| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Some LDS family group sheets and Ordinance Index work indicate a middle name of Peter.
2. Censuses:
1800 US: Ashe County, North Carolina. The total population for Ashe County, North Carolina in 1800 was 2785, including slaves. The 1800 Ashe County Census was the first for the northwestern most county in the Tar Heel State. This county was formed in late 1799 and included all of Wilkes County west of the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain. The 977 square miles that then composed Ashe County has been further divided, first in 1849 to form Watauga County, North Carolina and again 10 years later to form Alleghany County. This record includes families who may have been living in those areas at the time. The original census was in rough alphabetic order, and this does not facilitate the research of particular communities. I include all interrelated families of this time and place to better show relationships. A word of explanation on some of these families:
A. Mary and Barbara Burkett who married Peter and David Graybeal, had a father named Christian - unsure as to which is correct of the two.
B. Elizabeth Eller appears to be Elizabeth Dick, the wife of Peter Eller who had just died per his probate of 1799.The one daughter is probably Mary; unsure who the two boys are since there should be three: Jacob, Henry, and George. John Eller would be Elizabeth's eldest son and married to Susannah Kerns.
C. Henry Graybeal would have recently married Celia Henson and also the eldest son of [John] Peter and Christina [Wampler] Graybill who also appear to be in this same census. Note that Peter evidently had owned slaves at that time - the census does not say how many.
D. One of the William Hensons could be somehow related to William Henson who marries Nancy Graybill and to Celia Henson who marries Henry Graybeal.
E. The two Koons are probably brothers and are sons of Devault Koon judging from their ages. This would make them uncles to George Koons who eventually marries Mary Eller.
F. James Lewis, b. abt. 1790, marries Christena Graybill in 1807 - there may be a connection with these two James Lewis.
G. William Pennington marries Barbara (or Elizabeth) Eller and may be the younger of the two here listed.
H. Michael Stucker is a misspelling for Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker with their three oldest children: Polly, David, and Elizabeth.
Head of Family; Males 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Females - 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Burkett, Christian; 1-2-0-1-0; 1-0-2-0-0
Burkett, Christian; 4-1-0-1-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Eller, Elizabeth; 1-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-1
Eller, John; 3-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0
Graybeal, Henry; 0-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Graybeal, Peter; 2-1-1-0-1; 3-1-0-0-1
Henson, William; 0-1-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Henson, William; 3-0-0-0-1; 1-1-1-0-0
Koons, George; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1
Koons, John; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-1-2-0-1
Lewis, James; 2-2-1-0-1; 4-1-0-0-1
Lewis, James, Jr.; 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Pennington, William; 0-1-0-1-0; 1-2-1-0-1
Pennington, William; 0-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-0
Stucker, Michael; 1-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
1820 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 195, township had a little over 40 families; related families include James Lackey, Michael Stoker, and Michael Graybill. In neighboring Madison Township, related families David Stoker, Peter Graybill, Nancy (Graybill) Henson, and James McDaniel are found. Columns are male 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, 45+// female 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Michael Stoker: 2,1,0,1,0,1//1,1,0,1,0.
Michael Graybill: 3,0,0,0,1,0//1,0,0,1,0. [Appears to be Michael, his wife Polly, and their children David, Catherine, Simeon and Levi.]
James Lackey: 2,2,1,2,0,1//1,2,1,1,5.
1830 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 109-112, note whole township had 527 people living in it, related families include Michael Stoker, Michael Stoker Jr., Alexander Lackey, James Welker, Michael Graybill, and John Stoker:
Michael Graybill. Males 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 10-15:2; 15-20:1 40-50:1. Females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1. [Appears to Michael, his wife Polly, and their children David, Catherine, Simeon, Levi, George, William, Juliana, and Michael.]
1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 128b, dwelling and family 1020:
Michael Graybel, 63, labour, NC.
Polly, 58, NC. [Wife]
Cimiel, 34, M, OH. [Son; should be Simeon.]
Michael, 22, OH. [Son]
Elizabeth, 17, OH. [Daughter]
Sidney, 14, OH. [Son]
Almeda, 14, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
Maridith, 12, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
David, 7, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
Amanda, 4, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
William, 10, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Andrew, 8, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Aaron, 5, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Cathern Stoker, 77, NC. [Most likely Catherine Eller, Polly's mother, before she died; census was taken 11 Nov 1850.]
1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
Grabill: Michael 65, Polly 58, William L. 26, Michael Jr. 23, Elizabeth 17, Sidney R. 15, Almeda 15, Marideth 13, David 7. Also in household are Catherine Stoker 78 and Amanda Grabill 5. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]
1852 Iowa: the census has Michael Graybill 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.
1854 Iowa: Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, listed as males, females, voters, militia (note that there are 8 pages of listings and only pages 5 and 6 list the following:
Michael Grabill, 5-5-2-0.
William L. Grabill, 1-2-1-1.
Geo. Grabill, 5-3-1-1.
Eller Stoker, 4-4-4-4.
Philip Gatirop, 3-2-1-1.
Simeon Grabill, 4-0-1-1.
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.]
3. Per website <http://www.ls.net/~newriver/nc/ashegrnt.htm>: Ashe County, North Carolina Land Grants 1799-1936, filed in NC Secretary of State Land Office from NC Department of Archives Index. [To obtain copies from NC Dept. of Archives see http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/archives/arch/default.htm#Topics]. The following is by NC Dept. of Archives reference file number, name, then dates [no other explanation given except that first date may be when the transaction occurred and the second date could be when registered]:
12.14.28.889 - 889 - David Graybell - 1811 - 1812
112.14.28.1379 - 1381 - Peter Graybeil - 1825 - 1827
112.14.28.1384 - 1386 - Peter Graybeal and Christian Burket - 1825 - 1827
112.14.28.1590 - 1592 - David Graybeal - 1827 - 1829
112.14.28.1591 - 1593 - David Graybeal - 1828 - 1829
112.14.28.1814 - Henry Graybeal - 1816 - 1828 - 1831
112.14.28.1842 - Henry Graybeal - 1844 - 1830 - 1833
112.14.28.1973 - 1965 - Peter Graybeal - 1832 - 1834
112.14.28.1998 - 1990 - David Graybeal - 1832 - 1834
112.14.28.1999 - 1991 - David Graybeal - 1832 - 1834
212.14.28.2000 - 1992 - David Graybeal - 1832 - 1834
212.14.28.2334 - 2325 - David Graybeal - 1836 - 1838
212.14.28.2335 - 2326 - David Graybeal - 1836 - 1838
212.14.28.2408 - 2399 - John Graybeal - 1834 - 1837
212.14.28.2523 - 2515 - Henry Graybeal and Jeremiah Osburn - 1836 - 1838
212.14.28.2722 - 2710 - John Graybeal - 1828 - 1840
212.14.28.2775 - 2764 - David Graybeal - 1839 - 1840
212.14.28.2776 - 2765 - David Graybill - 1838 - 1840
312.14.28.3407 - 3395 - John Graybeal - 1844 - 1846
312.14.28.3408 - 3396 - David Graybeal - 1845 - 1846
312.14.28.3668 - 3654 - David Graybeal - 1847 - 1849
312.14.28.3675 - 3661 - David Graybeal - 1849
312.14.28.3915 - 3900 - David Graybeal - 1847 - 1848
312.14.28.3916 - 3901 - David Graybeal - 1847 - 1848
312.14.28.3917 - 3902 - John Graybeal - 1847 - 1848
412.14.28.4225 - 4258 - David Graybeal - 1850 - 1852
412.14.28.4226 - 4259 - David Graybeal - 1852
412.14.28.4256 - 4289 - David Graybeal - 1849 - 1852
412.14.28.4618 - 4651 - David Graybeal - 1855
412.14.28.4728 - 4761 - David Graybeal - 1855 - 1856
512.14.28.5012 - 5043 - David Graybeal - 1871 - 1873
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 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."
5. Website http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/ashe/deeds/deedsabs.txt accessed 14 Dec 2008:
"Ashe County, NC - Deeds - Abstracts of selected deeds." This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kyle R. Graybeal krgrebiel@verizon.net, 37 Spring Lake Drive, Stafford, VA 22554. Revised 9 October 2001. This file contains abstracts of selected deeds from Ashe County, North Carolina Land records, mostly involving Graybeal family members. The information contained herein does not constitute the sum total of deeds in the Ashe County records involving Graybeal individuals. There are a few incomplete fields in some records especially in acreage, land description & witness names. This means that I have not copied them, not that the information is missing from the court records. The file now includes more deeds and has been corrected for errors dealing with land grants appearing in the original file. In the original file, the entry date and the date the deed was signed were reversed. This new file corrects that problem.
Information sorted in date order, which is yyyy-mm-dd. Grantee & Grantor names are [last], [first]. Witness names are [first], [last]. NFNR = North Fork of New River. Mn and Vn means Deed Books M new and V new respectively. Information in [ ] inserted by me and correct to the best of my knowledge. Information in ( ) added for clarification. Price paid, proven date, and registered date not included to save space. I have this information on most deeds in case it is desired. Some compass directions are indicated by N, S, etc., rather spelled out. Deeds for state grants did not require witnesses' signatures. The indication that a particular person signed with an "x" is not consistent from record to record in this transcription. {Kerry's note: I have refined the list so as to cut it off after whom I think may be the first generation after John Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler; see that more complete list with John Peter Graybill - this partial list are for those only including the name of Michael Graybill}:
Graybill, John TO: Graybill, Henry 50 a. Signed: 1809-02-27; South side of Big Horse Creek/waters of N. Fork New River. Book: D, 104; Witness: Michael (x) Graybeal, Jacob May.
6. From the RLDS publication "Journal of History," vol. 4, num. 1, Jan, 1911, pp. 104-110 (includes picture):
"Testimony of Elder Levi Graybill [son of Michael Peter Graybill]. (We herewith present the testimony of Father Graybill, whom we believe to be the senior member of the [RLDS] church.) I, Levi Graybill, now of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, my pilgrimage having been extended far beyond that of the average man, and knowing that I must soon pass away, am desirous of leaving on record my testimony to the work of the Lord as it has been revealed and established in these last days. I was born in Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio, March 12, 1818, and was 92 years old March 12, 1910. I was baptized into the Latter Day Saints' Church November 17, 1833, and have been a member of that church ever since that time. I was ordained an elder in the year 1836, in Jackson County, Ohio. I visited Kirtland, Ohio, while that was the headquarters of the church. I was well acquainted with Joseph the Martyr, with Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon, and most of the leaders of the church. I got acquainted with Joseph at Kirtland. I went with my father's family and others to Caldwell County, Missouri, in the autumn of 1837, and was with the Saints there in the time of there terrible trials. We planted a crop there in the spring of 1838, which we were never permitted to harvest. I was a member of the State Militia under Colonel Hickle. The mob came upon us near Far West, in October, 1838. For weeks before the mob came upon us they had been stealing and driving off our stock; taking a team of horses and wagon from my father, and all the horse[s] I owned..."
7. Mentioned in the following biography of his grandson:
"George H. Graybill, of section 14, Garner Twp., was born Dec 23, 1846 in Pottawattamie Co. and was one of the first white children born in this county. His father was George W. Graybill, a native of Jackson Co, Ohio, son of Michael Graybill, who was born in North Carolina; and the mother, nee Polly Stoker, was born in North Carolina. The parents were married in Indiana, but afterward moved to Missouri, and thence to Hancock Co, Illinois. They were members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and followed the Mormon leaders to this county where they were early pioneers. The father settled in Pottawattamie County in 1846 near Wheeler's Grove, and afterward near the place where his son, George, now lives. He now resides at Underwood. The mother died when our subject was 13 years of age, leaving 9 children. The father afterward married a widow who had three children. George H., our subject, was reared in Pottawattamie Co. in the pioneer days, and passed his youth upon a farm, receiving his education in the district schools. He now owns 150 acres of valuable bottom land situated five miles from the city limits of Council Bluffs. December 8, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Flora Brower, who was born in Marion Co, Iowa, the daughter of Moses and Nancy (Jones) Doty; she has one child, Lucy. Her father was born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Graybill have two children: George and Lee. Politically Mr. Graybill is a Republican and is yet in the prime of life, intelligent, frank and cordial in his manner and address." Source: 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County Iowa, by the Lewis Publishing Company.
8. Mentioned in grandson William's biography per two sources: www.rootsweb.com/~iaharris/ and FHL book 977.747-H2n, partial excerpt: "History of Harrison County, Iowa," 1891, pp. 686, 687: "William A. Graybill... To learn something of his early career the reader will be informed that he was born July 28, 1840, in Adams County, Ill., and accompanied his parents, who were among the early pioneers to locate in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, coming, as they did, before Council Bluffs had an existence, that location then being known as Miller's Hollow. Our subject remained with his parents until 1864. For nine years prior his father, himself and brothers A. J. & L., kept bachelor's hall in Pottawattamie County. [His father] Simeon P. Graybill was born March 26, 1816, in Jackson County, Ohio, and was the son of Mr. Graybill, a native of New York and of German ancestry. The father, Michael Graybill, was the son of Peter Graybill, who was born in Pennsylvania and married Christena Wampler, who had been taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians when a child and kept with the tribe for seven years and then returned to her parents. Peter Graybill was a son of John Graybill who came from Germany in the days of the Revolutionary War. Simeon Graybill's father, Michael, was married to Polly Stoker, in Ashe County, N. C., May 1811, removed to Jackson County, Ohio, and reared a family of eleven children: David, Catharine, Simeon, Levi, George, Lenore, Julian, Michael, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Sidney."
9. "Individual Affidavits from the LDS Historical Department" from the book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," editor Clark V. Johnson, p. 220, Michael Graybill:
"Illenois adams county May 11th 1839 the following is my charge for Damage against the State of missauri Viz in 1838 and 1839
house taken sevnty five Dollars, $75.00
one waggon and harness Sixty Dollars, 60.00
five months time Lost my self and three boys three hundred and sixt Dolls, 360.00
in Land fifty Dollars, 50.00
vegitables five Dollars, 5.00
hogs twenty Dollars, 20.00
five hundred and seventy Doll. total sum, $570.00
Michael Graybill. [Sworn to before W. Oglesby, J.P., Adams Co., IL, 11 May 1839]."
10. 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. 90-91:
"Polly Stoker, also called Mary, was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. Her mother lived with Polly in her old age in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In North Carolina Polly married Michael Graybill, born May 14, 1787 to Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler, both natives of North Carolina and children of German parents. When Christina was five years old she had been stolen by Delaware Indians, but had been returned to her family when twelve. Her families were Dunkards or Anabaptists, both groups stemming from German Protestants. The Graybills lived in the German communities of early America, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, Frederick County in Maryland and Ashe County in North Carolina. After a forest area of Ohio had been cleared in the early 1800's, the main body of Stoker and Graybill relatives crossed the northwest line into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Some Graybills moved into Indiana where they married the daughters of John Smith and Massie Koons, great granddaughters of Peter Eller. In 1837, The Graybills left Ohio and Indiana for Caldwell County in Missouri. During the Mormon persecutions in Missouri, they fled to Illinois, coming to Pottawattamie County in Iowa in 1846-48. Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families."
11. Possibly referred to in the following from 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..."
12. 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., liam Lenore, Juliann or (Julia Ann?), Michael S., Jr., Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Sidney Rigdon and Christina."
13. 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.
174: Peter Graybill, b. 1764, Christenia Wampler, children:
Michael Graybill, b. May 1787, Ashe Co., North Carolina.
Barbara.
180-181: Michael Graybill, son of Peter Graybill and Christenia Wampler was born May 1787, North Carolina, Ash County.
14. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007) provides the following information (also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com):
"Our Family History Dating Back as Far as 1748," by Vivian Graybill: Graybill is a German name which probably means "dweller near a ditch." There are thirteen ways of spelling Graybill, Grabeel, Graybeal, Grabiel, Grabel, etc. the first spelling being Krehenbuth, is of Swiss origin. Christian Graybill, which is five generations back from Mary Ellen Graybill Mercer, was the first settler of our family coming from England, as Mennonites driven to Germany, Holland and England. (According to Mrs. Duvall of Walkerville, Maryland, she says the family history shows that Christian Graybeal was married to the daughter of King George III of England, whose name was Mary. She forsake the Church of England to become a Tundker, she had taken her money and rigged up a ship and went on to buy ten more ships.)
Christian Graybeal's grandson, Peter Graybill, Sr. married Cristena Wampler, daughter of Peter and Barbara Wampler in 1780. Cristena, along with her little sister and a neighbor Child, was captured by the Delaware Indians and kept captive for seven years. The Indians were good to them and raised them as their own. When an exchange of prisoners took place, great Grandpa Wampler didn't know the children until Cristena sang her mother's lullaby. There is more to this story.
One of the writers, Florence Wilson of Omaha, now deceased, refers to our ancestor, Conrad Grebel, connected with the early Ana Baptist people (before Mennonites) in Switzerland, as early as 1526. Conrad Grebel was born in the late 1400's, and according to Florence Wilson can be traced as far back as Ceasar Augustus, Conrad Grebel's descendants John and Christian Graybill, came over on the "Friendship" in 1727, leaving Rotterdam in 1726, landing in Philadelphia and later moved south.
The Mennonites people in their historic preservation of Graybill records at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have confirmed to us as late as July 1975, what several of our writers from coast to coast have offered as evidence of our early Graybill ancestors for several years. Twas a gratifying experience and brought joy to our souls and when things are clear and we don't have to guess, or suppose, or conjecture, the experience is very rewarding.
[missing pages] ...north and one mile west of the present RLDS church.
The families withstood the dangers and aggravations on mob attacks. They endured many hardships. They had their plows, wagons and horses taken and even their first crop was taken just before it was harvested. Simeon could take what he had to, but when his personal and prized saddle horse was taken, he reportedly became so angry he had to repent.
With no provisions of food for the winter, Simeon and Levi left to look for work. They found jobs chopping railroad ties for the Eastern Railroad in Hannibal, Missouri. But they were unable to collect pay until the following spring of 1839 when 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.
Levi Graybill, who had married Patience Smith, lived in Nauvoo, Illinois. They received their Patriarchal Blessings from patriarch Hyrum Smith. The patriarch's office was one door west of Joseph Smith's red brick store. Levi went to Quincy to bring Polly and her mother, Catherine Eller Stoker to Nauvoo, for their Patriarchal Blessing from Hyrum Smith.
Michael Sr. and his family, Catherine Eller Stoker and Simeon's family lived eleven miles southeast of Quincy, Illinois. After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844, Simeon Graybill went up to Nauvoo to help guard the secretly hidden bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. Fearful the anti-Mormon mob might try to do further violence to Joseph and Hyrum's bodies, their caskets were filled with sand for the public burial.
By 1846 most of Nauvoo had been vacated. Michael Sr. and Levi's families had gone west and settled in Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. Some of the related families went to Utah. Michael Sr.'s daughters, Julianna and Mary Ann went to Utah. Michael Sr.'s sister, Barbara Graybill Stoker went to Utah later.
Simeon's wife Amanda Hill, died in 1848. Simeon's brother David and his wife Mahala Hill Graybill had both died. And Simeon's daughter Rachel, at ten years of age, died that same year. Rachel was buried along side her mother and aunt in Illinois. Simeon had three small children, William Ashby, Andrew and Aaron and his brother's young children Meredith, David Jr., Amanda and Almeda. In Dec. of 1848, Simeon took all seven small children by wagon to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. He stopped off shortly at Winterset, Iowa along the way. Simeon purchased 327 acres in old Brushollow, which joined his father's land on the west. Michael Sr. owned land three miles north of the old cemetery our family history association now maintains.
Between Michael Sr.'s land and the old cemetery, the old "North Star" Branch log church was built on the bank close to Little Mosquito Creek This was 1/4 mile south of Gilliat on the Great [copy ends]."
15. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007) provides the following information (also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com) has the following miscellaneous quote in the notes of Levi Graybill:
"Michael Graybill was born in Ashe Co., North Carolina to john Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. His parents were married in Frederick Co., Maryland, a large German Community where the Stokers had also lived thirty years earlier. When he was 24 years old he married 18 year old Polly Stoker. Polly was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. She was Mary Polly to her family so Polly may have been her nickname. In 1811, she married Michael Stoker and four years later, with two little children and pregnant with Simeon, her third, she took part in the wagon train exodus to Ohio, with her husband Michael, her parents, Michael and Catherine Stoker and numerous other family members. She took care of her mother in her old age in Council Bluffs, Iowa."
16. The following is a partial quote from an article entitled: "The Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker family as early Mormons in Ohio and Missouri," by Jimmie "B" Stoker, November 24, 1993, as reprinted in the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. See the notes of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) for the full transcript of this article:
"The Stokers join the LDS Church.
Mormon missionaries come.
During the fall of 1833 Michael Stoker (1762-1838) and his family, living in Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio first heard the preaching of the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These missionaries exhorted them to join the new church and told them about Joseph Smith receiving inspired revelations from God. In addition the Church was noted for its new scripture, the Book of Mormon.
The Stokers were drawn to the message. Many accepted baptism before the end of 1833. They included sixteen-year-old John Stoker (1817-1881) who was baptized November 13, 1833 by Seymour Brunson(1) and four days later his double cousin, fifteen-year-old Joseph Levi Graybill, who was baptized by John A. Fisher.(2) These two grandsons of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) were among the first of the Stoker family to embrace the new church.
In 1834 Seymour Brunson moved his family to Bloomfield and organized a branch of the Church.(3) John's parents, David (1795-1852) and Barbara Graybill Stoker, joined the branch during that year. David's younger brother, Michael, Jr., (1805-1858) was affiliated with the Mormons. Evidence of his affiliation with the church comes from the fact that his son, born on July 10, 1834 was named, "William Moroni." Clearly the name Moroni marked Michael as having read the Book of Mormon. Moreover, in his journal Michael, Jr., writes, "The names of the members who were baptized by me in February, 1836. Baptized James Toinbuson and ordained him an elder." He also baptized William and Barbara Stoker that year.(4) Michael held the Mormon priesthood to officiate in these ordinances. The Stokers and their relatives were very enthusiastic about their new church. They contributed to its growth and sustained its leadership.
The McDaniel connection.
The children and grandchildren of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) had an affinity to marry the children of James McDaniel and Zibiah McCarley, neighbors in Jackson County. John W. Stoker (1802-1857) married Electa Sarah McDaniel (1806-1857) on April 19, 1827. Michael Stoker, Jr., (1805-1858) married her sister, Martha Carr McDaniel, on Jan 1, 1829. A grandson, John Stoker (1817-1881), and a granddaughter, Christine Stoker (1815-1854), children of David Stoker (1795-1852), married Jane McDaniel (1810-1890) on January 21, 1836 and John Riley McDaniel on February 8, 1835. Nineteen-year-old John, in addition to marrying Jane, also adopted her son, Alma. Family tradition says that Alma's father would not consider joining the LDS church so Jane left him. About a month after her son's birth, Jane married John Stoker, the nephew of her two brothers-in-law.
The Kirtland Temple is dedicated.
In the spring of 1836, some members of the Bloomfield branch made the 200 mile trip north to Kirtland, Ohio to attend the dedication of the temple. In that group was Michael Stoker's son-in-law and grandson, Michael Graybill, Sr., and Joseph Levi Graybill. Michael Graybill's wife, Polly Stoker (1792-1864), was expecting the birth of her eleventh Child, a son who was born April 6, 1836. She didn't go with them. Michael Graybill while at the conference and temple dedication at Kirtland was impressed by Sidney Rigdon's two and a half hour sermon. Upon returning to Bloomfield, he named his newly born son, Sidney Rigdon Graybill.(5)
Picture p. 3: "Barbara Graybill and her son, John Stoker."
Footnotes
1. "The Life of John Stoker," compiled by Eunice Stoker Southwick
2. "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Vol. III G.K. compiled by Susan Easton Black. Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993. p. 149.
3. "Seymour Brunson," LDS Biographical Encyclopedia Vol. 3 compiled by Andrew Jenson. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901. p. 331.
4. "The Howard, Leytham, Stoker, Von Dollen Family Histories and including the Bell, Temple, Mackland, Bardsley, Graybill, Eller, Dick, Oman, Smith, and Koons Families," compiled by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. p. 92.
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."
17. From an article entitled "Stokers coming to Ohio" rom 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:
"(A Miss Ethel McCarley did research on the Stoker family line for Madeline Fletcher of Fort Collins, Colorado. She sent to Madeline an article found in a local newspaper which featured an elderly Mrs. Katy Lackey. She is Catherine Stoker, daughter of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller, who married to Alexander Lackey on Jan 1, 1829. The newspaper and its date were not given. It is assumed that the interviews took place in 1896. Photocopy of the article was sent to Jim Stoker by Madeline Fletcher's sister, Helen Evans, of San Diego, California on March 15, 1994.)
'On last Monday, the writer paid a visit to Mrs. Katy Lackey, of Rio Grande. The old lady is remarkably spry for one so old, being eighty-seven last February. She can remember back for eighty-one years. Though she now lives in Gallia County, the greater part of her life was spent in Jackson County. Her maiden name was Stoker. Her parents, Michael and Catherine Stoker came here from North Carolina in 1815, when she was but six years old. There was quite a large family of them, consisting of father and mother, five brothers, three sisters, and a brother-in-law by the name of Craybill [Graybill]. They came in wagons, bringing all their goods with them, as far as the salt works on the Kanawha river, and there, on account of bad roads, they loaded their goods on pack horses. They crossed the Ohio river some time in February. Coming to this county in 1815, before its organization, they were directed by a gentleman by the name of Arthur to a sugar camp near the old Henson place, and there they stayed till a log cabin could be erected for a home. Many persons yet living in the vicinity, can remember the rude log hut that used to stand just a few rods above the present site of the Vega school house. Her nearest neighbors were, the Stephensons, who lived on the Daniel Evans' place; the Lackey homestead, now owned by Prof C. A. Lackey; an Arthur family, who lived where Mrs. Rebecca Evans now lives, below Vega and a family of Welkers, who moved somewhere in the hollow, where Albert and Evie Edwards now live. Her five brothers were David, John, Mike, Jacob and Elery [Eller] Stoker; and the sisters were Elizabeth, Rebecca, and herself, Katie Stoker. Her sister, Rebecca, was the second person buried in the old grave-yard mentioned a few weeks ago, on the farm of Mr. Daniel Williams; Anne Stephenson, a daughter of John Stephenson, one of the first commissioners of Jackson county, being the first person buried there. The story goes that Anne Stephenson was carried to the door on a quilt, and looking across the creek, selected a spot on the hillside under a walnut tree for her grave, which was the starting of the graveyard. When Rebecca Stoker died, Mr. Stephenson requested that she be buried by the side of his daughter, Anne, they being about the same age. The first school she attended was near the old tan house and not very far from where Mr. Jenkins Davis now lives. Her first teacher was John Stephenson and the second was Andrew Stephenson, both sons of the commissioner, John Stephenson. The school house was one of those rude log structures with a chimney in one corner, usually taking up about one quarter of the entire building. Wood was used for the fire purposes, the boys taking turns at chopping and rolling in back logs. The Stokers afterwards moved to Iowa, with the exception of Katy, the subject of this sketch, who married Mr. Alex Lackey and has lived here in Gallia county ever since.
The Stephensons came here from Greenbrier county, Virginia. Just when they came we are not able to say as they were here when the Stokers came in 1815. There was a large family of them, also, consisting of father, John, and mother, whose maiden name was Ewing. She was some relation of Thomas Ewing, the first Secretary of Interior; seven sons and three daughters. The sons were Jas, John, Joshua, Andrew, Williams, Samuel and Jerry. The girls were Ellen, Anne and Nancy. James was judge of the court of common pleas; John was, for several years, auditor; Sam and Jerry moved to Indiana; Anne died at the old homestead as stated above; Ellen married Joseph Scurlock; and Nancy married Courtney Martin.
The Lackeys came here from Virginia in 1806. They settled for a while in Gallia county, near where Mr. Jerry Corn now lives; then they came to this county, settling in Bloomfield township. The old homestead is still in possession of one of the descendants.
When the Lackeys and Stokers first came here, the country was all woods. Wolves were so numerous, it was next to impossible to keep sheep, and their howling would make the night hideous. Bear, too, were plentiful, and it was no uncommon thing to hear the pigs squealing and to rush out and find that a bear had devoured a pig, or had eaten a shoulder off of one of the larger hogs."
18. Source: 1915 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 898, accessed 13 Dec 2008 on the Internet at http://iagenweb.org/harrison/bio1915/1915bio12.htm:
"Lester D. Graybill. It is a well-attested maxim that the greatness of a community or state lies not in the machinery of government or even in its institutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish efforts and his devotion to the public welfare. In these particulars, he, whose name appears at the head of this review, has conferred honor and dignity upon his locality and, as an elemental part of its history, it is important that there should be recorded a resume of his career. With the object in view of noting his connection with the advancement of one of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the commonwealth as well as his splendid personal attainments. Lester D. Graybill, farmer and stockman, of Washington township, Harrison County, Iowa, was born on December 20, 1892, in Washington township, on the farm where he now lives. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Miller) Graybill, the former born on December 29, 1842, in Adams county, Illinois. Andrew Graybill was the son of Simeon and Amanda (Hill) Graybill, the former born in 1816, in Ohio. He came to Iowa in 1848 and farmed in Pottawattamie county all his life. He died on June 27, 1889. His wife was born in 1819 in Ohio, and died in 1848. Simeon Graybill was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Frances (Graham) Downs. Three Children: Rachel, deceased; William; and Andrew, the father of Lester D., were born to the first union. Aaron, a fourth Child, died during the Civil War. There were six children born to the second marriage, three of whom are deceased. Andrew Graybill made his home with his grandparents on his father's side of the family. They were Michael and Polly (Stocker) Graybill, natives of Pennsylvania. Andrew Graybill freighted over the plains in the early days from Bellevue, Iowa, to Denver, Colorado, using oxen for his trips. In the spring of 1866, he came to Harrison county, Iowa, where he bought 75 acres of land. This farm was heavily covered with timber and Mr. Graybill began fencing it with the old-fashioned rail fence, stakes, and riders, some things that are not seen at this day and age in Harrison County, Iowa. He cut timber, erected a frame house, which still stands, used for implements, etc., a very rare sight in those days. Andrew Graybill made extensive improvements on all of his farm property and now owns 580 acres of land in Harrison and Pottawattamie Counties. Forty acres of this land is covered with natural timber. At one time, he was a heavy cattle feeder and made a specialty of Polled Durham and Shorthorn breeds. He has since retired from farm life. Andrew Graybill was married in 1878 to Mary Miller, who was born in 1857, in Decatur county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Abraham and Sophronia (Champlain) Miller, both natives of Pennsylvania and now deceased. Lester D. Graybill attended the schools of Washington township and the Yorkshire village schools. He was reared on the farm where he lies and has always worked for his father. He is now engaged in extensive farming and the operation of the home place. Lester D. Graybill is unmarried and is not a member of any lodge. He is, however, a devoted member of the Church of Latter Day Saints and is an ardent Democrat. He deserves to rank as one of the rising young farmers of Harrison county. His friends and neighbors are convinced that sooner or later he will make a distinguished mark in his chosen profession."
19. Website http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/ashe/misc/grybel04.txt accessed 20 Dec 2009: "Letter, John Graybeal to Dona Graybeal."
Letter from John Graybeal of Shell Creek, Tennessee to his grand-daughter Dona Graybeal of Fig, North Carolina. This letter was found among the papers and Letters of Dona Graybeal and her son W. Thomas Graybal, of Emory, Virginia. Dona Graybeal was married to my great-uncle Winfield A. Graybeal, a Methodist Minister.
John Graybeal, son of Andrew Graybeal, and grandson of Henry Graybeal of Ashe County, North Carolina, wrote the letter to his granddaughter Dona Graybeal, daughter of William Asbury Graybeal and Rebecca Graybeal. Both sides of Dona's family trace back to Henry Graybeal.
Notes: The original letter was written in pencil on tablet paper with no punctuation and paragraph breaks. Paragraph breaks have been inserted where it seemed logical to do so for clarity. Periods have also been added at the end of sentences. Spelling remains as it was interpreted except where indicated by [ ]. References to "Winny" are to Winfield A. Graybeal Dona's husband and son of David Melvin Graybeal and Mary Anne Jones.
Transcribed by Kyle R. Graybeal kgraybeal@erols.com:
"Shell Creek Ten Jan 26 1915
Dona we recv'd your letter was real glad to hear from you all. was glad you was having a good time & Doing some good in the caus of Religion there. Dont seam to be But little good Doing here. We have had some offel Bad weather this winter. the weather was the worst before Christmas i Ever saw. i think we got a litter from pa a few days ago Said Conly & wife had gone to New Mexico Lum has moved in bout 8 miles of us. i Recon Griggs preached a fine Sermon Sunday at Shell Creek We are having a fine day today 26 of Jan
Well you asked me about the Graybeals. My father always told me they came from Penn to NC. My grandfather settled rite on the lands Elihu & your grandpa graybial lived. My granfathers name was Henry. Winnys grate granfathers name was David. he settled probably on the lands that Winnys granfather & Calvin graybeal lived on Hoss creek. the old man Petter settled near Jefferson, they Both maried Birkets
My granmother graybeal was a Henson. ther was one them old graybeals Name was John he never was married. he fell Dead at a wood pile cuting wood. Ther was one Mike he went West long time ago they never could her from him after them Days. So that was all of the old graybeals. they was real Duch.
My father always told me he couldent understand a word they would say when they talked in ther language though they could talk English all rite. i remember seeing all of them they wer Dunkards them days
My grandfather was a Methodist Ex[h]orter a grate scriptonian i remember seeing my grandfather & old man Dav & Peter. My grandmother Died after i was a bot grown her name was Celia
Well Dona i dont guess you can read this letter if you can you can almost Beat me so we hope you are all well and enjoying life. give Winny my Best respects and wishes and trust he may Do much good.
Your grandma has had a Bad cold all this winter and holds rite on so we would glad to here from you all often. We remain your grandparents
John Graybeal write soon"
BIRTH:
1. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, p. 86: Michael Graybill was born 14 May 1787, Ashe Co., NC.
2. Per tombstone.
3. Daughter Mary Ann in 1880 census notes her father as born in South Carolina. Same census for other children typically indicate North Carolina. Son Levi in 1910 indicates father parentage as German.
MARRIAGE:
1. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, P. 86: "md. 1811, Ashe Co, NC." Some Utah genealogies mention Jefferson, Ashe, NC; however, I am uncertain if it is documented or not.
DEATH:
1. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, p. 86: Michael Graybill died 24 Sep 1856, Council Bluffs, Potta., IA.
2. Per tombstone.
BURIAL:
1. The following name is found on a new memorial stone with 33 other related family members at Graybill/Stoker Cemetery: "Michael Graybill 1787-1856." 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.
2. Tombstone at Graybill Cemetery, Garner Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa: "Michael Graybill 14 May 1787 - 24 Sep 1856."
SOURCES_MISC:
1. The book "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 16-24.
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, p. 97. Information is same as what I have.
3. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007) provides the following information (also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com).
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1787 - 1856 (69 years)