Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Elizabeth Graybill

Female 1833 - 1891  (57 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Elizabeth Graybill 
    Born 16 Sep 1833  Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 30 Jan 1891  near Persia, Harrison, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 31 Jan 1891  Walker's Grove, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I292  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Michael Graybill,   b. 14 May 1787, , Wilkes (now Ashe), North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Sep 1856, Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Mother Mary or Polly Stoker,   b. 24 Nov 1792, , Wilkes (now Ashe), North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Feb 1864, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married May 1811  Jefferson, Ashe, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F264  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Reviewed 6 Jun 2002 Rootsweb.com Worldconnect.

      2. Censuses:
      1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 128b, dwelling and family 1020:
      Michael Graybel, 63, labour, NC.
      Polly, 58, NC. [Wife]
      Cimiel, 34, M, OH. [Son; should be Simeon.]
      Michael, 22, OH. [Son]
      Elizabeth, 17, OH. [Daughter]
      Sidney, 14, OH. [Son]
      Almeda, 14, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
      Maridith, 12, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
      David, 7, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
      Amanda, 4, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
      William, 10, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Andrew, 8, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Aaron, 5, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Cathern Stoker, 77, NC. [Most likely Catherine Eller, Polly's mother; census was taken 11 Nov 1850.]

      1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
      Grabill: Michael 65, Polly 58, William L. 26, Michael Jr. 23, Elizabeth 17, Sidney R. 15, Almeda 15, Marideth 13, David 7. Also in household are Catherine Stoker 78 and Amanda Grabill 5. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]

      1856 Iowa: (From Ancestry.com) Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 14 of 63, 87/88:
      Michael Graybill, 68, 10 years in Iowa, NC, farmer.
      Polly, 63, 10, NC.
      Michael S., 28, 10, OH, farmer.
      Elizabeth, 22, OH.
      Sidney R., 20, 10, OH, farmer.
      Almeda, 20, 7, OH.
      Merideth, 18, 7, MO.
      David M., 12, 7, IL.
      Amanda, 10, 7, IL.
      Catherine Stoker, 83, 10 years in Iowa, MD. [Note: this individual shows up as the next entry on the top of page 15 as part of the next family of Walter J. Woodward. This appears to be a mistake and I believe it was intended that she be with the Graybill family since she is Polly's mother.]

      1860 US: Council Bluffs Post Office, Kane Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, dwelling 504, family 445, neighbors to William Lenore Graybill:
      Polly Graybill, 67, farmer, $592 real estate, NC.
      Michael, 32, farmer, $117 real estate, OH.
      Elizabeth, 26, housework, OH.
      Sidney R., 24, farmer, $506 personal property, OH
      Meredith, 22, farm hand, MO.
      David, 17, farm hand, IL.
      Amanda, 14, IL.

      1870 US: Unionburg P.O., Union Twp., Harrison, Iowa, p. 118b, dwelling 14 (next door to niece Amanda Graybill and her husband John Tucker - I assume the Joshua listed here is a brother to John Tucker):
      S.R. Graybill, 34, farmer, $1800, $1800, OH.
      Jane, 24, keeping house, IL.
      Polly E., 4, IA.
      Catherine, 2, IA.
      Elisobuth Graybill, 36, OH, invalid.
      Joshua Tucker, 16, farm laborer, MO.

      1880 US: Washington, Harrison, Iowa; NA film T9-0343, p. 123C:
      S.K. Graybill, self, farmer, 44, OH NC NC.
      Jane Graybill, wife, 33, IL IL IL.
      M. Graybill, brother, single, boarder, 52, OH NC NC.
      Elizabeth Graybill, Invalid, sister, 46, OH NC NC.
      Poly E. Graybill, dau., 15, IA NC IL.
      Catharine A., dau., 12, IA NC IL.
      Abagil, dau., 10, IA NC IL.
      George L. Graybill, son, 3, IA NC IL.

      1885 Iowa: Washington, Harrison, Iowa, p. 17 of 36, 108/110:
      Sidney R. Graybill, 48, OH, farmer.
      Jane, 41, IL.
      Rouy E., 18, Pottawattamie.
      Ireene E., 16, Pottawattamie.
      Abigail, 14, Harrison.
      Geo. L., 7, Harrison.
      Michael R., 4, Harrison.
      Michael S. Graybill, 57, OH.
      Elizabeth Grabill, 49, OH.
      William Willis, 14, laborer, Pottawattamie.

      3. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City):
      "Graybill, Elizabeth; Birth: 10 (16) Sep 1833 at Jackson County, Ohio. Death: 30 Jan 1891, near Persia, Iowa; Burial: Walker's Grove. Elizabeth Graybill was bapt. a member of the [RLDS] on 26 Sep 1862 near Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, by Joseph Smith (E.C. Briggs). She was confirmed by Joseph Smith and Geo. Rarick. She died from breast cancer after being confined to her bed for 36 years. Sources: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-71, book A, and 1872-1905, Book C; Saints' Herald Obituaries, 1891, p. 127."

      4. FHL film 702: "Journal of John Stoker, b. 1817; Journal starts November 1, 1869." John was the son of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill. Selected family related passages from his journal:
      P. 1: Nov. 1-4, 1869: The journal starts with John leaving as a 52 year old missionary with Jesse N. Perkins as a companion from Salt Lake City on the railroad to Omaha, NE. The railroad had just recently been completed so he details the progress of the transcontinental railway journey.
      P. 2: Saturday, Nov. 6, 1869: "Went to Bluff City with J.N. Perkins. Sunday 7th, spent the fore noon with Moroni Stoker - took dinner with him." [William Moroni Stoker, 1834-1929, was John's first cousin thru John's father's brother Michael S. Stoker, 1805-1858.]
      P. 3: "Monday 8th. Went up to Musketoe to see Simeon P. Graybill. Stayed all night. Tuesday 9th, took dinner with Aunt Margaret Stoker, Uncle Eller Stoker's widow, and returned to Aunt Martha's at Trading Point, Potawatamie Co., Iowa. Wednesday, 10th. Wrote a letter to Mr. Wm. Atkinson in Bountiful, Davis Co., Utah. Thursday 11th. Visited Wm. McDaniel in Harrison Co. 40 miles north. Friday 12th. Visited the grave of Zibiah Birdno [could also be Binders], my wife's mother. Saturday 13th. Returned to Aunt Martha's at Trader's Point. Sunday 14th. Spent the day with Aunt Martha's family. Monday 15th. Went to Bluff City to look for a letter but got none and returned to the Point. [Simeon Graybill, 1816-1889, was John's first cousin twice thru his father's sister Polly Stoker, 1792-1864, and thru his mother's brother Michael Peter Graybill. Eller Stoker, 1816-1855, was John's father's brother and married to Margaret Judd, 1822-1893. Aunt Martha was Martha Carr McDaniel, 1808-1873, wife of John's father's brother Michael S. Stoker, 1805-1858. William McDaniel, 1810-1885, is John's brother-in-law. John's Mother-in-law, Zibiah (McCarley) McDaniels, 1786-1860, apparently remarried a Mr. Birdno after her husband James McDaniel, 1762-1820, died.]
      Pp. 4-9: The journal details their departure from Council Bluffs area by various means including railroad, hack, steamboat, packet boat, hired horses, and on foot with luggage to "Leith Co. 5 miles north of Estillville," Virginia via many detailed waypoints including but not limited to DesMoines, Chicago, Cleveland, Wheeling VA, Burlington on the Ohio River, the "Big Sandy" on the line between Kentucky and Virginia, the "Pound Gap" summit of Cumberland Mountain, the "High Nob the highest point in Virginia." John details with whom they stayed and what hospitality they received. Along the way they see and preach the Gospel to many McLelland/McClelland relatives of his companion. In Leith Co., VA, on Monday, Dec. 13, 1869, he "wrote a letter home to my family and one to Ash[e] Co., North Carolina to David and Henry Graybill" which they mailed the next day from Estillville. [John's mother, Barbara Graybill, had two brothers - Henry, ca1780-ca1843, and David, 1794-1874 - who remained in Ashe Co. where she was born; however, Henry was dead by then but his "Uncle" David responds later on Jan. 22.]
      Pp. 10-17: They stayed in the area doing missionary work mainly among McClellands. He notes on Christmas day while staying with Samuel McClelland, they went to a meeting and heard a Dunkard preach. On Monday, Dec. 27th, John notes, "wrote a letter to my family also one to my sister-in-law Martha Stoker at Bluff City, Iowa. [Martha Carr (McDaniel) Stoker was whom he referred to as Aunt Martha previously in his journal since she was married to his father's brother Michael S. Stoker, but she was also a sister-in-law since she was the sister to John's wife Jane McDaniel.] John notes on Saturday, Jan. 8th, that he "went to the widow Quillins to inquire concerning the Wampler family." [I am unsure who the widow was, but John's maternal grandmother was Christina Wampler, 1753-1844.] On Tuesday, Jan. 11th, John notes, "Went to Patsy Daughterty's to inquire after my mother's relatives." On Thursday, Jan. 13th, he notes that he "went to Wm. Wampler's, took dinner." [I do not have either a Patsy Daughterty nor William Wampler in my database - they must be of a later generation than John's grandmother Christina Wampler.] He also notes on the same day that he received a letter from his son-in-law J. Tolman and daughter in Utah. On Saturday, Jan. 22nd, John notes, 'Received a letter from my son David Stoker, Davis Co., Utah dated Jan'y 1st, 1870, gave particulars of my son John Stoker's sickness but getting better. Also received a letter from my uncle David Graybill, Ashe Co., Jefferson, North Carolina." On Jan. 24th, he writes back to his uncle David Graybill.
      Pp. 18-24: Starting on Jan. 26th, 1870, the missionaries are on the move: first to Bristol (VA?), then thru Chattanooga, Nashville, Sparta, to Putnam Co., Tennessee where they did missionary work with the Perkins and Mayberry families who relatives of his companion, Jesse Perkins. On Sunday, Feb. 13th, 1870, John wrote letters to his son David Stoker in Davis Co., Utah and one to Aunt Martha Stoker and cousins in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. On the next day he went to Gainesboro where he received a letter from his son David Stoker. Beginning Feb. 16th, 1870, John proceeds by boat down the Cumberland to Nashville then to St. Louis via the Mississippi River from Cape "Jerido". On Feb. 23rd, took the from St. Louis to Trader's Point where again he sees Aunt Martha. He sends money to his companion in Decatur Co., Iowa to help him get to Council Bluffs. He also sends a letter to Utah asking his family for money for himself and his companion.
      Pp. 25-33: John arrives Feb. 26 and remains in Pottawattamie Co., Iowa until March 24 when he, Jesse Perkins who arrives March 9, and several other missionaries from the East Coast join up in Omaha for the trip home to Utah by railroad which he notes cost $50.75. Generally he is staying with his Aunt Martha. Some journal entries during that time period dealing with family follow: "Sat., Feb 26th, 1870: Went up to Musketoe Creek to Simeon Peter Graybill, my cousin. Stayed over night. Sunday, 27th. Went to Walker's Grove in Harrison Co. to Sidney R. Graybill, my cousin, with Moroni Stoker to see some sick cousins Michael and Elizabeth Graybill. [Sidney Rigdon, 1836-1893, Michael S., 1827-1910, and Elizabeth, 1833-1891, are siblings and all children of Polly Stoker, John's father's sister.] Stayed over night. Monday 28th. Cold and windy. Remained all day. Stayed all night. Tuesday, March 1st 1870. Returned to Aunt Martha Stoker's at Traders Point. Read a letter from David Stoker, my son, to John A. Stoker, dated Feb'y 21st, 1870. Stayed overnight… Thursday 3d. Cousin Jared Stoker killed 2 turkeys, the 2 weighing 40 lbs. [John Alexander Stoker, 1837-1918, and Jared, 1843-1912, were first cousins and sons of Michael S. Stoker, brother of John's father David.] Stayed over… Tuesday 8th, being my birthday, age 53… Wednesday 9th… was weighed being 184 lbs… Friday 18th… went to Aaron Thomas, took dinner and spent the day with him and family. [Aaron Morris Thomas, 1833-1920, was married to John's first cousin, Elizabeth Jane Stoker, who was the daughter of John W. Stoker, a brother of John's father David.] Returned to Aunt Martha Stoker's… Saturday 19th… Sent a letter to Wm. Atkinson in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah, heard from home by a letter wrote to John A. Stoker dated March the 12th, 1870. All was well… Thursday 24th… John A. Stoker and Joseph Stoker took me and Bro. Jesse N. Perkins to Omaha with a wagon. Rained before we got there. Joseph Stoker went over the River with us met about 30 of the missionaries at the St. Charles Hotel. [Joseph Jehiel Stoker, 1846-1921, was a brother of John Alexander and William Moroni Stoker.] Left Omaha at 6 p.m. on the Emigrant Cars for home…"
      Pp. 33-35: John details the train trip which started March 24th and arrived home in Bountiful March 29th after switching to the Utah Central in Ogden. He notes his arrival "in the midst of family and friends with a hearty God bless you… and a hearty shaking of hands." The missionary journal ends at this point.
      Pp. 36-227: The balance of John's journal book is genealogical notations of family. Many pages are blank, which I did not copy. Besides family, John would also note many other unrelated Stokers who he must have gleaned from books and other sources. He also notes some totally unrelated non-Stoker individuals with whom he evidently has some acquaintance. I have entered the pertinent data with each family in my database.

      5. 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:
      102: Michael Graybill, born May 1787 North Carolina. Polly Stoker Graybill, born Nov. 24, 1792, died Feb. 7, 1864. Children:
      Simeon Peter Graybill, born Mar. 25, 1813, died 27 June 1889.
      Catherine Graybill, born June 8, 1814.
      Sidney Rigdon Graybill, born April 6, 1836.
      Elizabeth Graybill, born Sept. 15, 1833.
      Michael Graybill Jr., born July 5, 1828.
      184-186: Polly Graybill, daughter of Michael Stoker, Sen. and Catherine Eller was born Nov. 24th, 1792, State of North Carolina, Ashe County, died 7th Feb 1864.
      Catherine Graybill, daughter of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born June the 9th 1814, State of North Carolina, Ashe County.
      Sidney Rigdon Graybill, son of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born April 6th, 1836, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.
      Elizabeth Graybill, daughter of Michael Graybill and Polly Stoker was born Sept. 16th, 1833, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.
      Michael S. Stoker, son of Michael Graybill Sen. and Polly Stoker, was born July 5th, 1828, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township.

      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-[Polly Mary Stoker], born on 24 Nov. 1792 in Ashe Co., NC, married [Michael Graybill] (14 May 1787- 24 Sep 1856), son of John Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler, on May 1811 in Jefferson, Ashe Co., NC. She lived in Ashe Co., NC; Jackson Co., OH; Caldwell Co., MO; Adams Co., IL; and Pottawattamie Co. IA. She died 18 Feb 1864 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA. Both Michael and Polly are buried in the Graybill/Stoker Cemetery.
      3-[David Graybill], born 24 Sept 1812 in Ashe Co., NC, married Mahala Hill. Both died in Illinois. In December 1848 David's brother, Simeon Graybill whose wife, Amanda Hill, had died, took David's children and his own making seven altogether in a wagon to settle in Kanesville, Iowa.
      3-[Catherine Graybill], born 9 Jun 1814 in Ashe Co., NC, married [Philip Gatrost]. Philip and Catherine moved to Missouri with her parents. They built a brick house in Blue Grass Hollow on the edge of her father's land in Pottawattamie Co., IA. She died Dec. 1, 1886 at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, IA and is buried in the Graybill/Stoker Cemetery.
      3-[Simeon Peter Graybill], born 26 Mar 1816 in Jackson Co., OH. Reared to manhood on a farm. For a time engaged in mining at Mt. Vernon, OH. Married [Amanda Hill] on 16 Mar 1837 in Jackson Co., OH. They moved to Caldwell Co., MO then to Adams Co., IL where Amanda died on Feb 21, 1848. In the fall of 1848, Simeon moved to a farm in Pottawattamie Co, IA. He married Frances (Graham) Downs. While serving a short term LDS mission his cousin, John Stoker of Bountiful, UT visited him on Nov 8, 1869. Simeon resided on the farm until his death, June 27, 1889.
      4-[Rachel Graybill], born Mar 1838 probably in Caldwell Co., MO, and died in 1848 near Quincy, Adams Co., IL.
      3-[Joseph Levi Graybill], born 12 Mar 1818 in Jackson Co., OH. Baptized by John A. Fisher on 17 November 1833. Ordained an Elder in 1836. Moved to Caldwell Co., MO in 1837. Moved to IL in 1839. Ordained a seventy on May 3, 1839. Married Patience Smith on Jun 20, 1841. Moved to Nauvoo, IL in 1845 and to Pottawattamie Co., IA in 1846. He was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 6 August 1861 by W. W. Blair.
      3-[George Washington Graybill], born 26 Jun 1821 in Jackson Co., OH. Married Mary Smith. In 1862 after she died (Feb 16, 1860 in Iowa), George married her sister, Hannah, who had been twice widowed. She had six children and George had ten, together they had three more. George was buried in the cemetery at Underwood, Iowa. Mary is buried in the Graybill/Stoker Cemetery near Council Bluffs.
      3-[William Lenore Graybill], born 25 Jan 1825, married Hanna Pilling who was born 3 Mar 1835 in Lancashire, England. William died January 25, 1880 and is buried in the Stoker/Graybill Cemetery.
      3-[Juliana Graybill], born 19 Jan 1826, married Wilford Heath Hudson. Went to Utah. Died 8 May 1851.
      3-[Michael Graybill], born 19 Jan 1825. Living in Harrison Co., IA on Feb 27, 1870 when John Stoker of Bountiful, Utah, visited him. He never married. At age 40 he was injured in a runaway accident and lived as an invalid until age 82. He resembled his cousin, Michael Stoker, so closely that Polly Brittann Hughes upon meeting her future husband thought he was Michael Graybill whom she had known.
      3-[Mary Ann Graybill], born 25 Feb 1830, married Wilford Heath Hudson. Went to Utah.
      3-[Elizabeth Graybill], born 16 Sep 1833, was living in Harrison Co., IA on Feb 27, 1870 when her cousin, John Stoker of Bountiful, visited her at which time she was living with her brothers, Sidney Rigdon and Michael.
      3-[Sidney Rigdon Graybill], born 6 Apr 1836 in Jackson Co., OH, was living in Harrison Co., IA when his cousin, John Stoker, visited him on Feb 27, 1870. He married Jane Davis."

      BIRTH:
      1. Surmised from her obituary. John Stoker's Journal uses a variant date of 15 Sep 1833.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Appears unmarried since obituary report her maiden name as her last name and due to her long illness.

      DEATH:
      1. From the RLDS publication "The Saints' Herald," 1891, p. 125: "Died, near Persia, Iowa, Jan. 30, 1891, of cancer in the breast, Elizabeth Graybill; aged 57 years, 4 months and 14 days. She had been a long and patient sufferer, having been confined to her bed for thirty six years, with some spinal trouble; she was baptized into the [RLDS] church by E.C. Briggs in 1861, near Council Bluffs, and had always lived a true Christian life thereafter, and died with bright hopes for the future. The funeral discourse was preached by Elder Joseph Seddon, at the school house in Yorkshire, Jan. 31, to a large gathering of the friends of the deceased; after which its remains were laid to rest in the family grave yard at Walker's Grove." (Some past submitters to Family Tree have reported burial place as Wheeler's Grove).

      BURIAL:
      1. I searched the listing of stones in Mormon Cemetery at Grove Township and do not see a burial record for Elizabeth. A copy of this listing is in hardfile 90.

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. 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. 90-91.

      2. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 16-24.

      3. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, p. 100.