Individual Notes

Note for: Jacob Stoker Welker, 8 Jan 1829 - 28 Apr 1911 Index

Individual Note:
     History of Jacob Stoker Welker
     Written by his great grand daughter Florence Nedra Welker Davis

        My great grandfather Jacob Stoker Welker was born in Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio the 8th of January 1829 to James and Elizabeth Stoker Welker. Jacob's middle name was his mother's surname. He was their fifth child.
        His father James was born 19 August 1803 in Rowan County, North Carolina, to Adam and Sarah Welker. His mother Elizabeth Stoker was born to Michael Stoker and Catherine Martha Eller, 23 February 1800 in Ashe County, North Carolina.
        Jacob Stoker Welker had the following brothers and sisters. David was born 2 July 1823, Henry County, Indiana. James Wilbern born 17 January1825, Jackson Co, Ohio. John born16 March 1826, Jackson Co. Ohio. Mary Catherine born 12 January 1832, Meridian, Jackson, Ohio. Susie born 1834,Jackson Co., Ohio. Rebecca born 21 July 1835, Willard, Huron, Indiana. Adam born 19 February 1841, Adams, Adams, Illinois.
        My great grandfather married Harriet Angeline Lish in February of1855. She was born 25 July 1839, in Greenwood, Marquette, Michigan to Joseph Lyons Lish and Harriet Ann Tripp. Jacob Stoker Welker and his wife Harriet Angeline came to Salt Lake City, Utah by wagon train in 1855 and were asked to settle at Willard, Box Elder, Utah.
        A son Jacob Jr. was born to them in Willard, 27 May 1856.While living in Willard, great grand father farmed and also ran a printing shop. He owned his own printing press and supplies. His brother Wilbern and two wives also lived in Willard. They came with the Isaac Stewart Company in 1853. Others of the Welker family came to Utah. Some settled in Utah, Idaho and Arizona.
        Jacob and Wilbern's mother, Elizabeth Stoker Welker also came west but with which wagon train or family members we do not know. Her husband James had died August of 1845 in Adams, Adams, Illinois, leaving greatgreat grandmother a widow at age forty five.
        Jacob and Harriet's first child Jacob Jr. died 1 May 1860 at four years of age. The following other children were born to them in Willard while they were struggling to build their home, farm and business and raise their children. Harriet Ann born 3 December 1857, Charles Wesley born 4 May 1859,Joseph Lyons born 9 February 1861, John Quincy born 10 September 1862,mygrandfather, and Louisa Mahla born 4 July 1864.
        Great grandpa and grandma moved sometime between 1864 and 1866 to Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho to help settle that part of the country when church members were asked to go.
        Jacob made his home on Worm Creek in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains. They had to start over again with a log cabin with dirt floor and roof. With a lot of hard work he and grandma Harriet had a good farm nd beautiful garden and orchard. He raised honeybees, cows, horses, chickens and pigs. The stables were under and overhang of a hill almost like a cave, near the Worm Creek gravel pit. They had a springhouse where they kept their butter, milk and cream cool.
        Great grandfather built a large home which was like two separate houses each with a number of rooms. The two sections were connected by a walkway or what we would call a breezeway with a shingled roof over it.
        While living at Worm Creek the following children were born to them. Their place of birth being given as Bloomington as it was the nearest town to them. Arlena Emmeline born 6 April 1866. Myron James born 1870. Amelia June born 19 April 1871. Eliza Augusta born 6 January 1873. Alvia or Alvis Alexander born 15 August 1874. Rachel Melvina born 19 November 1876.Alzeda Angeline born 9 September 1878. This made thirteen children that were born to this union.
       Jacob still continued to run his printing business from his home. My father remembers his grandfather showing him the dyes and the working of the press when he would go there to visit. He would also take him to the orchard to give him fruit when it was ripe.
       Great grandfather played the violin and also liked to raise flowers, especially huge beautiful hollyhocks. He was a tall, large man with a white beard. He was very sedate and was always dressed up, even to do his farm work. He never wore the homespuns or overalls like the other men when they were working at their chores.
        Great grandmother was Irish, short and light complected, with blue eyes. She was also very exacting in everything she did. She was a good cook and homemaker. Always keeping the cookie jar full.
        Wood was the only fuel for the stoves as it was a long ways to get coal so a good supply always had to be brought down from the mountains. At night the coyotes would sing their chorus on the hills above the house.
        Great grandfather Jacob had a stroke in later years and was forced to spend most of his time in a straight wooden armchair. He passed away at the age of eighty-two. The 28 April 1911 at Bloomington, Idaho, he also was laid to rest in the city cemetery.
        Great grandma Harriet Angeline died the 7 October 1914 at the age of seventy-five at Bloomington. She was also buried in the Bloomington Cemetery.