John Walter Stoker
 

JOHN WALTER STOKER, of Marion township, Boone county; Ind., is descended from revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather on the mother's side having served with distinction in that struggle; he also took part in the disastrous expedition which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Braddock. Tyre Stoker, the father of John W., was born February 26, 1818, near the city of Lexington, Ky., and when six years of age was brought by his mother, then a widow, to Boone county, Ind., where he grew to manhood. He was a true type of the skillful western hunter of the early times, and relied largely upon his trusty rifle for much of the provision with which his table was supplied. He married, July 23, 1840, Sinia Leatherman, and began farming for himself upon a tract of twenty acres, which he cleared and which was his home for a period of eighteen years. Previous to his marriage he learned the gunsmithing trade, in which he acquired great skill and proficiency, but did not work at it for any great length of time. His first start in life was when he purchased a two-wheeled cart and yoke of oxen, which small beginning proved the foundation of his subsequent success. He purchased real estate in Hendricks county, and later bought land in Boone, and at the time of his death was the possessor of a very comfortable competence. He died at the age of seventy-five, and his wife was called to her reward at the age of fifty-six; both were laid to rest in the old Mount Tabor cemetery. Mrs. Sinia Stoker was born April 20, 1825, in Indiana, was early left an orphan; and until her fifteenth year made her home in the family of Enoch and Nancy Davis. The following are the names of her children and dates of birth: John W., December 11, 1841; William J., July 14, 1843; Mary, August 20, 1845, died August 26; 1847; Sarah J., February 29, 1848; James N., October 12, 1849; Nancy, April 7, 1851; Benjamin L., January 22, 1853; Asenath, January 15, 1855; Christine, June 12, 1857; Frederick, April 14, 1861, died February 25, 1862; Nellie, November 5, 1864, and Narcissus, October 5, 1866. James W, Stoker was born December 11, 1841, in Boone county on the banks of Eel river, and until his twentieth year remained under the parental roof. He was educated in the common schools, and in November, 1862, entered the army as a member of company F, Fifty-fourth Indiana infantry, with which he served until 1864, his military experience, in the meantime, embracing considerable active service in the southwestern campaign, including the battle of Ball's Bluff, the operations around Vicksburg, and minor engagements. He suffered severely from a sun stroke, but was not otherwise injured during his period of enlistment. August 2, 1866, Mr. Stoker and Rebecca A. Trotter were made man and wife, the latter born October 4. 1845, daughter of James D. and Sarah J. (Harden) Trotter. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stoker has been blessed with thirteen children, namely: Sarah A., born October 27, 1867; Sirlia J., born April 12, 1869; Iva E.; July 2, 1870; Rebecca E., November 29; 1871, died July , 25, 1876; John T., July 3, 1873; Mary A, May 31, 1875; James F., October 31, 1877; Charles B., January 15, 1879; William B., January 14, 1880; Thomas A., March 8, 1881, died August 8, 1882; Emily C., October 27, 1885; Ollie C., December 5, 1886, and Martha A., March 5, 1888, died February 5, 1889. At the time of his marriage Mr. Stoker's financial condition was not the most promising, and, for sometime thereafter, he farmed for a part of the proceeds. From his wife's father he inherited a small piece of land, which he sold to advantage and invested the proceeds in the eighty-acre farm where he is now living and of which he has made a well cultivated and valuable place. He has met with some discouragement's in life, all of which he has succeeded in overcoming, and is now in very comfortable circumstances, financially being one of the well-to-do farmers of this community. He was one of the promoters of the present excellent gravel road system of Boone county, is a consistent church member and a democrat in politics.

Transcribed by: Chris Brown
Source: "A Portrait And Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," pp 494-499, published in 1895 by A. W. Bowen & CO. Chicago