| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Censuses:
1840 US: Quincy, Adams, Illinois, the following related families living in near proximity to each other (with exception of John McDaniel and his wife Christina Stoker, all of David Stoker's siblings, children, and mother are accounted for and it confirms his father Michael was dead by 1840):
P. 43a:
David Stoker, males 5-10:1; 40-50:1//females 5-10:1; 10-15:1; 40-50:1. [David, his wife Barbara, and their children Sarah (13), Catherine (11?), and Michael (6). Note daughter Nancy not in census which means she was probably deceased by then.]
Simeon P. Grabell [Graybill], males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [David's nephew: Simeon and his wife Amanda Hill and their two oldest children.]
Jacob Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [Younger brother to David: Jacob and his wife Catherine and their oldest child.]
P. 44a:
Eller Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 60-70:1. [Youngest brother to David: Eller with his wife Margaret and their oldest child and probably their mother Catherine Eller.]
James Walker [Welker], males 10-15:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1//females 5-10:2; 40-50:1. [Living next door to Eller and ages work perfectly that this is James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker, who is David's sister.]
John W. Stoker, males 0-5:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 30-40:1. [John and his wife Electa Sarah and their six oldest children.]
John Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 20-30:1. [David's son: John and his wife Jane and their children.]
P. 52a:
William Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 20-30:1 (father-in-law Samuel Winegar is next door). [David's son William and his wife Almira with their child.]
P. 55a:
Michael Stoker, males 0-5:2; 5-10:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1// females 30-40:1. [Michael, his wife Martha, and their five oldest children.]
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: William 32, Almira 33, Samuel D. 11, Wm. A. 9, Susan A. 6, Michael 4. [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.]
1880 US: Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, FHL film 1255338, NA film T9-1338, p. 189C:
William Stoker, farmer, M, 61, OH, NC, NC.
Almira, keeping house, wife, M, 62, NY, NY, NY.
John S., labourer, son, S, 22, UT, OH, NY.
Matilda, dau., 6, UT, OH, Den.
Barbara, dau., 4, UT, OH, Den.
Joseph P., son, 2, UT, OH, Den.
Alvin W., son, 3M, UT, OH, Den.
Emily Stoker, dressmaker, wife, M, 25, Den, Den, Den.
BIOGRAPHY:
1. Parents: Samuel Thomas Winegar and Rhoda E. Cummins/Cummings.
2. Sister of Alvin Winegar who was born May 13, 1816 in Chenango County of N.Y. and who married Mary Judd Aug. 29, 1837 in Chenango County. Alvin came to Utah in 1852 as part of the Benjamin Gardner company. Member of the 5th quorum of seventies, elder, and high priest. Stonecutter for Salt Lake Temple. Died June 12, 1874. He in turn had a son, John Winegar, born Sep. 28, 1838 in Clay County, Missouri who came with his father to Utah. Mary Judd is the sister to Margaret Judd who married Eller Stoker. Almira's brother Alvin and her father Samuel Thomas participated in the 1834 march of Zion's Camp.
3. Sister to Sarah Winegar who marries John Smith and remains in Iowa. See there notes elsewhere in this database.
4. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of William and Almira Stoker and their two sons Samuel D. and William. Also found are many other Winegars including Almira's father Saml. T. Winegar.
5. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers (photo accompanies article): "Almira Winegar Stoker, b. 27 Feb 1818 at Germantown, NY, d. 6 Nov 1884 at Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, parents are Samuel T. Winegar and Rhoda Cummins, pioneer of 28 Aug 1852 of the Isaac Stewart Wagon Train, m. William Stoker 20 Aug 1838 at Far West, MO (he died 19 May 1892 at Spanish Fork, Utah, UT), children:
Samuel David, 18 Dec 1840
William Alfred, 12 Jun 1842 [Nauvoo, IL, died 9 Apr 1906 in Spanish Fork]
Susan Ann, 16 Nov 1844
Michael, 20 Dec 1847
Sarah, 1850 (died as infant)
Emily Jane, 28 Oct 1852
Almira, 1 Aug 1855
John Stephen, 14 Mar 1858
Rhoda, 10 Mar 1863 (died as infant)
Almira was born in Germantown, Chenago County, New York in Feb., 1818. Her family of origin were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1833 at Springfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Her brother, Alvin, just 16 joined the early missionaries traveling in the area of Kirtland, Ohio. In 1835, Almira, her brother Alvin, and her father were among the Zion Camp members called by the Prophet Joseph, in 1835, to go to Missouri to relieve the suffering Saints there. Almira was only 17 years oldd. They traveled many miles, finally arriving at Clay County with the much neeed supplies and encouragement for the Saints. Almira married William Stoker in Far West, MO on Aug 20, 1838. They soon moved with the main body of the church to Nauvoo, Illinois. They had been humbled by the persecution in Missouri and were anxious to settle in peace and follow the prophet's word. William and his family lived six miles outside the city on the road to Carthage. Almira often would tell her grandchildren of the shock and sorrow the members of the church felt when Hyrum and Joseph were killed and as they watched their bodies being taken home to Nauvoo. They were privileged to be endowed in the Nauvoo Temple before they were forced to abandon it and flee. They settled in Mr. Pisgah, Iowa for six years where two more children were born to them. In June, 1852, the Stokers and their five children began the journey to Utah in the Isaac Stewart Wagon company. Along the way, one of the oxen died, so they hitched up one of the milk cows to pull their wagon. They arrived in Salt Lake on Aug. 28, 1852. After spending a few weeks visiting family members in Bountiful, they settled on 20 acres in Spanish Fork, which was then called Palmyra. In 1856, William built a two-room adobe home with a mud roof. It was here the last three of their children were born. In 1873, William Stoker took a second wife in polygamy who bore him five more Children. Almira Winegar Stoker was a kind and loving woman who was never blessed with many worldly goods, but she had a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and willingly shared whatever she had with those less fortunate. She died of tuberculosis."
6. Reference to Almira in daughter Susan Ann Stoker Riley's biography per the book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude," Daughters of Utah Pioneers, p. 2592, photo accompanies article [for full citation see William Stoker's notes]: "Susan Ann Stoker Riley, b. 16 Nov 1844 at Nauvoo, Hancock, IL; died 21 Mar 1920 at Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming; parents are William Stoker and Almira Winegar; pioneer of 20 Sep 1852; spouse was Thomas Katen Riley who died Oct 1923; married 6 Apr 1863... Susan Ann was born in Nauvoo, Illinois in November 1844, the third child and first daughter. The Stokers, along with other Saints, were forced to leave their homes and flee to Iowa where they lived at Mt. Pisgah for some time. Her family joined the Isaac Stewart Company in june, 1852 for their trek West. A baby sister had been born and died at Mt. Pisgah, and one brother was four and Emily Jane, her sister was just three weeks old. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 20, 1852. They visited relatives in Bountiful, and then moved to Spanish Fork (called Palmyra at that time). There they settled on twenty acres of land. In 1856, her father built a two-room adobe home with a mud roof for his family..."
7. The following is a partial quote from an article entitled: "The Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker family as early Mormons in Ohio and Missouri," by Jimmie "B" Stoker, November 24, 1993, as reprinted in the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. See the notes of Michael Stoker (1762-1838) for the full transcript of this article:
"The following members of Michael Stoker's family attached their names to a petition in 1843 that they had lived in Missouri and had been driven from their state:(21)
David Stoker [Michael's son David (1795-1852)], John Stoker [possibly David's son, John (1817-1881) or Michael's son, John W. (1803-1857)], John McDaniels (1812-1884) [David's son-in-law, husband of his oldest daughter, Christine (1815-1854)], Elles Stoker (1816-1855) [Eller, Michael's youngest son], Mary Stoker (1822-1890) [probably Margaret Judd, Eller's wife]. Catharine Stoker (1773-after 1850) [Michael's wife, Catharine Eller], Jacob Stoker (1812-1893) [Michael's son], Catharine Stoker [Catharine Burcham, Jacob's wife], John Stoker (1803-1857) [Michael's son, John W. Stoker], Sarah Stoker (1806-1857) [John W. Stoker's wife, Electa Sarah McDaniel].
Geo. Graybill (1821-?) [Michael's grandson, George Washington Graybill, son of Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864)], Michael Stoker (1805-1858) [Michael's son], Martha Stoker (1808-1873) [Martha Carr McDaniel, wife of Michael's son, Michael], Gabrael Stoker (1832-1852) [Michael's grandson, son of Michael (1805-1858)], William Stoker (1819-1892) [Michael's grandson, son of David], Almira Stoker (1818-1884) [Michael's granddaughter-in-law, grandson, William's wife, Almira Winegar], Samuel D. Stoker (1840-1908) [Michael's great-grandson, son of William and Almira], William Stoker (1842-1906) [Michael's great-grandson, son of William and Almira].
Mary Graybill [possibly Michael's daughter, Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864) or his granddaughter, Mary Ann Graybill (1830-?)], William Graybill (1825-1880) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Adam Graybill [still looking for this relationship to Michael], Sidney R Graybill (1836-?) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Levi Graybill (1818-1912) [Michael's grandson, son of Polly Mary Stoker], Patience Graybill (1825-1895) [Patience Smith, Michael's granddaughter-in-law, wife of Joseph Levi Graybill (1818-1912)], Mary Graybill [possibly Michael's daughter, Polly Mary Stoker (1792-1864), or his granddaughter, Mary Ann Graybill (1830-?), Polly's daughter].
John Stoker (1817-1881) [Michael's grandson, son of David], Jane Stoker (1810-1890) [Michael's granddaughter-in-law, Jane McDaniel, wife of John (1817-1881)], Hannah Graybill [Michael's great granddaughter, daughter of Joseph Levi Graybill], Hyrum Stoker (1840-1887) [Michael's great grandson, son of John Stoker (1817-1881) and Jane McDaniel], Alma Stoker (1835-1897) [Michael's adopted great grandson, son of Jane McDaniel], and Franklin Stoker (1842-1855) [Michael's great grandson, son of John Stoker (1817-1881)]. Lucinda Stoker is also listed on the petition but cannot establish a relationship to Michael Stoker (1762-1838).(22)
Refuge found in Illinois.
The people of Quincy reached out to help the Mormons fleeing from Missouri. Elizabeth Haven Barlow writes, "The people of Quincy had contributed between four and five hundred dollars for the poor Mormons. God had opened their hearts to receive us. May heaven's blessings rest upon them. We are hungry and they feed us, naked and clothed us. The citizens have assisted beyond all calculations."(23)
Footnotes
21. Also included are some of their children who were born after 1838 in Illinois.
22. "Mormon Redress Petitions," pp. 574, 598, 599-601.
23. Elizabeth Haven Barlow in letter to Elizabeth Howel Bullard, 24 February 1839, published in Ora H. Barlow, "The Israel Barlow Story and Mormon Mores." Salt Lake City: Ora H. Barlow, 1968."
8. From the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. The following story is about William and Almira Stoker and it is noted as being from the files of Jimmie B. Stoker:
"Florence Stoker as told by her father, John Stephen Stoker, "Biographies of William and Almira Winegar Stoker," typescript sent to Jim Stoker by Alta Aitken Rowley, 360 W. 550 S., Orem, Utah 84058.
"They [William and Almira Stoker] lived in Illinois until the Saints were driven from Nauvoo. They were living along the road between Carthage and Nauvoo at the time of the martyrdom. My father, John Stephen Stoker, who told me this story, said he had heard his mother say she saw the bodies of the Prophet and Hyrum Smith being taken from Carthage to Nauvoo.
"When the saints were driven from Nauvoo, WIlliam and Almira Stoker moved into Iowa. They settled at Mt. Pisgah and lived there for six years. Mountain was the burial ground. They buried a little girl six months old at Mt. Pisgah. They lived a year at Council Bluffs, Iowa. William's father, David Stoker, died of cholera at Council Bluffs [Trader's Point] about two or three weeks before the family left for the west. ["My Great-grandfather, David Stoker, died of cholera just before he was to start west with the saints, from Council Bluffs. His brothers were running a ferry boat across the missouri River. He was living at Council Bluffs or Winter Quarters (Trader's Point?). He decided to help them for a while to get some money to finish the journey west. While working on the ferry, he took cholera and died. he was buried at Council Bluffs. (Florence Stoker as told by her father, John Stephen Stoker, "Parents and Brothers and Sisters of my Grandfather, William Stoker.")]
"William and Almira Stoker left the Missouri River June 20, 1852. They ferried across the river. They came west in Isaac Stewart's company.
"...They arrived in Salt Lake 20 September 1852. They spent about two weeks in Bountiful and Springville, then came to Spanish Fork."
9. From the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. The following is noted as being from the files of Jimmie B. Stoker:
"History of William Stoker. Kathleen Stoker Overton, "History of Wiliam Stoker," The Eller Chronicles, Vol. XI:2 (May 1997), pp. 46-47.
My Great-great-grandfather, William Stoker, was born 26, March 1819 in Bloomfield, Jackson County, Ohio. His parents, David Stoker and Barbara Graybill, had both been born in Ashe County, North Carolina. David and Barbara and their parents moved to the Great Western Reserve (also called the Ohio) in 1815 where land and opportunity beckoned. They settled in Bloomfield Township in Jackson County and began farming. In 1833 the family was visited by a missionary, John Fisher, and they were introduced to the early Latter-day Saint Church. Most of those who were old enough were baptized that same year. WIlliam was baptized in 1835 at the age of 16. In 1836 some members of the family made a trip to Kirtland, Ohio for the dedication of the Temple and to attend the conference that followed. Then later that same year most of the extended family moved to Far West, Missouri to be with the main body of the Church. William's grandparents, Peter and Christina Wampler Graybill, who were then in their late seventies stayed in Jackson County and died a few years later.
William's family withstood the dangers of mob attacks and many hardships. They later moved to Quincy and Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839. By 1846 most of Nauvoo had been vacated and the family settled in Kanesville, now named Council Bluffs, Iowa. Some remained there never making the trip west.
William was a sturdy man physically. He weighed about 190 pounds and was fairly tall. As a young man he had left farming to earn his livelihood as a wood chopper tempted by the money he could earn against the low wages of farming. His job was to find dense, suitable lumber on or near the banks of the rivers (Mississippi, Ohio, and tributaries), fell it, cut it into lengths, and build a raft just big enough that two men could handle it. They would load it and then with a long, light pole they from the shore and float down the Mississippi hundreds of miles until they arrived at a suitable saw-mill and sold their cargo. After replenishing their supplies of food and other things they would catch a steamboat north to start over again. As with all rugged work, things did not always go well. Sometimes a raft would become disorganized in midstream and it would take a lot of swimming and hard work to get it in shape again. He became an expert breast stroke swimmer.
William married Almira Winegar in Far West, Missouri in October of 1838. Almira was born 27 February 1818 in Homer, New York to Samuel Thomas Winegar and Rhonda Cummings. Her family too had joined the Church in its earliest days. When the Saints were expelled from Nauvoo, they came as far as Mt. Pisgah, Iowa where they lived for six years.
In June 1851 [1852] William and Almira started for Utah. They crossed the plains in the Isaac Stewart Company. While coming to Utah there was a stampede of oxen directly in back of William which threatened disaster to one of the wheels of the wagon. The driver of the oxen could not control them. William realizing the danger of damaging his wagon, as well as danger to members of the company, drew back his whip stock and brought the ungovernable oxen to the ground. This act enraged the owner of the oxen and he threatened to whip William. Immediately others brought Captain Isaac Stewart to the scene and he praised William for doing the right thing and probably saving lives.
The family settled in Palmyra in 1852. Later they helped lay out and settle the city of Spanish Fork, Utah. Here William built a two room adobe house from some of the adobe from the old fort. He later added a room at a time until there were four rooms and a big front porch. He followed the occupation of farmer having taken up land in different parts of the vacant tracts outside of town. He and Almira had nine children."
10. FHL book 929.273 St67d "Descendants of William Stoker (1819-1892): with a View of his Ancestors," by Jay and Rachel Phillips Deeben, Feb. 2014, pp. 60-70:
"William Stoker[1] (1819-1892), by Jay C. and Rachel A. Phillips Deeben.
William Stoker, son of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill, was born in Bloomfield Twp., Jackson, Ohio on 26 Mar 1819.[2] He was the third child of a family of six children. William accepted the teachings of the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in Jackson County, Ohio with his family.[3] Then on 27 Oct 1836, his grandfather, Michael Stoker (1762) and his wife Catherine Martha Eller sold their property in Ohio,[4] and began their travels to Missouri to join the Latter-day Saints. William probably traveled with his family (David and Barbara) about this same time to Missouri.
After William arrived in Far West, Missouri he met and courted Alrnira Winegar. She was born 27 Feb 1818, in Horner, Cortland, New York.5 Her parents are Samuel Thomas Winegar and Rhoda Cummins. William and Alrnira were married in October 1838,[6] in Far West, Caldwell, Missouri. When you read church history, their marriage occurred during the strife the Latter-day Saints were going through, just prior to being driven out of Missouri.
William didn't leave any journals as far as we could find, but John Welker, a cousin to William did leave some information in his journal. Jimmie "B" Stoker in his writing about "Michael and Catherine Eller's Descendants in Illinois" records an incident from John Welker's journal of the family's travel from Missouri to Illinois. John states, "We traveled through snow and rain and mud and water, laying out in the storms to sleep during the nights. All this I have passed through ... We make our way out of the state of Missouri to the Mississippi River through much suffering and privations."[7]
William and his wife, Alrnira, settled in Quincy, Illinois in the first one or two years after arriving in Illinois. The 1840 Federal Census for Quincy, Illinois lists William Stoker with a male child under five, one male between 20 and 30 years of age, and one female between 20 and 30 years of age.[8] The male child that was listed as being under five years of age would have been William and Almira's oldest son, Samuel David Stoker, born 24 Mar 1840. The male that was between 20 and 30 years of age would have been William and the female of the same age group would have been Almira.
To earn money to take care of their families the Stoker men would have hired out to some of the local farmers and other business owners that needed help. Jimmy "B" Stoker makes reference to the possibility of William hiring out to a farmer by the name of Coleman Wilkes[9] who lived about eighteen or twenty miles east of Quincy, Illinois. How long they may have worked here is not known. But eventually William and his family moved closer to Nauvoo, Illinois where they lived until they were driven out by the mobs.
William and his family were with the church members when they were forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the winter of 1845-1846. They crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and then started their travels to Winter Quarters during 1846. They stopped at Mount Pisgah, Harrison County, Iowa on their way to Winter Quarters. Mount Pisgah was set up as a way station for those saints that would follow, it was about half way across Iowa. They stayed in Mount Pisgah until late 1851 or early 1852 when they traveled to Kanesville (present day Council Bluffs) and joined the Isaac Stewart Company and traveled to Utah. To meet the expenses of traveling to Utah, William borrowed money from the Perpetual Emigration Fund that had been established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[10] This loan was repaid about 10 years later, in full.[11]
The company departed from Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs) on 19 Jun 1852. There were about 245 individuals and 53 wagons in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post. They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory sometime between 28 Aug and 22 Sep 1852.[12] When William and his family left Kanesville, Iowa,[13] his group consisted of: seven family members, four oxen, two cows, no horses, no Sheep, one Wagon, and one loose Cattle." Members of the family were: William Stoker - 33 years; Almira Stoker - 34 years; Samuel David Stoker - 12 years; William Alfred Stoker - 10 years; Susan Ann Stoker - age 7; Michael Stoker - 4 years; and Emily Jane Stoker - infant.
John S. Davis reported an incident that occurred while traveling west with the wagon train, "While coming to Utah there was a stampede of oxen directly back of my father's which threatened disaster to one of the wheels on the wagon. It seemed the driver of the oxen could not control them. My father realizing the danger of damaging his wagon as well as danger to members of the company drew back his whip stock and brought the ungovernable oxen to the ground. This act enraged the owner of the oxen and he threatened to whip my father, immediately Captain Isaac Stewart was brought to the scene of the trouble and after hearing the explanation from my father and other members of the company said my father did the right thing. This perhaps saving many lives by his act."[15]
After arriving in Utah in 1852, William and Alrnira and their family moved south to Palmyra, Utah.[16] William and his family were among the early settlers of Palmyra. The initial survey of Palmyra was done in July of 1852, just months prior to the arrival of William and his family. William's name appears in a list of early settlers of Palmyra that was put and Barbara on floor together by LaNora P. Allred in her book (Spanish Fork, City on the Rio De Aguas Calientes).[17]
We are not sure when William moved to the area that would become known as Spanish Fork. The city had its beginnings in 1855,[18] as stated in LaNora P. Allred's book. The first Federal Land Office was not established in Salt Lake City until 1869. Up to the establishment of the land office, land distribution was "supervised by the Mormon Church."[19] Some of the first land documents that are available are in the form of the transfer of property from the Mayor of Spanish Fork to residents of the city in 1873. This is when William was able to obtain a title to his lot in Spanish Fork.
One of the first things that William did after moving into Spanish Fork was to build a home from adobe bricks that were made available as they took the old fort down. The initial house that William built was two rooms and over time added two more rooms and a front porch.[20]
On March 29, 1873, William Stoker purchased Lot 2, in Block 75, Plat "A"[21] within the boundaries of Spanish Fork, Utah. George D. Snell, Mayor of Spanish Fork is listed on the deed transfer as agent for the city of Spanish Fork, Utah. The Lot when purchased took up one-fourth of the city block. Block 75 is bounded by Main Street, 300 North, 100 East, and 400 North. William's Lot 2 cornered on Main Street and 300 North.
William and Almira and their family are listed in the 1860, and 1870 Federal Census records[22] of Spanish Fork, Utah. In the 1880 Federal Census there is a change in William and Almira's household.
Almira's children have moved on with their lives and are not listed in the same household with William and Alrnira. Now within the same household with William and Alrnira we have Emily, William's second wife, and four of her five children. William is listed as being 61 years of age, Almira as 62 years of age. Emily is listed as 25 years of age.[23]
William married Emily Tegersen On October 27, 1873, in Salt Lake City, Utah.[24] She was born on October 9, 1854,[25] in Jetmark, Hjoring, Denmark. This marriage brought him into the practice of plural wives which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was practicing at that time. Emily Tegersen, died on January 29, 1883, in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.[26]
Almost two years after Emily died Almira Winegar, William's first wife died on November 6, 1884, in Spanish Fork Utah, Utah.[27] About two years after Alrnira died William married a third time. This marriage was to Wilhelrnine Gudbjarg Hjalmarsson, on 15 Sep 1886.[28] She was born in Iceland on 22 Oct 1852. The marriage lasted about two years when Wilhelmina and William were granted a divorce on 3 Oct 1888 in the First District Court of Utah.[29] Then on 16 Aug 1890 Wilhelmine marries Thomardson Sigurdson in Provo Utah.[30] No children were born to William and Wilhelmina to our knowledge.
During William's life in Spanish Fork, Utah he served as one of the seven presidents of the 50th Quorum of Seventies. He served on the Spanish Fork City council for two terms and he farmed to support his family.[31]
On 11 May 1892, William Stoker began to put his affairs in order. He had drawn up Warranty Deeds,[32] to be effective upon his death, transferring his property to Emily's children, Matilda, Barbara, Joseph Peter, Alvin Winegar, and Dorothy Mariah Stoker. At the time these children were not of age and thus the property was placed in the trust with John S. Stoker as guardian and trustee.[33] John is William and Almira's son. It was during this time that William must have suspected his time to pass beyond this mortal life was coming close. By placing John as trustee of the land for Emily's children, he must have asked John and his wife to take care of the children until they were of legal age to handle their own affairs. William died eight days later on 19 May 1892, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.[34]
Children of William Stoker and Almira Winegar Stoker (Name, Birth date, Birth Place, Death date, Death place):
Samuel David Stoker, 24 Mar 1840, Adams County, lllinois, 7 Jul 1908, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
William Alfred Stoker, 18 Jun 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, 9 Apr 1906, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
Susan Ann Stoker, 16 Nov 1845, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, 21 Mar 1920, Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming.
Michael Stoker, 6 Sep 1847, Mount Pisgah, Harrison, Iowa, 1 Apr 1875, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
Sarah Stoker, 1850, Mount Pisgah, Harrison, Iowa, 1850, Mount Pisgah, Harrison, Iowa.
Emily Jane Stoker, 28 May 1852, Bluff City, Pottawattamie, Iowa, 10 Nov 1927, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
Almira Stoker, 1 Aug 1855, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 8 Dec 1930, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
John Stephen Stoker, 14 Mar 1858, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 23 Mar 1944, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
Rhoda Stoker, 10 Mar 1863, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 10 Mar 1863, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
Children of William Stoker and Emily Tegersen Stoker:
Matilda Stoker, 3 Sep 1874, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 21 Nov 1951, Bountiful, Davis, Utah.[40]
Barbara Stoker, 21 Jan 1876, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 20 Feb 1932, Springville, Utah, Utah.[41]
Joseph Peter Stoker, 5 Feb 1878, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 31 Dec 1962. Joseph never married.
Alvin Winegar Stoker, 26 Feb 1880, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 1 Jan 1931, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.[42] Alvin never married.
Dorothy Mariah Stoker 24 Sep 1882, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, 18 Feb 1974, Springville, Utah, Utah.
Chapter Notes for William Stoker (1819):
1. Wheeler, Dorthy Mariah Stoker, "William Stoker", copy in possession of Rachel Deeben.
2. Stoker, Jimmie "B", The Michael Stoker Family, "The Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker family as early Mormons in Ohio and Missouri", 1993, Nauvoo Land and Records Office", Nauvoo, Illinois, Digitized copy.
3. Based on a composite set of records in the Nauvoo Land and Records Office in Nauvoo, Illinois; Their RIN# 29026 William Stoker, born 1819, was first baptized on 26 March 1835. This occurred while his family (living with his parents: David Stoker and Barbara Graybill) in Jackson County, Ohio. These records consist of historical records researched by Susan E. Black, Nauvoo Death Record, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 70's Record, Hancock Co., Illinois Marriage Register, and Nauvoo Marriage Register. Two other baptism dates are listed one for 1836 and one for 17 Nov 1852 (1857 possible).
4. Michael Stoker Sr, Bio, RIN# 16218, Nauvoo Land and Records Office Historical file., p. 4 or 5 (two numbers on this page one is 4, typed, and one is 5, handwritten).
5. Family Group Record of Samuel Thomas Winegar and Rhoda Curnrnins, in possession of Rachel Anne Phillips Deeben, Payson, Utah.
6. Stoker, Jimmie "B", p. 8 (typed page number).
7. As recorded by Stoker, Jimmie "B", The Michael Stoker Family, "Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker's Descendants in Illinois", 1994, Nauvoo Land and Records Office", Nauvoo, Illinois, Digitized copy. Jimmie Stoker references John Welker, "A Small Sketch," John Welker Journal.
8. Year: 1840; Census Place: Quincy, Adams, Illinois; Roll 54; Page: 52; Image: 107; Family History Library Film: 0007641. As filmed by Ancestry.com, Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, 580 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
9. Stoker, Jimmie "B", "Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker's Descendants in Illinois", p. 2
10. Perpetual Emigrating Fund Legers, for William Stoker on 15 Oct 1863. This is the only William
Stoker found. It shows a total of $180.25 was paid back. This included the principle and interest on the money borrowed. Records indicate the loan was repaid in full. This is found in Leger C page 709 (CR 376/2).
11. Perpetual Emigrating Fund Legers, for William Stoker.
12. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868, Church History Archives, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Online database at <http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/>
13. Ancestry.com. Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest. (This film has the 1852 census also.)
14. Trail excerpts from Isaac M. Stewart Emigrating Company, Journal Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868, Church History Archives, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Online database at <http://lds.or>g/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/. The original entry from the journal: William Stoker[,] 7 in family[,] 4 Oxen[,] 2 cows[,] 0 horses[,] 0 Sheep[,] 1 Waggons[,] 1 loos Cattle
15. Davis, John S., History of William Stoker, as told by William Stoker's youngest living daughter, Almira Stoker Davis, on file at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.
16. Davis, John S., History of William Stoker.
17. Allred, LaNora P., Spanish Fork, City on the Rio De Aguas Calientes, p. 8, Spanish Fork Library, call number LA 979, A15; or the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, call number 979.224/S3 H2a. This book was published in connection with the celebration of 150 years.
18. Allred, LaNora P., p. 39
19. Allred, LaNora P., p. 39
20. Davis, John S., History of William Stoker
21. Land Records of Spanish Fork, Book 72, p. 324, Utah County Land and Records Office, Provo, Utah; Rachel Deeben has a copy of this record, her File-ID is ST-0001.
22. Year: 1860; Census Place: Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory; Roll M653_1314; Page: 954;
Image: 426; Family History Library Film: 805314, P. 207, lines 6 thru 14. Image seen on Ancestry.com. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1870; Census Place: Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory; Roll M593_1612; Page: 314A; Image: 624; Family History Library Film: 55311 1, P. 21 and 22, Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data:
23. Year: 1880; Census Place: Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah; Roll T9_1338; Family History Film: 1255338; Page: 189.3000; Enumeration District: 83; P. 21; Image found on Ancestry.com, Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
24. Endowment House Living Endowments, Family History Library, film 183407.
25. Parker, Jack, Research notes of Danish records concerning the Thygesen Family. The full set of notes are in the appendix of this book titled, "Summary of ‘Reasonably' Well Known Facts about the Family of Mads Christian Thygesen and Dorthe Clausdatter". 9 Oct 1854 Birth: Illegitimate daughter of Mads Christian Thygesen and Johanne Marie Jensdatter; Jetsmark Parish Records (Hjorring County). Johanne is referred to as "Fruentimmer" (unmarried mother, & the term is usually used for more mature women, rather than Pige, meaning girl or maid). The father is "said to be" Mads Christian Thygesen.
26. Headstone of "Emily Tegersen Stoker," Spanish Fork Cemetery, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
27. Headstone of "Almira Winegar Stoker," Spanish Fork Cemetery, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah.
28. Sealing Record of Logan Temple, Logan, Cache, Utah, Film 0,178,135, p. 97, entry no. 1743.
Marriage and Sealing was performed on 15 Sep 1886, by M. W. Merrill, and witnessed by N. C. Edlefsen and L. J. Halling. Film was viewed at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were comments on the front and back of the Sealing record for Wilhelmina. Those comments are: Wilhelmina Gudbjorg gave her date of birth as 22 Oct 1852 at the time of her baptism in Iceland on 9 Jul 1883. Also this date of birth is given in the Spanish Fork Ward Records. It is believed that she was the Gudbjorg born in Saudanesi, Hjaltabakki Parish,, Austur-Hucavaia, Iceland on 8 Nov 1846. See family group record.
29. First District Court, Court minutes, 1852-1966 (Minutes, etc. May 1886-Oct. 1890), Page, 19.
30. On August 16, 1890 Wilhelmine married a second time a copy of that marriage index record, was found in the Western States Marriage Index housed at BYU-Idaho, follows: Marriage ID: 268720, Groom's Surname Name: SIGURDSON, Groom's First Name: Thomardson (38), Bride's Surname Name: HJALDMARSON, Bride's First Name: Wilhelmina (37), Place: Provo, Marriage Date: 16 Aug 1890, County: Utah, State: Utah, Bride's Residence: Spanish Fork, Groom's Residence: Spanish Fork, Volume: 1, Page: 211.
31. Essom, Frank, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, printed 1913, p. 1191, accessed online copy through the familysearch.org <http://farr1ilysearch.org/>, Family History Catalog.
32. Land Records of Spanish Fork, Book 72, p. 324, Utah County Land and Records Office, Provo,
Utah; Rachel Deeben has a copy of this record, her File-ID is ST-0004.
33. Land Records of Spanish Fork, Book 16, p. 405, Utah County Land and Records Office, Provo,
Utah; Rachel Deeben has a copy of this record, her File-ID is ST-0021.
34. International Genealogical Index, <http://www.familysearch.org/>. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
35. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 326, on file at the Utah Archives on their website:
<http://archives.utah.gov/research/indexes/index.html>
36. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 113
37. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 423
38. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 565
39. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 168
40. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 51-060104
41. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 74
42. State of Utah - Death Certificate, No. 4
68
Preliminary information for William Stoker and Almira Winegar's family.
There has been some extensive material printed on the Stoker line. The work centers on Almira's family and her descendants. The book is out of print but a copy of it can be found in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. It can also be found in the Spanish Fork Family History Library, Spanish Fork, Utah.
At the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah the following information will help you find it.
Title: The Stoker/Winegar/West/Youd legacy
Authors: Alta Aitken Rowley, Grant Joseph Aitken [and] Charlene Attryde Aitken
FHL FAM HIST Book on microfiche - 6007014 (7 fiche)
The book has also been digitized and is available on line. To view it, access it via the title and then click on the link associated with the book.
If you wish more information about what is provided in this book concerning Almira's family please refer to the above referenced book."
BIRTH:
1. Per cemetery record cited below.
2. DUP biography uses variant location of Germantown, New York.
3. Ordinance Index list birthplace variances as also: German, Chenango, NY; Homer, Cayuga, NY; Of South Amenia, Dutchess, NY. Cemetery record definitely states Homer, New York. Endowment record uses Homer.
4. FHL film 392688 "LDS Patriarchal Blessings Index": Almira Winegar Stoker, b. 27 Feb 1818 at Homer, New York, parents Thomas Winegar and Rhoda ___. Blessing date 30 Jan 1856 at Palmyra, Utah. Lineage: Ephraim. Patriarch John Young. Vol. 25, p. 302.
MARRIAGE:
1. Per DUP biography cited above.
2. 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:
"Picture p. 7: "William Stoker and Almira Winegar...
In spite of the terrors of the mob, Michael Stoker (1762-1838) may have seen his grandson, William Stoker (1819-1892), David's son, marry Almira Winegar that October 1838 in Far West before he died. The privation and stress of the situation was too much for Michael in his old age. He is believed to have died at Far West and to be buried in the Saints Cemetery there during the strife."
DEATH:
1. Date per cemetery record cited below.
2. Date and place per DUP biography cited above.
BURIAL:
1. FHL film 231908 "Spanish Fork, Utah Cemetery Records": "Winegar, Almira, b. 27 Feb 1818 at Homer, New York, d. 6 Nov 1884, bur. Spanish Fork, parents are Samuel T. Winegar and Rhoda Cummings, m. Stoker."
2. "Index to the Utah County Cemeteries, 1850's to 1996," compiled by Diane R. Parkinson and located at the family history center at the BYU Provo library.
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Online Ordinance Index (9 Jun 2001)
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. 101.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1818 - 1884 (66 years)