He is a son of Charles Stapley (1800-1886) and Sarah (Bryant) Stapley (1802-1879).

Married to Young Elizabeth Steele (1847-1938) on 21 Feb 1864 in Toquerville, Utah

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In 1838, the Stapley family left England for Australia and made their home near Sidney, Australia. This is where he was born. In 1853 all of their family (5 sons and 3 daughters and parents) were baptized in the LDS Church. In 1854, the Stapleys with about 70 other LDS, under the direction of William Hyde, chartered a sailing vessel, the Julia, and sailed for the United States and landed at what is now called San Pedro Harbor on June 2, 1854.

In 1857, President Brigham Young called for all LDS to move to Utah, for the reason that Johnston’s army was enroute to extermintate the Mormons. Thomas’s father sold out his interest and started for SLC with all of his family except 2 daughters who had married and was staying in California. The Stapley family joined the Starling Driggs ox team company. They arrived in Southern Utah, near Cedar City and were advised to remain there and make their home because the war had ended.

In November 1858 word was received from church authorities that they were to serve in the Dixie Mission and their assignment was to settle Toquerville, Utah. As the Stapley party arrived at the top of Black Hill, which overlooks a vast valley of red sandstone stretching southward, Sarah Bryant Stapley (Thomas’s mother) proclaimed, "Neither God nor the Devil will ever find us here."







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Utah Death Index, 1905-1951

Name: James Stapley
Death Date: 19 May 1920
State File Number: 1920002797
Gender: Male
Age: 81
County of Death: Washington
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1860 United States Federal Census

Name: Jas Stapley
Age in 1860: 22
Birth Year: abt 1838
Birthplace: Australia
Home in 1860: Tokerville, Washington, Utah Territory
Gender: Male
Post Office: Toker

Household Members: Name Age
Chas Stapley 60
Sarah Stapley 58
Thos Stapley 28
Jas Stapley 22
Elizth Stapley 13
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1900 United States Federal Census

Name: James Stapley
Home in 1900: Kannara, Iron, Utah
Age: 61 Birth Date: Nov 1838
Birthplace: Australia Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Immigration Year: 1859 [1857]
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth
Marriage Year: 1865
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 35
Residence : Kanarra, Cedar Precincts, Iron, Utah

Household Members: Name Age
James Stapley 61
Elizabeth Stapley 52
William Stapley 27
Mary E Stapley 22
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