| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Censuses:
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 Stoker, Jr. Males 0-5:1; 20-30:1; 60-70:1. Females 5-10:1; 20-30:1. [Appears to be Michael, his wife Martha, and their oldest son Gabriel; unsure who 5-10 year old girl would be since this couple was married only one year before.]
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.]
1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 67b, household and family #62 [note judging from 1834 birth of Moroni, it would appear family was Mormon by that date by using a Book of Mormon name for the son]:
Michael Stoker, 41, no occupation, NC.
Martha, 39, Ohio.
Gabriel, 21, laborer, Ohio.
David, 18, Ohio.
Maroni, 16, Ohio.
Alexander, 13, Ohio.
Michael, 10, Ill.
Jared, 6, Ill.
Joseph, 4, Ill.
Rebecca, 2, Ill.
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:
Stoker: Michael 46, Martha 44, Gabriel M. [male] 21, David N. 19, William M. 16, John A. 13, James M. 10, Jared 7, Joseph J. 4, Martha R. 2. [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.]
1852 Iowa: not listed under his name in FHL book heads of household index for the 1852 Iowa census.
2. Judging from 1834 birth of brother Moroni, it would appear father's family was Mormon by that date by their use of a Book of Mormon name for the son.
3. Father's journal as quoted below uses McNiel. I have seen it reported also as McNeil by some modern researchers.
BIOGRAPHY:
1. 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 Michael and Martha Stoker and their son "Gabrael".
2. 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:
106-107: Michael Stoker, born Feb. 10, 1805, North Carolina, married Martha McDaniel - father was James McDaniel, mother was Zibiah McCarley. Children:
Gabriel McNeel Stoker, born Oct. 23, 1829, Jackson Co., Bloomfield, Ohio.
David Newbury Stoker, born July 2, 1832, Bloomfield, Jac. Co., Ohio.
John A. Stoker, born Aug 25, 1837, Colewill Co.
Michael James Stoker, born May 23, 1840, Columbus, Ill.
Jared Samuel, born Mar. 19, 1843 Hancock Co., Ill.
Joseph J. Stoker, born April 20, 1845, Hancock Co., Ill.
Martha Rebecca Stoker, born Jan. 1 1849 Potawatamie Co., Iowa, died Oct. 9, 1871.
182-183: Martha Stoker, daughter of James McDaniel and Zibiah McCarly was born Feby 24th, 1808, Ohio, Galia Co., Raccoon Township.
Gabriel McNeel Stoker, son of Michael Stoker and Martha McDaniel was born Oct. 23d, 1829, Jackson Co., Bloomfield Township, State of Ohio.
David Newbury Stoker, son of Michael Stoker and Martha was born July 2d, 1832 Ohio, Jackson Co., Bloomfield Township.
Wm. Moroni Stoker, son of Michael and Martha was born July 20th, 1834, Jackson Co., Bloomfield Township, State of Ohio.
John A. Stoker, son of Michael and Martha was born Aug. 25, 1837, Missouri, Caldwell Co.
Michael James Stoker, son of Michael and Martha was born May 23d, 1840, Columbus, Adams Co., Illinois.
Jared Samuel Stoker, son of Michael and Martha was born March 19th, 1843 Illinois, Hancock Co.
Joseph Johile Stoker, son of Michael and Martha was born April 26th, 1846, Illinois, Hancock Co.
Martha Rebecca Stoker, daughter of Michael and Martha was born Jany 1st, 1849, Potawatamie Co, Kane Township, Iowa, Died Oct.19, 1871.
3. 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."
4. 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 reprint of a newspaper article published in the Jackson [Ohio] Herald, Friday, February 27, 1959 p. 7 which Helen Evans sent to Jim Stoker earlier this year.
'In county's early church history. Mormon incident is recalled at Vega, by Gwyn A. Perry, M.D.
In a recent issue of your paper, appeared an article by Mr. Charles Harkins on some of the history of the Vega Methodist Church.
Research on the history of the religious denominations of Jackson county reveals that the same area now occupied by this Church was the locale of a shameful incident in the religious history of this county. For it was here that efforts were made to establish a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This sect is popularly called the Mormon Church, a term derived from their Book of Mormon.
The various religious denominations in the early days of the county were very intolerant of each other, and this intolerance even extended to members of their own denomination who differed in their theological interpretations.
The Baptists were dominant in the southern half of the county, the Methodists in the central and northern part. When a Presbyterian attempted to organize a Sunday School in what is now old Oak Hill, but then known as "Buzzard Roost," the Baptists fought him bitterly as they believed Sunday schools were the work of the Devil. The Methodists were also antagonistic, but their opposition was not with the vigor of the Baptists. The Presbyterians finally established a group in the Jackson area, but for many years it was of little influence.
A colony of families of German ancestry settled in the Vega area about 1816, having come from Ashe county, North Carolina and Frederick county, Maryland. Shortly after the Mormon Church was founded in New York state, migrants and missionaries came to this county. Many converts were obtained in this German colony, as well as a few in the town of Jackson. Most of the meetings were held in the Michael Stoker (Stucker) home, where Vega Church is now located. Historical records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tell of these meetings at the Stoker home and in the Jackson settlement in 1832 and 1833...
Shortly after the Mormon Church was established in the present Vega area, a Methodist preacher by the name of Borgess came into the county and he made opposition to Mormonism his specialty and was fiery and vehement in his denunciation. Dr. Gabriel McNeel who was one of the strongest characters ever to live in this county was very well thought of by the Stokers; they had named their first born son after him. [Michael Stoker's son, Michael, and wife, Martha Carr McDaniel, named their first son, Gabriel McNeel.] Dr. McNeel, who among his many occupations was also an ordained Methodist minister, attended some of their church meetings but in contrast to Borgess tried to show the fallacy of the Book of Mormon by logic. Although there is a record that occasionally he broke up their services by refusing to keep quiet while their minister was preaching.
As all of the orthodox denominations in Jackson county were following the same persecution methods as was being done all over Ohio, the Mormon group of this area were finally forced to sell their lands for whatever price they could obtain and move on. A daughter of one of the families, remained and is buried in the Vega cemetery. The group moved first to Illinois [actually it was to Missouri, then Illinois], then to Iowa and finally to the Utah Territory before they found surcease from religious persecution.
Not everyone was opposed to them, however. An individual who was present and witnessed their persecution, recorded in his diary, "I cannot blame the Mormons for hating the people of Jackson county. Mormonism was not met by the mob in our county, but the preachers of all the other denominations were vigilant and bitter in attacking this new doctrine."
BIRTH:
1. 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, pp. 92, 93: "Michael Stoker, b. 10 Feb 1805, m. Martha Carr McDaniels... By noting where the children were born, one can trace the whereabouts of their journeys. By August of 1837, they were in Caldwell County, Missouri. They were at Trader's Point in Pottawattamie County, Iowa in January of 1849 and lived there the rest of their lives, Michael died on March 30, 1858 at the age of 53, and Martha died 15 years later. Trader's Point, an early Indian trading center, was south of Council Bluffs and across the river from Sarpy's Ferry. When the Missouri River changed its course, Trader's Point ended up on the Nebraska side. Michael Stoker's Journal: 'One of the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... Gabriel Mc N. Stoker was born Oct. 23, 1829 in Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio, Friday at 3 P.M... David [should be Gabriel; typo?] McNiel Stoker died May 23, 1852, at Trader's Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa."
2. Ancestral file reports variant birthdate of 2 Feb 1832 which does not fit with either censuses not father's journal and should be ignored. It also reports 24 Dec 1828; however, I use father's journal as quoted above.
MARRIAGE:
1. Probably unmarried considering 1851 census as single and death in 1852.
DEATH:
1. Date in Ancestral File uses variant date of 10 Jun 1852; however, I use father's journal date quoted in birth record above. Tombstone does confirm an 1852 year of death. I use place as Trader's Point since it shows up also in father's journal and he was there with his family in 1851 Iowa census. Died about same time as brother David - they would have been 20 and 23 years old, and died nine days apart.
2. Variant per 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, p. 116: "Gabriel McNeil Stoker, b. 23 Oct 1829 in Bloomfield Twsp. of Jackson Co., OH; d. 10 Jun 1852 (gravestone) or 14 May 1852 (family records)." My notes on the tombstone below does not give anything but the year of death and not 10 Jun.
BURIAL:
1. The following name is found on a new memorial stone with 33 other related family members at Graybill/Stoker Cemetery: "Gabriel Stoker 1829-1852." It is 3 miles east of Council Bluffs, Iowa in Garner Township on old Highway 6 (also known as McPherson Highway - not to be confused with the new Highway 6), then a right (south) on State Orchard Road for 9/10ths of a mile, then left (east) on Cedar Lane to the first driveway on the left (north). The address is 21090 Cedar Lane and the cemetery is in their backyard. Get permission from the homeowner first. These directions were corrected from previous directions after my visit May 8, 2007.
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Ancestral File 4.19 (27 May 2001).
2. Mentioned in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, p. 87.
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1829 - 1852 (22 years)