybill, born May 14, 1787 to Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler, both natives of North Carolina and children of German parents. When Christina was five years old she had been stolen by Delaware Indians, but had been returned to her family when twelve. Her families were Dunkards or Anabaptists, both groups stemming from German Protestants. The Graybills lived in the German communities of early America, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, Frederick County in Maryland and Ashe County in North Carolina. After a forest area of Ohio had been cleared in the early 1800's, the main body of Stoker and Graybill relatives crossed the northwest line into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Some Graybills moved into Indiana where they married the daughters of John Smith and Massie Koons, great granddaughters of Peter Eller. In 1837, The Graybills left Ohio and Indiana for Caldwell County in Missouri. During the Mormon persecutions in Missouri, they fled to Illinois, coming to Pottawattamie County in Iowa in 1846-48. Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families."
5. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996:
a. Pp. 17-24, note that this book has a considerable downline of the children of this couple: "Michael Peter Graybill, b. 14 May 1787, Jefferson, Wilkes Co. (now Ashe Co.), NC; d. 24 Sep 1856, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA; bur. in the Graybill-Stoker Pioneer Cemetery; Pottawattamie Co,., IA; md. 1811, Ashe Co., NC to Mary 'Polly' Stoker. Michael was the s/o John Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. Polly was b. 24 Nov 1792, Ashe Co. [Wilkes], NC; d. 18 Feb 1864, Pottawattamie Co., IA; bur. in the Graybill-Stoker Pioneer Cemetery. She was the eldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller... Michael and Polly left North Carolina probably in early 1816, and settled in Bloomfield Twp., Jackson Co., OH. Michael's parents, Peter Sr. and Christena (Wampler) Graybill, accompanied them; also, Michael's brother Henry and sister Barbara who had married Polly's brother David Stoker. Polly's parents, Michael and Catherine (Eller) Stoker, and other Stokers also made the journey with them. [Also John Graybill?] In the early 1830's, the family was visited by Missionary John Fisher from Bloomfield Twp. and was introduced to the early Latter Day Saints church. Those who were old enough were baptized in 1833. Involved in the church, Michael Graybill Sr. and related families anxiously followed the news from Independence, MO. The wanted to gather with the Saints in Caldwell Co., MO to be part of Zion, the new Jerusalem. Michael sold his farm to his father, Peter Graybill Sr., who along with Henry, Michaels' brother, and sister Celia (Graybill) Henson, decided to stay in OH. In 1836, Michael and other relatives packed to make the trip to Far West, MO. They spent the winter with Stoker relatives in Monroe Co., IN, then arrived at Far West in September 1837. The family withstood the dangers and aggravations of mob attacks. They endured many hardships. They had their plows, wagons and horses taken and even their first crop was taken just before it was harvested. With no provisions of food for the coming winter, Michael's sons, Simeon and Levi, left to look for work. They found jobs chopping railroad ties for the Eastern Railroad in Hannibal, MO. But they were unable to collect their pay until the following spring of 1839, when they were allowed to take the amount of their earnings out in goods. This allowed them to obtain wagons and horses and move the related families to Quincy and Nauvoo, IL. Michael Sr. and his family, Simeon's family and Catherine (Eller) Stoker's lived eleven miles southeast of Quincy, IL. After the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844, Simeon went to Nauvoo to help guard the secretly hidden bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. Fearful that the anti-Mormon mob might try to do further violence to Josephelated families went on to UT. Michael Sr.'s daughters, Juliana and Mary Ann, were among those who went to UT. Michael Sr.'s sister Barbara (Graybill) Stoker went to UT later. Michael's and Polly's children were David, Catherine, Simeon Peter, Joseph Levi, George Washington, William Lenore, Juliann or (Julia Ann?) Michael S., Jr., Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Sidney Rigdon and Christina."
B. Pp. 16-24: "The Patriarchal Blessing of Polly Graybill. Daughter of Michael and Catherine (Eller) Stoker, born in Ash County, North Carolina, the 24th of November, 1792. 'Beloved Sister, I lay my hands upon your head in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth to place a blessing upon you for the good of posterity in ages to come, even that your name shall be called up by the rising generation and shall be called Blessed, for ye shall be blessed because of your Faith in the covenant, even the covenant of grace, and shall be numbered with the seed of Abraham in the day that he shall purify the sons of Levi and ye shall enter in through the gates into the City and your children with you, and shall be crowned with a crown of glory, immortality and eternal life. Your name shall be perpetuated with blessings crowned upon it by your posterity through the priesthood and if you will ask diligently in faith you shall be blessed with many things which your heart hath desired and shall be sealed with eternal life from this very hour. For a comfort to you in tribulation are these things caused to be written to satisfy your desires. Now if your are faithful you shall have prosperity spiriturally and temporally and your days shall be many and shall see much of the goodness of God and shall sleep in peace and shall come forth in the resurrection of the Just. Even so Amen.' Given by Hyrum Smith at Nauvoo, Illinois, Octover 4, 1841."
6. FHL film 702: "Journal of John Stoker, b. 1817; Journal starts November 1, 1869." John was the son of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill. The first 35 pages detail his mission taken from Utah to Virginia and Tennessee through Council Bluffs, Iowa, which I have summarized and included with his notes in this database. Pp. 36-227, the balance of John's journal, are genealogical notations of family. Many pages are blank. Besides family, the journal also notes many other unrelated Stokers who were probably gleaned from books and other sources. It appears as if maybe his son David may have taken over the book later. Many entries are repetitive at different times. Pertinent data for this family or individual is quoted verbatim as follows on pages:
98: Michael Stoker/Catherine Eller, born Mar. 9, 1773 [the 9 is overwritten over the 6]. Children:
Polly Stoker, born Nov. 24, 1792, died Feb. 7, 1864.
David Stoker, born Mar. 23, 1795, died May 27, 1852.
Elizabeth Stoker, born Feb. 28, 1800.
John W. Stoker, born May 16, 1803, died Aug. 2, 1857.
Michael Stoker, Jr., born Feb. 10, 1805.
Rebecca Stoker, born Mar. 19, 1807.
Catherine Stoker, born July 19, 1809.
Jacob Stoker, born April 7, 1812.
Eller Stoker/Margaret, born July 28, 1816, died July 18, 1855.
101: Catherine Eller, wife of Michael Stoker born Mar. 6th 1773.
John W. Stoker, son of above parents, born Mar. 16, 1803, died Aug. 2, 1857.
David Stoker was born 23 March 1795, died May 27, 1852.
Polly Stoker (Graybill), born Nov. 24, 1792, died Feb 7, 1864.
Michael Stoker, born July 10, 1805.
Jacob Stoker, born April 7, 1812.
Eller Stoker, born July 28, 1815, July 18, 1855.
Elizabeth Stoker (Walker), born Feb 28, 1800.
102: Michael Graybill, born May 1787 North Carolina. Polly Stoker Graybill, born Nov. 24, 1792, died Feb. 7, 1864. Children:
Simeon Peter Graybill, born Mar. 25, 1813, died 27 June 1889.
Catherine Graybill, born June 8, 1814.
Sidney Rigdon Graybill, born April 6, 1836.
Elizabeth Graybill, born Sept. 15, 1833.
Michael Graybill Jr., born July 5, 1828.
184-186: Polly Graybill, daughter of Michael Stoker, Sen. and Catherine Eller was born Nov. 24th, 1792, State of North Carolina, Ashe County, died 7th Feb 1864.
Catherine Graybill, daughter of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born June the 9th 1814, State of North Carolina, Ashe County.
Sidney Rigdon Graybill, son of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born April 6th, 1836, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.
Elizabeth Graybill, daughter of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born Sept. 16th, 1833, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.
Michael S. Stoker, son of Michael Graybill Sen. and Polly Stoker, was born July 5th, 1828, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.
7. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007) provides the following information (also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com):
"Our Family History Dating Back as Far as 1748," by Vivian Graybill: Graybill is a German name which probably means "dweller near a ditch." There are thirteen ways of spelling Graybill, Grabeel, Graybeal, Grabiel, Grabel, etc. the first spelling being Krehenbuth, is of Swiss origin. Christian Graybill, which is five generations back from Mary Ellen Graybill Mercer, was the first settler of our family coming from England, as Mennonites driven to Germany, Holland and England. (According to Mrs. Duvall of Walkerville, Maryland, she says the family history shows that Christian Graybeal was married to the daughter of King George III of England, whose name was Mary. She forsake the Church of England to become a Tundker, she had taken her money and rigged up a ship and went on to buy ten more ships.)
Christian Graybeal's grandson, Peter Graybill, Sr. married married Cristena Wampler, daughtrer of Peter and Barbara Wampler in 1780. Cristena, along with her little sister and a neighbor Child, was captured by the Delaware Indians and kept captive for seven years. The Indians were good to them and raised them as their own. When an exchange of prisoners took place, great Grandpa Wampler didn't know the children until Cristena sang her mother's lullaby. There is more to this story.
One of the writers, Florence Wilson of Omaha, now deceased, refers to our ancestor, Conrad Grebel, connected with the early Ana Baptist people (before Mennonites) in Switzerland, as early as 1526. Conrad Grebel was born in the late 1400's, and according to Florence Wilson can be traced as far back as Ceasar Augustus, Conrad Grebel's descendants John and Christian Graybill, came over on the "Friendship" in 1727, leaving Rotterdam in 1726, landing in Philadelphia and later moved south.
The Mennonites people in their historic preservation of Graybill records at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have confirmed to us as late as July 1975, what several of our writers from coast ot coast have offered as evidence of our early Graybill ancestors for several years. Twas a gratifying experience and brought joy to our souls and when things are clear and we don't have to guess, or suppose, or conjecture, the experiance is very rewarding.
[missing pages] ...north and one mile west of the present RLDS church.
The families withstood the dangers and aggravations on mob attacks. They endured many hardships. they had their plows, wasgons and horses taken and even heir first crop was taken just before it was harvested. Simeon could take what he had to, but when his personal and prized saddle horse was taken, he reportedly became so angry he had to repent.
With no provisions of food for rthe winter, Simeon and Levi left to look for work. They found jobs chopping railroad ties for the Eastern Railroad in Hannibal, Missouri. But they were unable to collect pay until the following spring of 1839 when thery were allowed to take the amount of their earnings out in goods. This allowed them to obtain wagons and horses and move the related families to Quincy and Nauvoo, Illinois.
Levi Graybill, who had married Patience Smith, lived in Nauvoo, Illinois. They received their Patriarchaial Blessings from patriarch Hyrum Smith. The patriarch's office was one door west of Joseph Smith's red brick store. Levi went to Quincy to bring Polly and her mother, Catherine Eller Stoker to Nauvoo, for their Patriarchial Blessing from Hyrum Smith.
Michael Sr. and his family, Catherine Eller Stoker and Simeon's family lived eleven miles southeast of Quincy, Illinois. After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844, Simeon Graybill went up to Nauvoo to help guard the secretly hidden bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. Fearful the anti-Mormon mob might try to do further violence to Joseph and Hyrum's bodies, their caskets were filled with sand for the public burial.
By 1846 most of Nauvoo had been vacated. Michael Sr. and Levi's families had gone west and settled in Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. Some of the related families went to Utah. Michael Sr.'s daughters, Julianna and Mary Ann went to Utah. Michael Sr's sister, Barbara Graybill Stoker went to Utah later.
Simeon's wife amanda Hill, died in 1848. Simeon's brother David and his wife Mahala Hill Graybill had both died. And Simeon's daughter Rachel, at ten years of age, died that same year. Rachel was buried along side her mother and aunt in Illinois. Simeon had three small children, William Ashby, Andrew and Aaron and his brother's young chirldren Meredith, David Jr., Amanda and Almeda. In Dec. of 1848, Simeon took all seven small children by wagon to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. He stopped off shortly at Winterset, Iowa along the way. Simeon purchased 327 acres in old Brushollow, which joined his fahter's land on the weest. Michael Sr. owned land three miles north of the old cemetery our family history association now maintains.
Between Michael Sr.'s land and the old cemetery, the old "North Star" Branch log church was built on the bank close to Little Mosquito Creek This was 1/4 mile south of Gilliat on the Great [copy ends]."
8. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007) provides the following information (also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com) has the following miscellaneous quote in the notes of Levi Graybill: "Michael Graybill was born in Ashe Co., North Carolina to john Peter Gryabill and Christena Wampler. His parents were married in Frederick Co., Maryland, a large German Community where the Stokers had also lived thirty years earlier. When he was 24 years old he married 18 year old Polly Stoker. Polly was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. She was Mary Polly to her family so Polly may have been her nickname. In 1811, she married Michael Stoker and four years later, with two little children and pregnant with Simeon, her third, she took part in the wagon train exodus to Ohio, with her husband Michael, her parents, Michael and Catherine Stoker and numerous other family members. She took care of her mother in her old age in Council Bluffs, Iowa."
9. The following is a partial quote from an article entitled: "The Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker family as early Mormons in Ohio and Missouri," by Jimmie "B" Stoker, November 24, 1993, as reprinted in the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. See the notes of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) for the full transcript of this article:
"The Stokers join the LDS Church.
Mormon missionaries come.
During the fall of 1833 Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and his family, living in Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio first heard the preaching of the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These missionaries exhorted them to join the new church and told them about Joseph Smith receiving inspired revelations from God. In addition the Church was noted for its new scripture, the Book of Mormon.
The Stokers were drawn to the message. Many accepted baptism before the end of 1833. They included sixteen-year-old John Stoker (1817-1881) who was baptized November 13, 1833 by Seymour Brunson(1) and four days later his double cousin, fifteen-year-old Joseph Levi Graybill, who was baptized by John A. Fisher.(2) These two grandsons of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) were among the first of the Stoker family to embrace the new church.
In 1834 Seymour Brunson moved his family to Bloomfield and organized a branch of the Church.(3) John's parents, David (1795-1852) and Barbara Graybill Stoker, joined the branch during that year. David's younger brother, Michael, Jr., (1805-1858) was affiliated with the Mormons. Evidence of his affiliation with the church comes from the fact that his son, born on July 10, 1834 was named, "William Moroni." Clearly the name Moroni marked Michael as having read the Book of Mormon. Moreover, in his journal Michael, Jr., writes, "The names of the members who were baptized by me in February, 1836. Baptized James Toinbuson and ordained him an elder." He also baptized William and Barbara Stoker that year.(4) Michael held the Mormon priesthood to officiate in these ordinances. The Stokers and their relatives were very enthusiastic about their new church. They contributed to its growth and sustained its leadership.
The McDaniel connection.
The children and grandchildren of MIchael Stoker (1762-1838) had an affinity to marry the children of James McDaniel and Zibiah McCarley, neighbors in Jackson County. John W. Stoker (1802-1857) married Electa Sarah McDaniel (1806-1857) on April 19, 1827. Michael Stoker, Jr., (1805-1858) married her sister, Martha Carr McDaniel, on Jan 1, 1829. A grandson, John Stoker (1817-1881), and a granddaughter, Christine Stoker (1815-1854), children of David Stoker (1795-1852), married Jane McDaniel (1810-1890) on January 21, 1836 and John Riley McDaniel on February 8, 1835. Nineteen-year-old John, in addition to marrying Jane, also adopted her son, Alma. Family tradition says that Alma's father would not consider joining the LDS church so Jane left him. About a month after her son's birth, Jane married John Stoker, the nephew of her two brothers-in-law.
The Kirtland Temple is dedicated.
In the spring of 1836, some members of the Bloomfield branch made the 200 mile trip north to Kirtland, Ohio to attend the dedication of the temple. In that group was Michael Stoker's son-in-law and grandson, Michael Graybill, Sr., and Joseph Levi Graybill. Michael Graybill's wife, Polly Stoker (1792-1864), was expecting the birth of her eleventh Child, a son who was born April 6, 1836. She didn't go with them. Michael Graybill while at the conference and temple dedication at Kirtland was impressed by Sidney Rigdon's two and a half hour sermon. Upon returning to Bloomfield, he named his newly born son, Sidney Rigdon Graybill.(5)
Picture p. 3: "Barbara Graybill and her son, John Stoker."
"A call to Zion takes the family to Missouri.
Only one stays in Ohio.
Seven of Michael Stoker's (1762-1838) nine children joined the LDS Church between 1833 and 1836. His daughter, Catherine (1809-1893), who married Alexander Lackey, may not have joined nor did Rebecca (1807-1821), a daughter who died accidentally in 1821 at age 14. No doubt, Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and his wife, Catherine Eller (1773-After 1850), joined the church also although no record of their baptisms at that time seem to be available. Catherine had her patriarchal blessing given by Hyrum Smith in 1843.
The family, listening to their church leaders, were anxious to gather to Zion. On October 27, 1836 Michael, now past the age of 74 and Catherine, over 63 years old, sold out their holdings in southern Ohio and headed west to join the Saints in Missouri. With all of his children married except their youngest son, Eller (1816-1855), Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and a couple of dozen or more of his married descendants and their families headed west.
Goodby Ohio.
David Stoker's wife, Barbara Graybill, and Polly's husband, Michael Graybill, brother and sister, said their goodbyes to their parents, John Peter Graybill, Sr. (1762-1842), and Christina Wampler (1771-1844). This couple had journeyed from the Blue Ridge mountains in Ashe county, North Carolina with the Stokers in 1815 to southern Ohio and they planned to die there which they did. Christina Wampler may have trembled to see her children leave for the west. She had been kidnapped by the Delaware Indians from her Pennsylvania home when she was three years old. With pressure from the increasingly stronger armed forces of the whites, the Indians relinquished her when she was eleven years old, along with other children. She became easy to identify as she sang a lullaby, no doubt a German one, which her mother had taught her. When her mother heard her sing, she knew immediately that it was her Christina.(6)
A winter in Indiana.
During the late fall and winter of 1836, the Stoker families, whether together or separately, trekked across Ohio in their wagons. Many of them planned to spend part of the winter with relatives in Indiana.(7) Michael stopped in Henry County, Indiana where on December 1, 1836 he bought "1 Roe of Shock corn" from the estate of Absalom Koons who was Catherine's deceased nephew.(8) Michael's son Michael Stoker, Jr., must have been in Henry County when he wrote in his journal in April 1837 that he baptized Margaret Judd, David Eller, Tabitha Eller, Mary Sharp, Rhoda Judd. These were relatives and soon-to-be relatives. Margaret Judd in 1839, after the Stokers were driven from Missouri, would marry Michael's youngest brother, Eller. Rhoda Judd was the mother of Margaret Judd and Tabitha Eller. David Eller was Michael's first cousin.(9)
Michael's (1762-1838) daughter, Elizabeth (1800-1868) and her husband, James Welker had been in Indiana when their first child was born in 1823. However, their next four children, starting in 1825 and ending in 1835 were all born near the Stokers in Jackson County, Ohio. The members of Michael's family felt comfortable living near each other and sometimes grew deeply attached. Polly Stoker Graybill found it difficult when her family said their goodbyes to their Indiana relatives. One of them cried because Aunt Polly was leaving and he would not see her again.(10)
Picture: "Christena Wampler's headstone in Jackson Co."
Evidently, Catherine Stoker Lackey and her husband, Alexander, went to Missouri and joined her parents there in 1837. One of her sons, Michael Onesimus, being only a year old, cried so hard when they crossed the Mississippi River that his mother had to cover his head with her apron.(11)...
Stokers arrive in Missouri.
As early as July 7, 1837 the Stokers had filed three forty acre deeds to land 7 or 8 miles southeast of Far West in the Grant Township near Log Creek which flowed north and emptied into Shoal Creek. Eller, Michael's unmarried son, has 40 acres listed in his name.(12) Kitty-cornered to the southwest was a forty-acre tract in his older brother, John W. Stoker's name. Directly west of Eller's holdings are 40 acres deeded to his brother-in-law, James Walker [Welker]. They may have actually lived on their farms earlier in the spring to clear it and get a first year's crop in the ground.
There's reason to believe that Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and Catherine Eller (1773-after 1850) were living with their youngest son because the worth of Eller's holdings are reported as nearly doubled his brother, John W. Stoker (1802-1857) who had a family of five at the time. John W. said he also had "a right for preemption improvement and crop in clinton county..." Their brother Michael Stoker, Jr. also must have lived nearby because his son, John Alexander Stoker was born on Long Creek [Log Creek], Caldwell County, Missouri on August 23, 1837. Michael, Jr., although not shown as holding a deed on the County records, indicated in his sworn affidavit on May 11, 1839 that he had held land in Missouri. David Stoker and his family were somewhere near Far West. Michael and Polly Stoker Graybill didn't arrive in Far West until September 1837.(13)...
Picture: "Stokers' and Welker's land in Grant Twp., Caldwell Co." (Shows forty acre holdings of Orin Porter Rockwell [one section away], forty acre holding of James Walker [Welker][at southeast corner of N.E. quarter of section 8], forty acre holding of Eller Stoker [at southwest corner of N.W. quarter of section 9], and forty acre holding of John W. Stoker [at northeast corner of S.W. quarter of section 8].) [The latter three all touch.]
War erupts...
War and plunder hit the Stokers.
The Stoker brothers holdings were located about one mile southeast of land deeded to Orin Porter Rockwell. The involvement of Orin Porter Rockwell in the Danites, may have been one reason that the mob torched this part of the county in 1838 during the attempt to drive the Mormons from the state. Interestingly enough, in Charles C. Rich's account of the Mormon-Missouri conflict in 1838, the following is stated.
"A sketch that I was an eye witness to in the State of Missourie Charles C. Rich on the 24th of october 1838 Messengers Come into Farwest stating that the mob was on Log creek burning houses and Loaded waggons and threatening the lives of the people those was a few men Sent out to ascertain the movements of the mob these men returned a bout eleven O Clock at night Stateing that thare had been considerable Damage Done and also that they had taken three of the Brethren prisoners and intended to kill them that night the trumpet was Sounded and men com together an prepard for to march in haste in persuit of the mob that we might Deliver our Brethren out of their hands we raised all the men we Could till we got to Braggs on Logg Creek where we organised them in to...a company and found we had about Seventy five men David W Patten was first in Command and Charles C. Rich Second..."(15)
The pursuit continued into Ray County where the Battle of Crooked River was fought. David Patten was killed. Needless to say, the Stoker brothers, Eller, John W., and Michael, Jr., and others of the family was involved. Their nephew, Joseph Levi Graybill, Polly Stoker Graybill's son in a statement made when he was an old man, says,
"I went with my father's family and others, to Caldwell County, Missouri, in the autumn of 1837, and was with the Saints there in the time of their terrible trials. We planted a crop there in the spring of 1838, which we were never permitted to harvest. I was a member of the State MIlitia under Colonel Hinkle. The mob came upon us near Far West, in October, 1838...for weeks they had been stealing and driving off our stock, taking a team of horses from my father, and all the horses I owned. When the mob came up on us first they demanded Joseph Smith, parley Pratt, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson appear in camp. Colonel Hinkle surrendered these men, telling us that these Missourians wanted to have a talk with them. Imagine our surprise when we were informed that these men were prisoners...and would be shot the next morning at 9 o'clock at Far West."(16)
The Stoker family members endured many hardships. They had their plows, wagons, tools, mill wheel, beehives, pigs and horses stolen. Their furniture was damaged. Guns and rifles were taken. Joseph Levi Graybill's brother, Simeon, suffered also, but when his personal and prized saddle horse was stolen, he reportedly became so angry he had to repent.(17)
Picture p. 7: "William Stoker and Almira Winegar."
Picture p. 8: "The Stoker family trail from Ohio to Illinois (1836-1839)."
Michael Stoker dies.
In spite of the terrors of the mob, Michael Stoker (1762-1838) may have seen his grandson, William Stoker (1819-1892), David's son, marry Almira Winegar that October 1838 in Far West before he died. The privation and stress of the situation was too much for Michael in his old age. He is believed to have died at Far West and to be buried in the Saints Cemetery there during the strife.
The Missourians call the shots.
As the Missourians gained the upper-hand, they gave the Mormons the ultimatum to be out of Missouri by the spring of 1839. Thousands of Mormons were faced with very bleak prospects. Some were being hunted for supposed crimes during the conflict. Others were just trying to find food and shelter for their families. It was a dreary scene in which Nancy Stoker (1838-1920), a granddaughter of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and first daughter of Jacob, was born on December 21, 1838.
The young men of the Stoker family were out looking for work and the means by which to support their dispossessed families. Simeon and Levi Graybill, the sons of Polly Stoker, sought work along the Mississippi River. As Levi says, "I left Far West just before Christmas, 1838, arriving at Hannibal, Missouri on Christmas Day. I chopped cord wood and split rails near Hannibal for the purpose of getting money to help my father's family away from Missouri, but when I came to settle I had to take my pay out of the store, so I was compelled to trudge back through the snow over 200 miles. I secured a team to take my father's family to Illinois in the spring of 1839."(18)
The Stokers leave Missouri
Leaving her husband, Michael, buried in Missouri, Catherine Eller Stoker (1773-after 1850) and her large family, helped each other, left Far West, Missouri and joined the hundreds of Saints who were on the road heading east to Illinois at the time. Little is known about the Stoker family's journey other than Joseph Levi Graybill's account of securing a team and taking his father's family to Illinois. There is some question if Alexander and Catherine Stoker Lackey and their four children were with the Stokers. A great granddaughter says they stayed in Missouri only a year.(19) The Lackey family would not follow the saints to Illinois, but would return to Jackson County, Ohio.
Some of the Graybill documents indicate that Catherine Eller Stoker lived with her oldest daughter, Polly Stoker Graybill, in Illinois and Iowa. There's a great possibility that she was living with them at the time of the Missouri exodus. The ordinary trip took between ten and elven days. One personal traveling westward at the
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1792 - 1864 (71 years)