| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. 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
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:
James Welker. Males 0-5: 3; 20-30:1. Females 20-30: 1.
1840 US: Quincy, Adams, Illinois, the following related families living in near proximity to each other (with exception of John McDaniel and his wife Christina Stoker, all of David Stoker's siblings, children, and mother are accounted for and it confirms his father Michael was dead by 1840):
P. 43a:
David Stoker, males 5-10:1; 40-50:1//females 5-10:1; 10-15:1; 40-50:1. [David, his wife Barbara, and their children Sarah (13), Catherine (11?), and Michael (6). Note daughter Nancy not in census which means she was probably deceased by then.]
Simeon P. Grabell [Graybill], males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [David's nephew: Simeon and his wife Amanda Hill and their two oldest children.]
Jacob Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [Younger brother to David: Jacob and his wife Catherine and their oldest child.]
P. 44a:
Eller Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 60-70:1. [Youngest brother to David: Eller with his wife Margaret and their oldest child and probably their mother Catherine Eller.]
James Walker [Welker], males 10-15:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1//females 5-10:2; 40-50:1. [Living next door to Eller and ages work perfectly that this is James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker, who is David's sister.]
John W. Stoker, males 0-5:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 30-40:1. [John and his wife Electa Sarah and their six oldest children.]
John Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 20-30:1. [David's son: John and his wife Jane and their children.]
P. 52a:
William Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 20-30:1 (father-in-law Samuel Winegar is next door). [David's son William and his wife Almira with their child.]
P. 55a:
Michael Stoker, males 0-5:2; 5-10:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1// females 30-40:1. [Michael, his wife Martha, and their five oldest children.]
2. 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."
3. 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.
4. From an article entitled "The Family" 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. For the full transcriptional listing of the descendants of Michael Stoker and Catherine Stoker, see the notes of Michael Stoker - the following only pertains to this immediate family. Generation "1" is Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller:
"The Michael Stoker Family as existed at the time of his death. Those names that are [bracketed] probably were involved in the Missouri experience...
2. [Elizabeth Stoker], born Feb 28, 1800 in Ashe Co., NC. She moved to Ohio with parents. Married [James WELKER] who was also born in Rowan Co., NC. They lived in Indiana, back to Jackson Co., Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and to Utah.
3. David WELKER, born Jul 2, 1823 in Henry Co., Indiana.
3. [James Wilburn WELKER], born Jan 17, 1825 in Jackson Co., married Anna PUGH on Feb 17, 1845. Had lived in Missouri, Illinois, Utah and Idaho. Died May 3, 1912 in Bloomington, Bear Lake Co., ID.
3. [John WELKER], born Mar 16, 1826 in Jackson Co., OH, married Roxanna Mahala DUSTIN on Apr 2, 1850. He died Jun 1, 1913 in Safford, Graham Co., AZ.
3. [Jacob Stoker WELKER], born Jan 8, 1829 in Jackson Co., OH, married Harriet Angeline LISH in Feb 1855. He died Apr 28, 1911 in Bloomington, Bear Lake Co., ID.
3. [Mary Catherine WELKER], born Jan 12, 1832 in Jackson Co., OH, married Thomas Billington NELSON. She died Dec 8, 1920 in Franklin, Greenlee Co., AZ.
3. Sarah WELKER, born 1834 in Jackson Co., OH. Died in infancy.
3. [Rebecca WELKER], born Jul 21, 1835 in Jackson Co., OH, married Alexander Roswell STEvenS. She died in 1863 at Willard, Box Elder Co., UT."
BIOGRAPHY:
1. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers (photo accompanies article): "Elizabeth Stoker Welker, b. 28 Feb 1800 at Ashe County, NC, d. 2 Jan 1868 at Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, parent are Michale Stoker and Catherine Eller Stoker, pioneer of 28 Aug 1852 of the Isaac W. Stewart Wagon Train, m. James Welker, 2 Jul 1822 at Jackson Co., Ohio (he died Sep 1844 at Hancock Co., Illinois), children:
David, 2 Jul 1823 (died as an infant)
James Willburn, 17 Jan 1825
John, 16 May 1826
Jacob Stoker, 8 Jan 1829
Mary Catherine, 12 Jan 1832
Sarah, 1834
Rebecca, 21 Jul 1835
Adam, 19 Feb 1841
Elizabeth was born in Ashe County, NC in 1800. The Welker family came from Germany to North Carolina in 1800. The two families became friends and both moved to Jackson County, Ohio. Elizabeth and James were married July 2, 1822. Their first child was born in Indiana and died shortly after. They moved back to Ohio and had six more children in ten years. They heard the message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and joined the Church. Persecution became so bad, they moved to Far West, Missouri in 1836 to be with other Saints. They began farming on 20 acres of land. James went to Pike County to help with the harvesting. While he was there, he came down with intermittent fever and died in September, 1844. Their youngest child was just three years old. The Welkers were not touched by persecution while living in Illinois because they were living ten miles away. They prepared to go West. They could not sell their farm so they had no money with which to buy provisions. When they reached Council Bluffs, they lived on a farm for five years making preparations for the long journey to Salt lake. The Welkers crossed the Plains with the Isaac W. Stewart Wagon Company and arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on Aug. 28, 1852. They were sent to Alpine for the winter and lived in a dugout in the side of a mountain. In the Spring of 1853, the Welkers were sent to Willard, Box Elder County, Utah to live. After her son Adam married, he took Elizabeth to Bloomington, Bear Lake County, Idaho where she passed away in 1868."
2. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers has the following biograpy for Annie Pugh Welker who is the wife of Elizabeth's eldest living son, James Wilburn Welker. Elizabeth appears to have lived with them and their story gives additional insight into Elizabeth's. I quote from only pertinent excerpts; see source for full citation. "She [Annie] married James Wilburn Welker on Feb. 17, 1845 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa... James Wilburn Welker's family had established themselves on a farm not far from the town of Carthage, Illinois where the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred by mobs while they were held captive in the Carthage Jail. The Welker family in their histories recall this challenging time for members of the church. The Mormons were eventually driven out of the State of Ilinois. They established several temporary communities within the State of Iowa. A major encampment of these refugees was at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa. Annie and her husband, their three children, along with other members of the Welker family joined the Isaac Stewart Company for their pioneer trek to the valley of the Great Salt Lake... Capt. Isaac Stewart's Company consisted of 245 souls, of which James Wilburn Welker was the captain of a group of ten wagons. The left Kanesville, Iowa in June, 1852, ariving in the Salt Lake Valley on Aug. 28, 1852. Annie and her husband made their first home in Mountainville, Alpine, Utah, a little town about forty miles of Salt Lake City. Their first home was a dugout in the side of the mountain... They lived here only about one winter and then moved to Willard where Annie's husband built the first molasses mill in that town... During the Summer of 1864, the family moved to Bloomington, Idaho in Bear Lake Valley. One of Annie's children recalls walking all the way, barefooted driving the sheep, cows, and pigs. They entered the valley on July 4, 1864. In order to spend the few remaining weeks of warm weather in planting and preparing food for the coming winter, the Welker family lived in a rush shantie made by driving four posts in the ground and covering the roof and sides with brush. For the winter they built a two room log home, 18' by 20' with a blacksmith shop between. The house had a dirt roof and floor with no windows. Arriving as late as July 4th, their planting was done about six weeks late. Then an early and extremely severe winter set in so their wheat was frozen before it ripened. The flour brought from Utah gave out before the winter was over so their main article of diet was bread made from this frozen wheat which Annie ground in a coffee mill. For a change they cooked this ground wheat in milk. The winter was so severe that all but one lamb from their small flock of sheep died. It had to be saved; otherwise there would me no food except the frozen wheat so they raised this lamb in the house. Annie and her husband James lived a life of service to their family, their community, and their church and God. Family history indiates that they were very active in church responsibilities with James serving for some time as a Bishop and a High Councilman..."
3. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of James and Elizabeth "Walker" [typo for Welker] and their sons James W. and John [both noted as "Walker"].
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."
5. Entries for sons in the book "Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia":
P. 199 (photo accompanies entry): "Adam Welker, a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake of Zion, Arizona, was born Feb. 19, 1841, in Adams county, Ill., the son of James Welker and Elizabeth Welker. In 1852 he emigrated to Utah and located in Willard, Box Elder county. His father having died when he was very small, and he being the youngest child of the family, he was constantly engaged in making a living for himself and mother. He was baptized in June, 1855, ordained a Deacon in 1847, and ordained a Seventy in the 59th quorum, Feb. 8, 1859. In 1864, responding to call, he went back to the Missouri river as a Church teamster in an ox-train, to bring emigrants to Utah. In 1865 (Feb. 22nd) he married Agnes Dock and in the same year moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake county, Idaho, where he resided until 1883, passing through many trials and hardships in helping to subdue that cold and inshospitable country. His health failing in the high altitude, he concluded to move south, which he did in November, 1883, and located at Safford, Graham County, Arizona, on the Gila River, where he purchased a good farm, on which he still resides. By the foregoing it will be seen that Elder Welker has always been energetically engaged in helping to convert desert lands into farms and beautiful homes. In 1898 (Dec. 5th) he was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake, in which calling he still labors faithfully. Elder Welker has twelve living Children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are members of the Church and some of them occupying prominent oostiions."
P. 604: "John Welker, Bishop of the Layton Ward, St. Joseph Stake, Arizona, [last line missing from bad photocopy] 1826, in Maddison Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, a son of James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker. He came to the Valley in 1852, was ordained a High Priest Aug. 26, 1877, by John Taylor, and a Bishop Nov. 4, 1884, by Brigham Young, jun. He died June 1, 1913."
6. Part of the Stoker family group mentioned in sister Polly (Stoker) Graybill's biography in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, 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 Joseph's and Hyrum's bodies, their caskets were filled with sand for the public burial. By 1846, most of Nauvoo had been vacated. Michael Sr.'s and Levi's families had gone west and settled in Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, IA. Some of the related 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."
7. 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. 101-115:
"Elizabeth Stoker4, b. 28 Feb. 1800 in Ashe co., N.C.; d. about jan. 1868, at Bloomington, Bear Lake co., Idaho. She m. James Welker, b., 19 Aug 1803, in Rowan co., N.C. A genealogy of the Welker family is now in course of preparation by the descendants of James Robert Welker which accounts for the following abbreviated record of the descendants of this family. The children of Elizabeth Stoker4 and her husband, James Welker, were five sons and three daughters as follows:
David Welker, b. 2 Jul 1823 in Henry Co., Ind.; d. young.
James Wilburn Welker, b. 17 Jan 1825 in Jackson Co., Ohio; d. 3 May 1912 at Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho. He married (1) 17 Feb 1845, Anna Pugh, b. 31 Jan 1820 at Knoxville, Knox, TN, dau. of Daniel Pugh and Martha Harris. He married (2) Susan Caroline Stevenson, b. 29 June 1833 in Knox Co., TN; d. 22 Sep 1907 at Magrath, Alberta, Canada. She was the daughter of Issac Henderson Stevenson and his wife Mary Pugh. He was the father of nine sons and eight daughters by his two wives [short biographies of each child follow in the book].
John Welker, b. 16 Mar 1826 in Jackson Co., Ohio; d 1 Jun 1913 at Safford, Graham, AZ. He married Roxanna/Roxana Mahala Dustin, 2 Apr 1850. She was born 3 Jul 1833(?) probably at Le Roy, Genesee, NY; d. 11 Mar 1904 at Safford, Graham, AZ, a dau. of Bechias Dustin and his wife Asenath Hurlburt or Herlbert. [Short biographies of their two children follow in the book.]
Jacob Stoker Welker, b. 8 Jan 1829, in Jackson Co., Ohio, d. 28 Apr 1911 at Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho. He m. Feb 1855 Harriet Angeline Lish, b. 25 Jul 1839 at Greenwood, Steuben, NY; d. 6/7 Oct 1914 at Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho. She was the dau. of Joseph Lyons Lish and his wife Harriet Ann Tripp. [Biographies of their 13 children follow in the book.]
Mary Catherine Welker, b. 12 Jan 1832 in Jackson Co., Ohio; d. 8 Dec 1920 at Franklin, Greenlee, AZ. She m. Thomas Billington Nelson, b. 9 May 1835 in Jefferson Co., IL; d. 19 Feb 1918 at Thatcher, Graham, AZ, a son of Edmond Nelson and Jane Taylor. [Biographies of their 11 children follow in the book.]
Sarah Welker, b. 1834 in Jackson Co., OH; d. in infancy.
Rebecca Welker, b. 21 Jul 1835 in Jackson Co., OH; d. 1863, in Willard, Box Elder, UT. She m. Alexander Roswell Stevens, b. 28 Nov 1832/3 at Mt. Pleasant, Canada; d. 17 Jan 1915 at Springfield, Lane, OR. He was the son of Roswell Stevens and his wife Mariah Doyle/Dayle. [Biographies of their 5 children follow in the book.]
Adam Welker, b. 19 Feb 1841, near Columbus, Adams, IL; d. 2 Apr 1926 at Safford, Graham, AZ. He m. Agnes Dock, 22 eb 1865 at Willard, box Elder, UT. Agnes Dock was b. 28 Apr 1847 at Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland and d. 25 Feb 1913 at Safford, Graham, AZ. She was a dau. of Robert Dock and his wife Agnes Dreghorn. [Biographies of their children and multiple grandchildren follow in the book.]"
8. 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.
104: Elizabeth Stoker, born Feb. 28, 1800.
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:
"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)
Footnotes:
5. Vivian Graybill, "Michael Graybill, Sr." Typescript sent to Jim Stoker by Alice Graybill Russell, 6120 Wincanton Dr., Shreveport, LA 71129 on October 6, 1993.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. A necessary explanation on the Michael Stoker (Stocker) family group sheet sent by Jim Rose, 740 So.Woodland Hills Dr., Woodland Hills, UT, 84 653 on Nov. 13, 1993.
9. "The Howard Leytham, Stoker, Von Dollen Family Histories...," p. 92.
10. Vivian Graybill, "Michael Graybill, Sr."
11. Letter from Ethel McCarley, dated July 15, 1957 to Madeline E. Fletcher. Ethel's address was Rio Grande, Ohio. Information found in the notes of the Michael Stoker family group sheet sent by Jim Rose to Jim Stoker on Nov. 18, 1993."
10. 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 following members of Michael Stoker's family attached their names to a petition in 1843 that they had lived in Missouri and had been driven from their state:(21)
David Stoker [Michael's son David (1795-1852)], John Stoker [possibly David's son, John (1817-1881) or Michael's son, John W. (1803-1857)], John McDaniels (1812-1884) [David's son-in-law, husband of his oldest daughter, Christine (1815-1854)], Elles Stoker (1816-1855) [Eller, Michael's youngest son], Mary Stoker (1822-1890) [probably Margaret Judd, Eller's wife]. Catharine Stoker (1773-after 1850) [Michael's wife, Catharine Eller], Jacob Stoker (1812-1893) [Michael's son], Catharine Stoker [Catharine Burcham, Jacob's wife], John Stoker (1803-1857) [Michael's son, John W. Stoker], Sarah Stoker (1806-1857) [John W. Stoker's wife, Electa Sarah McDaniel].
Geo. Graybill (1821-?) [Michael's grandson, George Washington Graybill, son of Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864)], Michael Stoker (1805-1858) [Michael's son], Martha Stoker (1808-1873) [Martha Carr McDaniel, wife of Michael's son, Michael], Gabrael Stoker (1832-1852) [Michael's grandson, son of Michael (1805-1858)], William Stoker (1819-1892) [Michael's grandson, son of David], Almira Stoker (1818-1884) [Michael's granddaughter-in-law, grandson, William's wife, Almira Winegar], Samuel D. Stoker (1840-1908) [Michael's great-grandson, son of William and Almira], William Stoker (1842-1906) [Michael's great-grandson, son of William and Almira].
Mary Graybill [possibly Michael's daughter, Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864) or his granddaughter, Mary Ann Graybill (1830-?)], William Graybill (1825-1880) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Adam Graybill [still looking for this relationship to Michael], Sidney R Graybill (1836-?) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Levi Graybill (1818-1912) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Patience Graybill (1825-1895) [Patience Smith, Michael's granddaughter-in-law, wife of Joseph Levi Graybill (1818-1912)], Mary Graybill [possibly Michael's daughter, Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864), or his granddaughter, Mary Ann Graybill (1830-?), Polly's daughter].
John Stoker (1817-1881) [Michael's grandson, son of David], Jane Stoker (1810-1890) [Michael's granddaughter-in-law, Jane McDaniel, wife of John (1817-1881)], Hannah Graybill [Michael's great granddaughter, daughter of Joseph Levi Graybill], Hyrum Stoker (1840-1887) [Michael's great grandson, son of John Stoker (1817-1881) and Jane McDaniel], Alma Stoker (1835-1897) [Michael's adopted great grandson, son of Jane McDaniel], and Franklin Stoker (1842-1855) [Michael's great grandson, son of John Stoker (1817-1881)]. Lucinda Stoker is also listed on the petition but cannot establish a relationship to Michael Stoker (1762-1838).(22)
Refuge found in Illinois.
The people of Quincy reached out to help the Mormons fleeing from Missouri. Elizabeth Haven Barlow writes, "The people of Quincy had contributed between four and five hundred dollars for the poor Mormons. God had opened their hearts to receive us. May heaven's blessings rest upon them. We are hungry and they feed us, naked and clothed us. The citizens have assisted beyond all calculations."(23)
Footnotes
21. Also included are some of their children who were born after 1838 in Illinois.
22. "Mormon Redress Petitions," pp. 574, 598, 599-601.
23. Elizabeth Haven Barlow in letter to Elizabeth Howel Bullard, 24 February 1839, published in Ora H. Barlow, "The Israel Barlow Story and Mormon Mores." Salt Lake City: Ora H. Barlow, 1968."
11. 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:
"James WELKER and Elizabeth Stoker.
James was born 19 Aug., 1803 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He was the son of Adam and Sarah Welker.
He married Elizabeth Stoker about 1822 in North Carolina. She was born in Ash County, North Carolina on Feb. 28, 1800 or 1806. The records list both years as possible dates. Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller.
The couple first lived in Henry County, Indiana then moved in 1824 to Bloomfield, Jackson county, Ohio. They moved in about 1830 to the town of Madison then up to Columbus.
James and Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the very beginnings of the church. James was baptized in 1834, just four years after the church was organized on April 6, 1830. Elizabeth was baptized about the same, though the records of her baptism are lost. During the time of James and Elizabeth's baptism, the church was located in Kirkland, Ohio. They didn't live very farm from this city. It isn't hard to suppose that they came to general conference at least once or twice and saw the Kirkland Temple in use.
The family moved to Hancock, Illinois along with Elizabeth's parents. Land records show that Elizabeth's father, Michael had owned land just to the south of Nauvoo. James and Elizabeth's son John, was given a Patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith in Nauvoo in 1843 along with Elizabeth's brother Jacob. The records list Elizabeth as going through the Nauvoo Temple for her own endowments on January 21, 1846. There were only about two hundred people that were given this opportunity. Elizabeth's brothers Eller and Michael also went through the same day with her. Many of James and Elizabeth's children, though adults and married by the 1840s were baptized. James died on 5 Sept. 1844 in Hancock, Illinois at the age of 41. Elizabeth went with her son's John and James and traveled on to the Salt Lake Valley in 1852. They and their families moved first to the town of Willow Creek (now called Willard).
During the time of great concern when the government sent Johnston's army to Utah, John was called to help defend Echo Canyon with the Nauvoo Legion, while James took his mother, Elizabeth and his and John's family and went to Alpine, Utah to stay until the trouble was over.
Many years later, on Aug. 26, 1877, John was ordained a high priest by John Taylor. He was ordained a bishop by Brigham Young Jr. in Nov. 1884.
The family moved up to Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho and it was here that Elizabeth lived the last years of her life. She died Jan 2, 1868. She is buried in the Bloomington cemetery."
"Information on Elizabeth and James is from Family records of Alma Greenhalgh family. Nauvoo Social histories project by James Smith. Records from Mrs. Bessie W. Jacobson of Bloomington, Idaho. Family records of Annie Welker. Records of Mrs. Elizabeth Gale (her ancestor was Jacob Stoker), L.D.S. Historical and L.D.S. Biographical Enc. Vol. 4 page 604.
James WELKER (b) 19 Aug, 1803, Rowan, North Carolina, son of Adam and Sarah Welker, (d) 5 Sept, 1844, Hancock, Illinois, (m) abt 1822 in North Carolina to Elizabeth Stoker.
Elizabeth Stoker (b) 28 Feb, either 1800 or 1806 in Ash county, North Carolina, daughter of Michael Stoker or Stocker and Catherine Martha Ellier, (d) 2 Jan, 1868 in Bloomington, Idaho.
Children of James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker:
DAVID (b) 2 July, 1823, Henry, Henry, Indiana, (d) young, probably in Ohio.
James WILBURN (b) 17 Jan, 1825, Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, (d) 17 May, 1912, Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, (burr) Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, (m) 17 Feb, 1845, Pottawattamie County, Iowa to Anna Pugh. (For more information see chapter 2 and 3.)
John(b) 16 Mar, 1826, Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, (d) 1 June, 1913, Safford, Graham, Arizon, (m) 2 April, 1850, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa to Rocksena Dustin.
Jacob Stoker (b) 8 Jan, 1829 in Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, (d) 28 April, 1911, (m) Feb, 1855, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Harriet Angeline Lish.
Mary Catherine (b) 12 Jan, 1832 in Madison, Jackson, Ohio, (d) 8 Dec, 1920, Thatcher, Graham, Arizona, (m) 27 Mar, 1853, Willard, Box Elder, Utah, to Thomas Dilington Nelson.
Rebecca (b) 21 July, 1835, Madison, Jackson, Ohio, (d) 1863, Willard, Box Elder, Utah, (m) 1852 to Alexander Roswell Stevens.
Sarah (b) 1837 (some records have her birth as 1834) in Jackson, Ohio, (d) before 1846.
SUSIE (b) Dec, 1834 in Madison, Jackson county, Ohio, (d) 8 Dec, 1834, Madison, Jackson, Ohio.
ADAM (b) 19 Feb, 1841, Columbus, Adams, Ohio, (d) 2 April, 1926, Safford, Graham, Arizona, (m) (1st) 22 Feb, 1865 to Agnes Dock, (2nd) 21 July, 1914 to Negra Kirk."
(Pictures p. 38: "Kirkland Temple" and "Sectional Map of Hancock County.)"
12. The article "Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker's Descendants in Illinois," by Jimmie "B" Stoker, July 30, 1994, 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. This portion of the article lists the proxy baptisms done in Nauvoo, Illinois by the Stokers and related families for their extended family in behalf of their dead relatives and friends per the doctrine of their newly embraced Mormon religion:
"A new doctrine taught.
Seymour Brunson's funeral.
On August 10, 1840 forty-year-old Seymour Brunson died in Nauvoo. He was an old Stoker friend. Not only was he one of the first missionaries that had brought the restored gospel to their home in Jackson County, Ohio during 1833, but he had also distinguished himself in Missouri during 1838 as leading out in Joseph Smith's behalf. Colonel Brunson had led some of the Mormon attacks against the Missouri enemies.
At Brunson's funeral Joseph Smith introduced to his followers the ordinance of baptism for the dead. This doctrine would seize the imagination of many members of the church including the Stokers. Joseph taught that "the Saints have the privilege of being baptized for those of their relatives who are dead, whom they believe would have embraced the Gospel, if they had been privileged with hearing it, and who have received the Gospel in the spirit, through the instrumentality of those who have been commissioned to preach to them while in prison."13
Baptism for the dead.
The idea of this ordinance underscores the fact that God is just and will allow all mankind equal opportunity to accept proper baptism in Christ's name. Hence by allowing a proxy to be baptized in behalf of those who had died without being baptized in the proper manner, God would not penalize those of His children who had lived on the earth without hearing the restored gospel. In the hereafter, God would allow them to accept or reject that ordinance which is designed to allow one entrance into Heaven. Individual members of the church could perform baptism for their ancestors who had never heard of the restored gospel.
The Stokers go to Nauvoo to be baptized for their dead relatives.
Stepping into the water on behalf of their dead relatives to be baptized for them was an act that Catherine Eller Stoker was to perform. Many in her family followed her example and were baptized for numerous dead relatives.
During the short time after Joseph Smith had introduced the concept of baptism for the dead, members of the church entered the waters of the Mississippi River to be baptized on behalf of their loved ones. The rite of baptism for the dead was confirmed to the vicinity of Nauvoo.
On January 19, 1841, the Lord commanded that the Saints built a temple with a baptismal font in it. Furthermore, the commandment states that baptism for the dead "belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not about to build a house unto me."14 On October 3, 1841, as the temporary baptismal font in the Temple basement neared completion, Joseph Smith declared, "There shall be no more baptisms for the dead until the ordinance can be attended to in the Lord's House."15
In 1841 Catherine Eller and members of her family traveled to Nauvoo to perform baptisms for their dead. At this time the church policy allowed men and women to be baptized indiscriminately for each other. Catherine was baptized for her father, Peter Eller, and her brother, John Eller. She may have been baptized for her deceased daughter, Rebecca Stoker at this date. Michael Stoker (1805-1858) was baptized for his Grandfather Stoker, Michael (1762-1838), Eller Stoker (1816-1857) was baptized for his uncle, George Eller.16
It is most probable that these 1841 Stoker baptisms were performed in the MIssissippi River. The first baptisms for the dead performed in the Nauvoo Temple font took place on Sunday November 21, 1841 in the basement. This temporary font had been dedicated a couple of weeks earlier and would be used until the Temple was completed with a permanent one.17
The following Stoker family members were baptized for these dead members of their families [Person baptized for/Relationship to above:]
Catherine Eller Stoker:
Elizabeth [Dick Eller] White/Mother
George M. Eller/Grandfather
Kinrod Dick/Grandfather
Catherine Dick/Grandmother
Peter Eller/Father
John Eller/Brother
Rebecca Stoker/Daughter
Michael Stoker (1805-1858):
Michael Stoker/Grandfather
Barbary Pertune/Aunt
Absalom Koons/Cousin
Eller Stoker (1816-1857):
Christian Sherrer/Great uncle
Sarah Sherrer/Great aunt
Jacob Sherrer/Mother's cousin
Catherine Sherrer/Mother's cousin
Philip Baker/Uncle
George Baker/Cousin
George Eller/Uncle
Margaret [Judd] Stoker:
William McQuarey/Uncle
James Welker:
Sarah Wilker/Mother
Elizabeth Stoker Welker
Lear Black/Mother's cousin
William Pennington/Uncle
Mary Polly Stoker Graybill
Molly Coons/Great aunt
Andrew Sherer/Mother's cousin
Andrew Black/Mother's cousin
Catherine Yance/Mother's cousin
Luke White/Step-grandfather
Mary Steemel [Stimmel]/Aunt"
13. The following partial excerpt is from the article "Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker's Descendants in Illinois" by Jimmie "B" Stoker, July 30, 1994 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 numbers in the text refer to endnotes at the end of the article. See Catherine Martha Eller's notes for the full and complete transcript which is quite lengthy and only deals with her children in the Illinois period of Mormon history:
A. "After ferrying across the Mississippi River near Quincy, the bedraggled band sought refuge among the community's twelve hundred residents. For a few days they camped, resting and taking stock of their situation. As John Welker tells it, "When my father [James Welker] and the others that came out with him got to the camp on the east side of the river, there was a noble hearted man which came to our camp and got in a conversation with my father and found out his circumstances and the number in the family. He said to him, 'How many boys do you have?' 'Three. Here they are.' We were standing around listening very anxious to hear what he had to say. He looked at us and said, ' you are the family that I want to take home with me. I have a large farm and an empty house for you to go into and I will furnish you with provisions and you and the boys can work for me.'"2 In another narrative, John Welker says, "my father went in to the older settlement to work to git a little clotheing for his famley and something for them to eat while traveling out of the state we the famley got throug all alive but had a hard time in traveling in ice and snow we got to the state of ill and found a man by the name of Coleman Wilks that took us home with him he let us have a hosue to live in an furnished us some thin to eat work to pay for it."3 Coleman directed his new hired help to his farm located in the center of the county. As John Welker recounted, "It surely was a God's send for us. He lived in Adams County, two miles south of Columbus. The three families all went home with him and he treated us very kind and fatherly."
B. In commenting on the arrival in Illinois from Missouri, the author notes: "Meanwhile Catherine's sons, David (1795-1852), John W. (1803-1857), Michael (1805-1858) and Jacob (1812-) followed her daughter, Elizabeth, whose husband, James Welker, had been offered work on Coleman Wilkes' farm located, no doubt, about two miles southeast of the town of Columbus situated eighteen miles in a northeasterly direction from Quincy. David's married sons, John (1817-1881) and WIlliam (1819-), also joined the group of relatives who worked on farms near Columbus. There is some question whether Eller Stoker settled there with other members of the family at this time. We do know that according to the 1840 Adams County census, he was living in Adams County near the WIlkes' farm in the Columbus township. One family history states that Eller Stoker "...married Margaret Judd, who also had been in Missouri, then living with her widowed mother, Rhoda Judd, on the Des Moines River in Jefferson County, Iowa. Margaret later commented that their only neighbors after their marriage were Indians and Half-breeds."5 Just when Eller and Margaret lived on the Des Moines River or other places in Iowa before their final move to Pottawattamie County, Iowa in 1846 is not known."
C. "The 1840 Adams county, Illinois Federal census lists eight Stoker or Stoker related families. Only the heads of the households are listed. The ages and gender of members of the family are enumerated.
William Stoker- Males: 1 under 5 yrs [Samuel David Stoker, born Mar 24, 1840], 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [William Stoker, born Mar 26, 1819]; Females: 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [William's wife, Almira Winegar, born Fb 27, 1818].
Michael Stoker- Males: 2 under 5 yrs [Michael James Stoker, born May 23, 1840], and John Alexander Stoker, born Aug 23, 1837]; 2 between 5 and 10 yrs [David N. Stoker, born Feb 2, 1832 and William Moroni Stoker, born Jul 10, 1834]; 1 between 10 and 15 yrs [Gabriel McNeil Stoker, born Feb 2, 1832]; 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [Michael Stoker, born Feb 10, 1805]; Females: 1 between 30 and 40 yrs [Martha Carr McDaniel, born Feb 24, 1808].
John Stoker- Males: 1 under 5 yrs [Alma Stoker, born Dec 7, 1835]; 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [John Stoker, born Mar 8, 1817]; Females: 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [Jane McDaniel, born Feb 24, 1810].
John W. Stoker- Males: 2 under 5 yrs [William Eller Stoker, born Jan 4, 1840 and Parley Pratt Stoker, born Jan 2, 1837]; 1 between 10 and 15 yrs [John Randoph Stoker, born Jul 21, 1828]; 1 between 30 and 40 yrs [John W. Stoker, born Mar 16, 1802]; Females: 1 under 5 yrs [Elizabeth Jane Stoker, born Sep 3, 1834; 2 between 5 and 10 yrs [Katherine Martha Stoker, born Apr 14, 1832 and Zibia Meriba Stoker, born Aug 13, 1829]; 1 between 30 and 40 yrs [Electa Sarah McDaniel, born May 26, 1806].
Eller Stoker- Males: 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [Eller Stoker, born Jul 28, 1816]; Females: 1 under 5 yrs [Melinda Stoker, born Sep 11, 1840]; 1 between 15 and 20 yrs [Margaret Judee, born May 29, 1822]; 1 between 60 and 70 yrs [Margaret Judd's mother, Rhoda Shepherd Judd, born 1777].
James Walker [Welker]- Males: 2 between 10 and 15 yrs [Jacob Stoker Welker, born Jan 8, 1829 and John Welker, born Mar 16, 1826]; 1 between 15 and 20 yrs [James Wilburn Welker, born Jan 17, 1825]; 1 between 30 and 40 yrs [James Welker, born Aug 19, 1803]; Females: 2 between 5 and 10 yrs [Sarah Welker, born 1834 and Mary Catherine Welker, born Jan 12, 1832]; 1 between 40 and 50 yrs [Elizabeth Stoker, born Feb 28, 1800].
David Stoker- Males: 1 between 5 and 10 yrs [Michael Stoker, born Sep 12, 1833]; 1 between 40 and 50 yrs [David Stoker, born Mar 23, 1795]; Females: 1 between 5 and 10 yrs [Catherine Stoker, born Jul 25, 1829]; 1 between 10 and 15 yrs [Sarah Stoker, born Jun 26, 1827]; 1 between 40 and 50 yrs [Barbara Graybill, born Apr 1, 1792].
Jacob Stoker- Males: 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [Jacob Stoker, born Apr 7, 1812]; Females: 1 under 5 yrs [Nancy Stoker, born Dec 21, 1838]; 1 between 20 and 30 yrs [Catherine Burcham].9
D. "In 1841 Catherine Eller and members of her family traveled to Nauvoo to perform baptisms for their dead. At this time the church policy allowed men and women to be baptized indiscriminately for each other. Catherine was baptized for her father, Peter Eller, and her brother, John Eller. She may have been baptized for her deceased daughter, Rebecca Stoker at this date. Michael Stoker (1805-1858) was baptized for his Grandfather Stoker, Michael (1762-1838), Eller Stoker (1816-1857) was baptized for his uncle, George Eller.16 It is most probable that these 1841 Stoker baptisms were performed in the MIssissippi River. The first baptisms for the dead performed in the Nauvoo Temple font took place on Sunday November 21, 1841 in the basement. This temporary font had been dedicated a couple of weeks earlier and would be used until the Temple was completed with a permanent one.17 The following Stoker family members were baptized for these dead members of their families:
Catherine Eller Stoker
Person baptized for Relationship to above
Elizabeth [Dick Eller] White Mother
George M. Eller Grandfather
Kinrod Dick Grandfather
Catherine Dick Grandmother
Peter Eller Father
John Eller Brother
Rebecca Stoker Daughter
Michael Stoker (1805-1858)
Michael Stoker Grandfather
Barbary Pertune Aunt
Absalom Koons Cousin
Eller Stoker (1816-1857)
Christian Sherrer Great uncle
Sarah Sherrer Great aunt
Jacob Sherrer Mother's cousin
Catherine Sherrer Mother's cousin
Philip Baker Uncle
George Baker Cousin
George Eller Uncle
Margaret [Judd] Stoker
William McQuarey Uncle
James Welker
Sarah Wilker Mother
Elizabeth Stoker Welker
Lear Black Mother's cousin
William Pennington Uncle
Mary Polly Stoker Graybill
Molly Coons Great aunt
Andrew Sherer Mother's cousin
Andrew Black Mother's cousin
Catherine Yance Mother's cousin
Luke White Step-grandfather
Mary Steemel [Stimmel] Aunt18"
E. "On February 19 [1841], Adam Welker (1841-1926), the eighth and last child of James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker, was born near Columbus, Adams County, Illinois. Misfortune clouded May 3 when Joseph Stoker was born to Jacob Stoker and Catherine Burcham in Adams County. He died before the day was over... On August 11[1841], Melanda Stoker, the 11-month-old daughter of Eller Stoker and Margaret Judd, died."
F. "In early 1842 the Stokers who lived around Columbus, Adams County, Illinois moved north lock, stock, and barrel to Hancock County. From the soil they could procure the resources necessary to help in building the temple at Nauvoo and sustain those who were to work on it. Some of the Graybills who were living southeast of Quincy joined them. James Welker "found that there was land that could be entered in Hancock County, about 15 miles south of Nauvoo. He moved there and filed on a homestead. Part of it was prairie land and part was timber. He built a large hewed two roomed log house. Then the next thing was to fence and make a farm to make a living off of." The narrative written by James' son, John, continues, "We went to work with all the strength and ability that we had and fenced about 20 acres of land and farmed it two years. Because my father [James Welker] and all three of us boys [James Wilburn, John, and Jacob Stoker Welker] were concerned in it, now I will tell you more about what we did in this time of about three years- built a large log stable with a loft on top to hold hay and fodder for our horses and cows."26 There were two ways to claim the Illinois prairie: breaking the soil with a plow or it could be burned and then grass seeds sowed. An English traveler described an Illinois "Indian Summer" as when the "atmosphere becomes dull and smoky, and the sun is shorn of its rays." Months of fires caused the haze which he noted was set purposely by farmers.27 The Stoker relatives, coming north like James Welker to Hancock County, left behind the dreams of building a flourishing Mormon settlement at Columbus. They would develop their farms, and work on the temple at Nauvoo. Indeed, though short "of gold, or ...silver," they used the winter to "drive their [few] fat cattle and hogs to this place, where they may be preserved..." They did head the call "to gather." ...The 1842 Hancock County personal property tax assessment book gives an idea of how much the Stoker households were worth when they moved from Adams County. These assessments were found on pages 187 and 188:
George Graybill: Horses, $45.00; Cattle, $40.00; Other, $30.00
Levi Graybill: Horses, $20.00; Cattle, $80.00; Wagons, $50.00
John Stoker: Horses, $20.00; Cattle, $60.00; Other, $10.00
William Stoker: Horses, $20.00; Cattle, $30.00; Other, $10.00
James Welker: Horses, $50.00; Cattle, $60.00; Wagons, $40.00; Other, $30.00
Michael Stoker: Cattle, $50.00; Other, $20.00
Eller Stoker: Cattle, $60.00; Wagons, $25.00; Other, $20.00
Jacob Stoker: Horses, $40.00; Wagons, $15.00; Other, $10.00
The assessments may or may not reflect the actual value of the items listed. A rough guide to interpret the tax assessments may be as follows: Single horses could be valued as low as $20, but the most frequently cited figure is $40. Cows are usually figured at $10. Oxen may be figured higher. "Other" usually refers to furniture or tools. These tax assessments would indicate that the Stokers were living on farms rather than in the towns.28 Michael Graybill, Sr. and some of his sons stayed in Adams County."
G. "Certainly Catherine Eller and her Stoker family members were not of the opinoin that all was doom [after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith]. Before July was over they were again performing baptisms for dead relatives. on July 28, Catherine Eller was baptized for her dead grandfather, George Michael Eller, her daughter, Elizabeth Stoker Welker, was baptized for William Pennington, one of her mother's brothers-in-law.61"
H. "By September 15 [1844], forty-four buildings had been burned by the mob. Several of these houses were located in the Prairie branch, Green Plain district. The sheriff of Hancock County was Jacob Backenstos, a friend of the Latter-day Saints. He tried to preserve order, but he could not get citizens around Warsaw to join in this effort. He gave the members of the Highland branch, where Michael Stoker had his membership, orders to organize to protect their property.67 John Welker tells about how he and his cousins mutually watched out for each other. His account follows: "The mob [against] the Latterday saints was increasing and I but a boy of 18 was the oldest of the boys that was at home my oldest brother was married and doing for himself I was the one to look after the family after my father died and when the burning out of the later day Saints by the mob commenced close by I was in a settlement 10 miles from whare they were burning houses and some of my cousins and relatives lived close whare I lived we got together and agreed to take turnes and watch the mob and do the best we could to protect our homes. Some one was out every night watching their movements they did not come to our little settlement to burn us out if they had come some of them would have got hurt thare is many things connected with this I will not write."68 Not all of the Stoker relatives were as fortunate as the Welkers. John McDaniel and his wife, Christine Stoker, according to one history, "...were greatly persecuted with the other saints and several times were driven out by the mobs. On one occasion they were attacked and forced to flee with a child under each arm while their home was burned."69 On September 16, Sheriff Jacob Backenstos, after driving off the mob with a posse made up of ex-members of the Nauvoo Legion, had his life threatened by anti-Mormons in Hancock County. Riding for his life, Backenstos was chased by members of the mob led by Frank Worrell, who had supervised the guard at Carthage the day of the Martyrdom. Backenstos upon meeting some Mormons near some railroad shanties immediately deputized them. When Worrell attempted to shoot the sheriff, deputy Orrin Porter Rockwell shot him, knocking him off his horse. Although rescued by fellow members of the mob, Frank Worrell died soon after. John Welker's version of this gun battle is told a bit differently. "This burning of houses was kep up by the mob until Shiriff macentosh [Backenstos] ordered out a possa of men to take the mob and bring them to trial in a chase after a crow of the mob porter Rockwell shot and killed one of them the[y] were kindling a fire in my motherinlaws70 house when the shiriffs posey came in site the[y] disperced and fled in all directions as they ran one man of the mob turned in his saddle shot back at the posse and porter Rockwell shot and fetched him from his horse and he died soon after."71"
I. "Wanting to avert war, leaders of the Church met with General John J. Hardin of the Illinois state militia on October 1. Brigham Young disclosed the plans for the Mormons to remove themselves from Illinois. As an assurance of Mormon intentions, Young disclosed the fact that his people were not sowing any winter wheat. Within the week, the Mormons were tackling the logistics of moving over ten thousand from the state... In a time when the Stokers needed all the money they could get to prepare for the spring exodus, there was no market for their crops. John Welker points out this common problem. "We had raised a good crop of corn and had the most of it on hand. It was about the same as nothing to sell. It brought eleven cents a bushel at Warsaw, eleven miles to haul, and it had to be shelled at that. We could not sell it on the cob. This was our chance to get clothing and to fit up to go out into a wilderness country." And there was no money generated in selling the farms that the Stokers had put so much energy into developing. All the Mormons were selling. Buyers were not eager to spend much for the land. It could be had for very little. As John Welker says, "The land filed on by my father had not been proved up on so we did not get anything for it. There was a man who came from McDonough County and offered a pair of three year old steers and an old United States musket for our improvements if we would go over to his place and get them. As we did not have team enough to move with, we let him have a thousand dollars worth of property for almost nothing."74"
J. "As the new year began, the Mormon leaders were anxious that all worthy members of the Church do their temple work before they were forced to leave Illinois. On Monday, January 5, the first Stokers attended the temple as 104 received their endowments. In the second company were brothers, Michael and Jacob Stoker and their wives, Catharine Burcham and Martha Carr McDaniel. Catharine was heavy with child. Back at home on January 16, she gave birth to a daughter with the striking name of America. The Stoker family had celebrated in her name nearly a century of being residents of America. Jacob's grandfather, Johan Michael Stocker, had fled from the frontiers of Germany and France because of persecutions, religious and political. He had witnessed the struggles of becoming an American
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1800 - 1868 (67 years)