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33 ELIZABETH STOAKS, born 1827 in Indiana, married 1849 John Stoaks, to whom three sons were born but only one is now living. James Stoaks, yard master, for Rock Island road at Valley Junction, Iowa. The old folks are retired farmers living at Hamilton, Illinois just opposite Keokuk, Iowa. Mrs. Stoaks died in 1908.
Illinois Marriage Records, 1851-1900
Name: STOKES, JOHN Spouse: TOMLINSON, ELIZABETH
Marriage Date: 1 Jun 1853 County: Adams State: IL
33 JAMES B. TOMLINSON,born 1833 in Indiana and in 1861 married Mary C. Rood by whom have been born four sons and six daughters. His wife was from New York state and well educated. She was a cousin to one of the earlier governors of Illinois, John Wood, the founder of Quincy, Ill. James B. was of a religious turn of mind from boyhood and naturally joined the Mormon church in which he had been raised. Their doctrines are so far as we can learn, the same as those of the Baptist church, requiring baptism by immersion. They believe in the book of Mormon which is claimed to be a revelation through Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, giving a history of a people living on this continent prior to the time of the Indians to whom Christ appeared and the people were afterward destroyed but left copper tablets giving their history and doctrines which were interpreted by Joseph Smith. James B. lived in Illinois until 1892 when he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. He has written us a very complete history of his life covering over 20 pages which would be too long to reproduce here. In none of his letters has he defended polygamy but seems to be a very devout Christian.
His family are all well educated and prosperous people and as he expresses it "a united and happy family." The children, who are away from home, have a habit or custom to be commended, and that is for each one of their mother's birthday to write her a birthday letter. We have had the pleasure of reading some of these letters which we are sorry we cannot reproduce here as models for others to follow, as they were such letters as would make any mother's heart glad to receive from her children on the anniversary of her birth. While we do not agree with the doctrines of the Mormon church, we give them the same rights we claim for ourselves that that is to believe as their conscience dictates. All this howling about ousting Senator Smoot is nonsense which attracts the attention of people away from greater wrongs being perpetrated in every community than Senator Smoot is charged with of which he has not been proven guilty. Because he is a member of the Mormon church is no more a crime or reason for ousting him than if he were a Methodist or a Catholic. No religious test can be made as a qualification for filling a United States office. Let us give our attention to the evils nearer home in our own state, county or town and when we have reached perfection we will be in a position to advise others. The Mormon problem is for the people of Utah to settle and they will settle it right.
Family Search Ancestral File
James Berry TOMLINSON Birth: 28 Dec 1833 Jamestown, New Lisband, In
Death: 15 Jun 1915 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut
Burial: 20 Jun 1915 Salt Lake City, , Ut
Parents:
Father: James TOMLINSON
Mother: Sarah BERRY
Marriage(s):
Spouse: Mary Carrie ROOD
Marriage: 22 Jan 1861 Quincy, Adams Co., Il
Mary Carrie ROOD Birth: 18 Feb 1839 Quincy, Adams, Il
Death: 12 Sep 1931 Salt Lake City, S-Lk, Ut Burial: 14 Sep 1931 Salt Lake City, S-Lk, Ut
Parents:
Father: Weller Draper ROOD
Mother: Laura Caroline Wood MOSHER