David Stoker

David Stoker was born March 23, 1795, in what is today's Ashe County, North Carolina, the eldest son of Michael Stoker Sr. and Catherine Eller Stoker. In about 1814 David married Barbara Graybill, the daughter of John Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. Barbara's brother, Michael S. Graybill Sr., had earlier married David's sister Mary "Polly" Stoker. David Stoker and Barbara Graybill Stoker relocated to Jackson County, Ohio, with other family members not long after their marriage.

David and Barbara had seven children, all of whom were born in Jackson County, Ohio. In 1833 the extended Stoker and Graybill families in Jackson County became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some three years later they migrated to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, joining together with the large concentration of Mormons there. After the extermination order by Missouri Gov. Boggs, the Mormons fled their homes and gathered in Illinois where Joseph Smith Jr. had established the city of Nauvoo on the Mississippi River.

The Stoker's and related families were forced to abandon their homes and farms and settled in Illinois. On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith Jr. was murdered by a mob and the bulk of the Mormons later fled west under the leadership of Brigham Young. The Mormons crossed the state of Iowa and reached the Missouri River and established a large settlement they named Kanesville that later became known as Council Bluffs. David Stoker's eldest son, John Stoker, arrived in Salt Lake City in 1848. David and Barbara Stoker and the rest of their offspring remained in Council Bluffs with their Stoker and Graybill relatives.

David died on May 27, 1852, of cholera contracted from passengers he and his brothers ferried across the Missouri River to Winter Quarters. Two nephews, Gabriel McNeil Stoker and David Nathan Stoker also died during this cholera epidemic. All three were buried in the Stoker - Graybill Cemetery. David was the first of the Stoker brothers to die. Soon thereafter Barbara Graybill Stoker and the other six children and grandchildren migrated west to Utah to join with John Stoker.

It should be noted that David Stoker's sister, Elizabeth Stoker Welker, and her family all migrated to Utah also whereas most all of the other Stoker's and Graybill's remained in the Council Bluffs area and later affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS.)

Parents:

Catherine Eller Stoker 1773 - 1850

Spouse:

Barbara Graybill Stoker ____ - 1872

Created by: J. M. Paden

Record added: Dec 03, 2009

Find A Grave Memorial# 45081750

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SOURCE OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS:

http://www.myfamilysearch.net/getperson.php?personID=I1851&tree=200...

The Stoker's Graybill's and Wampler's were of German origin, coming to this country in the mid-1700's and settling in Ashe County, North Carolina. They were neighbors and friends, and their children grew up together. Barbara was the fifth child born to her parents. When she grew up, she married David Stoker. After a forested area of Ohio was cleared in the early 1800's, the main body of Stoker and Graybill relatives crossed the border into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. While living in Ohio, the Stoker's became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1836, they moved to Missouri with the main body of the Saints, but great persecutions took place here and they were forced to flee to Illinois for safety. Enemies of the church soon drove them from Nauvoo to Iowa. They then went to Council Bluffs where David and his brothers were operating a ferry across the Missouri River to obtain enough money for their journey west to Utah. On May 27, 1852, David Stoker died of cholera and was buried in the Stoker-Graybill cemetery at or near Winter Quarters, Iowa. Barbara came West with her children in June, 1852, and she lived with her children. On Oct. 3, 1872, she passed away at the home of her daughter in Summit, Iron County, Utah.

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1800 US Census: 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 in 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 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 Henson's 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 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 FEMALES:

0- 10 16- 26- 45+ 0-10-16-26- 45+ 9 16 26 45 9 16 26 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 Slaves

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 01 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1

Pennington, William 00 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Stucker, Michael 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0

1820 USCensus:

Madison Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 192, township had a little over 40 families; related families of Michael Stoker and Michael Graybill are in neighboring Bloomfield Township; columns are male 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, 45+// female 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:

David Stoker: 2,1,0,1,0,0//1,0,0,1,0.

Peter Grabill: 1,0,0,1,0,1//0,0,2,0,1.

Nancy Henson: 0,1,0,1,0,0//0,1,1,1,0.

James McDaniel: 0,0,0,0,0,1//3,2,0,0,1.

1830 US Census: Madison Township, Jackson, Ohio, p. 93a:

David Stoker: Males 10-15:2; 30-40:1; female 0-5:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1. [Appears to be David, his wife Barbara, and their children: Christina, John, William, Sarah, and Catherine; appears from children enumerated that Nancy may have been dead by 1830.]

1840 US Census: 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: Can't find.

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: David 57, Barbary 57, Michael 17. 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: the census has David Stoker in Kanesville, Pottawattamie, IA, p. 22. This census is statistical and only lists heads of household with numbers of males, females, and voters. It is not very helpful for families or positively identifying a given individual. The following Stokers are shown as being in the same area: David, Eller, Jacob, John, and William as well as Michael Graybill, Martin Ford, Philip Gatrost, John Smith, George Graybill, and Levi Graybill. This David could actually be David N. Stoker, a different individual in this database, because the David died in May 1852 which may or may not proceeded this census.

3. The following information may have some bearing as to when David joined the LDS Church: the book "Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia," in regards to David's son John has a biography in which it states that John's baptism was 13 Nov 1836 by Seymour Brunson. (Note that Ordinance Index notes 1 Nov 1833.) The following information was found on Seymour Brunson in the same book, p. 331: "Seymour Brunson, one of the first elders of the Church, was born Sept. 18, 1799, in Virginia, the son of Reuben Brunson and Salley Clark.

He served in the war of 1812, became a convert to 'Mormonism' and was baptized in January, 1831, by Solomon Hancock at Strongsville, Cayhoga county, Ohio; was ordained an Elder by John Whitmer Jan. 21, 1831, and labored as a missionary in Ohio, Virginia and other States, raising up several branches of the Church. He moved to Bloomfield, Ohio, in 1834, thence to the town of Tompkins, Illinois, and moved to Missouri in the spring of 1837. He located near Far West, Caldwell county, and passed through the persecutions to which the Saints in that part of Missouri were exposed. Being expelled from Missouri, he settled temporarily in Quincy, Illinois, and a few months later moved to Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo). When the Nauvoo Stake of Zion was organized in October, 1839, Seymour Brunson was chosen as a member of the High Council and served in that capacity until the time of his death which occurred Aug. 10, 1840."

Even though the dates are uncertain, the Stoker baptisms around 1833 to 1836 are likely. Judging from Brunson's arrival to Bloomfield in 1834, Brunson could have been the one who introduced the Stoker family to the LDS faith, or at the very least was a participant in John's baptism. If the 1833 date for John is correct, then perhaps Brunson came through earlier as a missionary before settling. Judging from the 1837 date, it could also be likely that the Brunson family traveled with the Stoker family to Missouri from Bloomfield.

4. 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 some times years later the survey was made and a survey or 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."

BIOGRAPHY:

1. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers: for Barbara Graybill Stoker, m. David Stoker 1814 (he died 27 May 1852 in Council Bluffs, Iowa), children:

Christina, 24 Aug 1815

John, 8 Mar 1817

William, 26 Mar 1819

Nancy, Oct 1824

Sarah, 20 Jun 1827

Catherine, 25 Jul 1829

Michael, 12 Sep 1833

Michael, 12 Sep 1833

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, North Carolina, 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 Eller's and Dick's 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 Graybill's and Stoker's, 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 1836 or 1837 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, Illinois, 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. The above is almost verbatim also in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996.

From a typescript of an unknown source but most likely of the archives of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers with pages hand-numbered 49-51. Text: "Life of Michael Stoker. Michael Stoker was born at Bloomfield Twp., Jackson County, Ohio, September 12, 1833. He was the son of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill. He was the youngest child in a family of seven children, four girls and three boys.

There was a period of time we don't know much about the family or where they first heard and became interested in the 'Mormon' Church. According to records, Michael was baptized into the LDS Church in the year 1848. He would have been fifteen years old then. The Stoker family spent some time at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. They were advised to stay a while and get better prepared for the journey West, so they were among those who planted crops and harvested them so there would be food for the saints who came later on the long trek to the Rocky Mountains.

In the spring of 1852, a few days before their company started West, Michael's father, David Stoker, died and was buried at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, now called Council Bluffs, Nebraska. Michael and his mother and brother and sisters came on to Salt Lake Valley.

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, Illinois, 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 is David Stoker.

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.), North Carolina; d. 24 Sep 1856, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa; bur. in the Graybill-Stoker Pioneer Cemetery; Pottawattamie Co,., Iowa; md. 1811, Ashe Co., North Carolina, to Mary Polly Stoker. Michael was the son of John Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. Polly was b. 24 Nov 1792, Ashe Co. [Wilkes], North Carolina; d. 18 Feb 1864, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa; 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., Ohio. 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 Stoker's also made the journey with them.

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, Missouri. They wanted to gather with the Saints in Caldwell Co., Missouri, to be part of Zion, the new Jerusalem. Michael sold his farm to his father, Peter Graybill Sr., who along with Henry, Michael's brother, and sister Celia (Graybill) Henson, decided to stay in Ohio.

In 1836, Michael and other relatives packed to make the trip to Far West, Missouri. They spent the winter with Stoker relatives in Monroe Co., Indiana, 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, Missouri. 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, Illinois. Michael Sr. and his family, Simeon's family and Catherine (Eller) Stoker's lived eleven miles southeast of Quincy, Illinois.

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, Iowa. Some of the related families went on to Utah. Michael Sr.'s daughters, Juliana and Mary Ann, were among those who went to Utah. Michael Sr.'s sister Barbara (Graybill) Stoker went to Utah 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.

From a FHL film copy of the 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 Stoker's 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:

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.

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.

David Stoker, born Mar. 23, 1795, died May 27, 1852. Barbara Graybill wife of David Stoker and daughter of Peter Graybill and Christenia Wampler, died Oct. 3, 1872, Summitt, Utah. Children:

John Stoker, born 8 Mar 1817, died 11 June 1881 Bountiful, Utah.

Sarah Stoker, born 26 Jun 1827, married Edward H. Davis.

William Stoker.

Michael Stoker.

Barbara Stoker, daughter of Peter Graybill and Christenia Wampler and wife of David Stoker died October the 3d, 1872, at Summet Creek, Iron County, Utah, aged 81 years.

Edward Davis, husband of Sarah Stoker, the daughter of Barbara Stoker, died Januaryy 9th, 1873 of Putrid Sore throat, Iron Co., Utah, Summet Creek

David Stoker, son of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller and father of John Stoker, died May 27th, 1852 at Trader's Point, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. The family emigrated to Utah the same Spring.

Sarah Davis, daughter of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill was born June 26th 1827, State of Ohio, Jackson Co., Bloomfield Township. Baptized by Wm. Stoker February 1850.

BIRTH:

1. Per Ancestral File 4.19 (27 May 2001). Note that occasionally I see a 25 Mar in lieu of 23 Mar date; however, I see more 23 Mar than the other. Neither has been documented so I use 23 Mar 1795.

2. Daughter Sarah Stoker Davis in 1900 US census states this parent born in North Carolina.

3. Per tombstone.

4. Wilkes County, North Carolina, split off to make Ashe County in late 1799.

MARRIAGE:

1. Per wife's Daughters of Utah Pioneers biography as cited above.

DEATH:

1. Per Ancestral File 4.19 (27 May 2001): Place of death listed as "Trader's Point (Council Bluffs), Pottawattamie, Iowa".

2. Per wife's Daughters of Utah Pioneers biography as cited above.

3. Per tombstone.

BURIAL:

1. The following name is found on a new memorial stone with 33 other related family members at Graybill/Stoker Cemetery: "David Stoker 1795-1852." It is 3 miles east of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in Garner Township on old Highway 6 (also known as McPherson Highway), then a right after the railroad overpass onto State Orchard Drive for about a mile, then east about 1/4 mile, then north on a "dead end" road to the first farm gate on the left. After permission from the farmer, the cemetery is about a half mile back west through the field.

2. Per Ancestral File 4.19 (27 May 2001).

3. Graybill Cemetery Relationships (Individuals not buried in this cemetery are in parentheses); Cemetery in Pottawattamie County, Iowa:

1- Catherine Eller 1773-1850 m. (Michael Stoker)

2- Polly Stoker 1792-1864 m. Michael Graybill 1787-1856

3- Catherine Graybill 1814-1886 m. Phillip Gatrost 1811-1870

3- (Simeon Peter Graybill) m. (Francis M. Graham)

4- George A. Graybill 1864-1873

4- Almeda Graybill 1869-1873

3- (Levi Graybill) m. (Patience Smith)

4- Abigail Graybill 1842-1885 m. John T. Pritchett

4- Levi Graybill 1851-1879

3- (George Washington Graybill) m. Mary Smith 1823-1860

4- Polly J. Graybill 1849-1872 m. (Wayne Downs)

4- Massie Graybill 1855-1872 m. (Thomas McGrew)

4- Sarah Graybill 1856-1857

3- William Lenore Graybill 1823-1880 m. (Hannah Pilling)

4- Sydney Graybill (Infant)

2- *David Stoker 1795-1852

2- John Stoker 1802-1857 m. Sarah McDaniel 1806-1857

3- John R. Stoker 1828-1847

2- Michael Stoker Jr. 1805-1858 m. Martha McDaniel 1808-1873

3- Gabriel Stoker 1829-1852

3- David N. Stoker 1832-1852

3- Martha R. Stoker 1849-1871

2- Eller Stoker 1816-1855 m. Margaret Judd 1822-1893

2- (Jacob Stoker)

3- America Stoker 1846-1847

3- Peter Stoker [twin] 1851-1851

3- Julia Stoker [twin] 1851-1857

Unplaced Individuals:

David N. Stoker [infant]

Emily J. Stoker [infant]

Jesse Stoker [infant]

Mrs. Pilling [possibly mother of Hannah Pilling]

ORDINANCES: Verified 5 Jul 2002.

BAPTISM: Online Ordinance Index with no further source.

ENDOWMENT: Online Ordinance Index without film documentation.

SEALING TO PARENTS: Online Ordinance Index FHL film 1239623, p. 385, ord. 14534.

SEALING TO SPOUSE: Online Ordinance Index FHL film 1553726, sht. 49, batch F518657.

SOURCES MISC:

1. Per family group sheet archive record submitted by Grace Beck Larsen, 378 S. 11 E., Salt Lake City, Utah. She references: "David Stoker of Clearfield, Utah. Vinal Barlow of Midville, Uthan. Ora Barlow. GS F Ohio 38718 pt 1. George Mikael Eller's Family 19A220. David Stoker Archive Sheet.

2. 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. 92.

3. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996. This book also mentions that Herman Stoker, David's grandson, has worked on this line for many years.

4. Rootsweb.com WorldConnect 17 Feb 2004 database "480580" of Donna Shell .

5. 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. 100.

David Stoker was born March 23, 1795 in what is today's Ashe County, North Carolina, the eldest son of Michael Stoker Sr. and Catherine Eller Stoker. In about 1814 David married Barbara Graybill, the daughter of John Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. Barbara's brother, Michael S. Graybill Sr., had earlier married David's sister Mary "Polly" Stoker.

David Stoker and Barbara Graybill Stoker relocated to Jackson County, Ohio with other family members not long after their marriage. David and Barbara had seven children, all of whom were born in Jackson County, Ohio. In 1833 the extended Stoker and Graybill families in Jackson County became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some three years later they migrated to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, joining together with the large concentration of Mormons there. After the extermination order by Missouri Gov. Boggs, the Mormons fled their homes and gathered in Illinois where Joseph Smith Jr. had established the city of Nauvoo on the Mississippi River.

The Stokers and related families were forced to abandon their homes and farms and settled in Illinois. In 1844 Joseph Smith Jr. was murdered by a mob and the bulk of the Mormons later fled west under the leadership of Brigham Young. The Mormons crossed the state of Iowa and reached the Missouri River and established a large settlement they named Kanesville that later became known as Council Bluffs. David Stoker's eldest son, John Stoker, arrived in Salt Lake City in 1848. David and Barbara Stoker and the rest of their offspring remained in Council Bluffs with their Stoker and Graybill relatives. David died on May 27, 1852 of cholera contracted from passengers he and his brothers ferried across the Missouri River to Winter Quarters. Two nephews, Gabriel McNeil Stoker and David Nathan Stoker also died during this cholera epidemic. All three are buried in the Stoker - Graybill Cemetery. David was the first of the Stoker brothers to die. Soon thereafter Barbara Graybill Stoker and the other six children and grandchildren migrated west to Utah to join with John Stoker. It should be noted that David Stoker's sister Elizabeth Stoker Welker and her family all migrated to Utah also whereas most all of the other Stokers and Graybills remained in the Council Bluffs area and later affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS.)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 10 2016, 17:15:14 UTC