| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City): "Graybill, Patience; Birth: 26 Nov 1825, Newcastle, Henry, Indiana. Patience Graybill was bapt. a member of the [LDS] on January 1840 at Adams County, Illinois by Able Lamb. She later affiliated with the (RLDS). Sources: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-71, book A, pp. 62, 646 and 1872-1905, Book C."
2. 12 Jul 2002 email from Ron Romig, Archivist, RLDS Church in Independence, Missouri:
a. "I tracked the reference to History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, vol 3: 324 -The following-named persons were baptized by Elder William H. Kelley: Stephen Smith, E. W. Knapp, James Otto, E. F. Hyde, and P. E. Knapp. Early Reorganization Minutes, Book A (of membership records) adds: Stephen Smith was confirmed by E. C. Briggs and W. Baldwin, citing Herald vol. 4 (1863):28."
b. "October RLDS Conference, 1859, held at the barn of Israel L. Rogers in Kendall Co., Ill. April 9th A.M. Conference met. Bro Beebe, delegate from the Farm Creek Branch in Mill's Co. Iowa presented the following report: "Organization of the Farm Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S. of Mill co. Iowa. Were organized on the 16th of Oct. 1859 by giving in their names as follows: Calvin Beebe, Mrs. Submit Beebe, John Smith, Sariah Smith, John Richards, Harriet Richards, Richard Y. Kelly, Sariah E. F. Kelley, Levi Graybill, Patience Graybill, Elxander Liles, Frances M. Liles, Calvin A. Beebe{e}, Angeline C. Beebe, Joseph Smith, Rachel Smith, Stephen Smith, William H. Kelley <1>(this day was rebaptized) Henry Winegar, Mrs. Frances L [Page 63] Richards, Mrs. Elizabeth Winegar, Mrs Ann Strong, Sariah A. Flesher, Mrs Alice Osler, after which they chose Calvin Beebe, President; John Smith, Priest; Richard Y. Kelly, Deacon. Early Minutes of the Reorganization, 62-63."
"I leave it to you to resolve the contradictory baptismal dates for the mentioned Stephen Smiths."
3. Censuses:
1850 US: Cannot find even though Levi in his biography says he was in Iowa by 1846. Did a page by page search of Decatur and Pottawattamie Counties which in 1850 appear to be larger then they are now. They possibly could have lived away from the others in an an area that may not have received a census taker.
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: Levi [can't read age - 33?], Patience 25, Abigail 9, Selathiel 4, Patience 2, Levi infant. [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.]
1854 Iowa: Madeconia, Pottawattamie, Iowa, FHL film 1022207. Next door neighbors include Levi Graybill and John Smith. Census return:
Levi Graybill, 4 males, 3 female, 1 voter, 1 militia, 7 total.
1856 Iowa: (From Ancestry.com) Macedonia, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 2 of 4:
Levi Grabill, 38, 10 years in Iowa, OH, farmer.
Patience, 31, 10, IN.
Abbigail, 14, 10, IL.
Selatha, 9, 9, IL.
Patience, 7, 7, IL.
Levi, 5, 5, IL.
John, 3, 3, IL.
Michael, 1, 1, IL.
1860 US: Macedonia P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 416, entry 847, 14 Jul:
Levi Graybill, 42, farmer, Ireland.
Patience, 36, IN.
Abigail, 18, IL.
Salathiel, 13, IA.
Patience, 11, IA.
Levi, 8, IA.
John, 6, IA.
Joseph B., 3, IA.
George W., 5/12, IA.
1870 US: Wheeler's Grove P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 160a, dwelling 34:
Levi Graybill, 52, farming, $3000, $1000, OH.
Patience, 44, housekeeping, IN.
Palmer, 21, farmer, IA.
Levi, 19, IA.
John, 17, IA.
Joseph, 12, IA.
George, 10, IA.
Mary, 7, IA.
Martha, 6, IA.
Wm., 2, IA.
Lucinda Prichet, 7, IA.
1880 US: Grove, Pottawattamie, Iowa; NA film T9-0361, p. 128D:
Levi Graybill, farmer, self, 62, OH NC NC.
Patience, wife, 55, IN SC NC.
Bird, son, 22, IA OH IN. [LDS site took this off as Bud, but close examination shows Bird.]
Geo., son, 20, IA OH IN.
Mary, dau., 17, IA OH IN.
Martha, dau, 15, IA OH IN.
Lucinda, g.dau., 16, IA OH IN.
Will, son, 12, IA OH IN.
1895 Iowa: Cass, Harrison, Iowa:
Levi Graybill, 76, OH.
Patience, 69, IN.
4. See notes of father John Smith for extensive biography on entire family including this individual and their spouses.
5. Possible other unproven children for Levi and Patience:
A. John P. Fisher, a descendant of Henry Fisher, notes in the PAF file accompanying his 3 Jul 2003 email to me that there may be two children Lafayette and David that I do not have. I do not add because he only sketchily shows five children total with no information on any of them. I include this note here just in case I find alternate information supporting the two additional boys.
B. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 55-60, indicates a daughter Hannah Graybill, b. Nauvoo, IL between Abigail and Salathiel and a son Palmer Graybill, b. abt 1849 between Patience E. and John Arno. This information is presented very sketchily without any documentation and I am not sure I trust it yet. The 1851 census certainly shows an age gap between Abigail and Salathiel; however, Patience and Levi are too close agewise in my opinion. In further tracking down of Palmer, the name only shows up as a farmer aged 21 living in the household in the 1870 US census. This census does not include relationships. Upon close scrutiny the P in Palmer is actually an S and the scribbling after the S is debatable but does look something like "almer." No other census or source shows a Palmer and the 1870 census Palmer would perhaps seem like a poor spelling of Salathiel; however, just a few entries later we find Salathiel and his wife in a separate household. The name Palmer Graybill continues to be a mystery.
BIOGRAPHY:
1. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of Levi and Patience Graybill.
2. FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pg. 197: "Grove Township... Many of these early settlers left Nauvoo intending to go to Utah, but for one reason or another they paused here and finally concluded to remain and few, if any, have had cause to regret it. The first to organize a religious body in the township were the Latter Day Saints. E.W. Briggs and W.W. Blair were the organizers, and the original members were John Smith and wife, E.W. Knapp and wife, A.J. Field and wife, James Otto and wife, Levi Graybill and wife, John Winegar and wife, Joseph Smith and wife, and Stephen Smith. John Smith was their first president and E.W. Knapp the first clerk. Services were held at residences of the different members and later at schoolhouses, but the society becoming more numerous and wealthy, in 1874 they erected a modest church building at a cost of $763. The membership had increased until in 1881 it had reached ninety and maintained a regular Sabbath School."
3. The following partial quote is included in the biography of Stephen Smith, brother of this individual, per FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pp. 1066-1067 [see notes for Stephen Smith in this database for full quotation]: "Stephen Smith, now living retired but still residing on his farm on section 27, Grove township, came to Pottawattamie county about the 1st of November, 1847. On this day he arrived in Council Bluffs, where he spent the winter. In the following April his father arrived in Macedonia township, bringing his family with him, and there he built the first house within what is now the borders of the township. John Smith, the father, resided there for eight years or more, and in the fall of 1853 or 1854 became a resident of Grove township, settling on section 8, where he continued to reside until his death occurred, in 1870, when he was 72 years of age... His birth had occurred in North Carolina and he had resided for some time in Indiana prior to coming to Iowa. The wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Martha Koonts, was born in Indiana, and from that state they removed to Adams county, Illinois, where the death of Mrs. Smith occurred, in 1840. Stephen Smith was born in Henry county, Indiana, January 28, 1836. His father wedded a second time, having wedded Miss Sarah Winegar in Adams county, Illinois, after losing his first wife. She accompanied her husband to Pottawattamie county and died here in 1882 [error; should be 1880]. By the two marriages there were seven sons and six daughters. Those of the family who came to Pottawattamie county were: Mary, Patience, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rhoda [error: Lydia Rhoda is one individual and not two], Anna, Stephen, Joseph, Hiram, Carlos and Abraham. [Note: I believe Anna being included in this list to be an error in that it appears she died in Indiana as an infant.] Two brothers of the family died in early Childhood. Of the children Stephen, Lydia, and Abraham are still living, the sister being a resident of Cheyenne county, Kansas, while the brother makes his home in northwestern Nebraska. Stephen Smith was eleven years of age when he came with his father to Pottawattamie county..."
4. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 55-60: "Joseph Levi Graybill, b. 12 Mar 1818, Bloomfield Twp., Jackson Co., OH; d. 30 Nov 1912, Macedonia, Pottawattamie Co., IA; bur. in the Mormon Trail Cemetery, Macedonia, IA; md. 20/21 Jun 1841, Nauvoo, IL to Patience Smith. Levi was the s/o Michael Graybill and Mary 'Polly' Stoker. Patience was b. 25 Nov 1825, Henry Co., IN; d. 14 Aug 1895, Macedonia, IA; bur. in the Mormon Trail Cemtery, Macedonia, IA. She was the d/o John Smith and Massie Koons. Levi and Paience were second cousins, the great-grandchildren of Peter Eller. They had two children while they lived in Illinois. In the spring of 1846, they moved with neighbors and relatives westward. In 1847, Levi found a waterfall on the Nishnabotna River, near Old Macedonia and filed a squatter's notice on the property, built a log cabin, then collected his wife and children who were staying in the Kanesville area. Salathiel was a new baby. Later the family moved to Wheeler's Grove. In 1886, Levi and Patience accompanied their youngest son, William, and his new wife, Alda Jane Osler, to Cheyenne Co., KS. After building a sod house on the claim, Levi and Patience returned to Iowa, but William stayed and raised a family. Levi, in his later years, planted and grafted peach and apple orchards wherever relatives allowed. He had a great skill with the grafting of trees and also developed a very smooth white potato which he called the Graybill Potato. He told tales about his adventures in the mission field in TN and about other early church hapenings. He was much loved by the youngsters in 'Old Brushhollow', who looked forward with relish to his visits..."
BIRTH:
1. Per Nauvoo Temple marriage sealing record which states: Patience Smith, b. 25 Nov 1825 at Newcastle, Henry, Indiana.
2. Per burial citation below: 26 Nov 1825.
3. 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. 110-111: "Patience Smith, b. Nov 1825 at Henry Co, IN and d. 14 Aug 1895 at Macedonia, IA." Note: the Graybill boys and the Smith girls were third cousins - the Graybills' grandmother was Catherine Eller and the Smiths' grandmother was Mary Eller."
MARRIAGE:
1. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 90-91: "Joseph Levi Graybill, b. 12 Mar 1818, Jackson Co., OH; m. 3rd cousin Patience Smith. Levi and Patience settled Wheeler's Grove with George Graybill and his wife Mary Smith, sister to Patience."
DEATH:
1. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 110-111: "Patience Smith, b. Nov 1825 at Henry Co, IN and d. 14 Aug 1895 at Macedonia, IA."
BURIAL:
1. Picture of tombstone on website for "Mormon Cemetery" located in Grove Township of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail.: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm> It reads: "Patience Graybill, Born Nov. 26, 1825. Died Aug. 14, 1895." Children of Sidney and Patience E. (Smith) Graybill also listed in same cemetery per listing cited below are:
"Leroy Pitt, 4 Sep 1877 - 16 May 1879"
"LeGrande Pitt, 4 Sep 1877 - 15 Apr 1881"
"Sarah A. Pitt, 14 Nov 1879 - 13 Apr 1881"
2. This individual listed with her husband in this 11 Nov 2002 website <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm?sourceid=00319368866824358798>: "Mormon Cemetery. Located in Grove Township [Pottawattamie County, Iowa], four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail. It has been called the Mormon cemetery and the LDS cemetery because it is on the Mormon Trail and many of the people buried there belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church was organized in 1863. Original members were John Smith and wife, Sarah; E.W. Knapp and wife, Melissa; A.J. Fields and wife, Sarah; James Otto and wife, Mehitable; Joseph Levi Graybill and wife, Patience; John Winegar and wife, Elizabeth; Joseph Smith and wife, Rachel and Stephen Smith. [Taken from the 1882 Pottawattamie Co. History by Baskin.] Many of these members are buried here. [In later years members of the Re-organized Latter Day Saints were buried here.] The oldest burial is that of Peter Frain, 12 Oct 1861, whose stone is still visible." [Note: most of the people mentioned were RLDS by 1863.]
3. Copy of complete printed cemetery listing from FHL book 977.771 V3e, vol. 1, Bk. 3-5 in hard file 90 with John Peter Graybill.
4. 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."
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Per Ancestral File 4.19 (28 May 2001).
2. Online Ordinance Index 1.02.
3. Mentioned in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140.
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. 98, 149. James thought Levi and Patience were buried in different cemeteries which is not the case.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1825 - 1895 (69 years)