James Stoops

ingenweb Brookville Town Cemetery Listing (James Stoops Co H 52nd IN Civil War).

[*Findagrave contributor/Stoops descendant Lynn Stoops Chapel #47411618 submitted dob/place, dod/place and parent links for this memorial based on her family tree records showing a James Stoops with the military information shown on the marker photograph.]

"The following is a true sketch of the lives of James Stoops and his two families: Colonel Stoops, (as he was familiarly called) son of David Stoops and Abigail Stoops, his wife, was born in the state of Alabama, Dec. 16, 1813, and when a mere lad, came North with his father and family, settling for a short time on Dry Fork, a few miles southeast of Brookville, Indiana, thence on to the latter named place. On April 30th 1835 he was married to Sarah Stringer, who was born near Brookville, Indiana, Feb. 6, 1819, and died Feb. 12, 1854 in Wabash, Wabash Co., Ind. leaving Colonel Stoops with six living children. The Colonel was one of the most energetic, go ahead men at that day living in the White Water Valley. In polotics (sic) a Simon pure Democrat, and in all campaigns of this time was a hard worker for the candidate who stood upon the Democratic platform representing the issues as he himself saw it. In the year 1838 or 9, he constructed a dam across the West Fork of White Water, this being done that boats could continue their journey in the White Water Canal on to Cincinnati, Ohio. But in the early Summer of 1866, a railroad was laid down the towpath of said White Water Canal, then the canal ceased to be navigable, but furnished power to run mills. Colonel Stoops was engaged for a few years in the dry goods business at Brookville, leaving there in the year of 1848, and went to America, Wabash County, Ind., and ther entered into the dry goods business again, with a branch store at Kokomo, Ind. He met with many streaks of hard luck, and at one time was swindled out of a large sum of money by one, John M. Myers, who at one time was a partner in the above business. So in the year 1850 he moved to Wabash, Wabash County, and took charge of the 'Old Indiana House,' and there engaged in the hotel business for a short time, then moved to the 'Central House' of said Wabash, but meeting with no success, quit in 1853. When shortly afterward his wife died, he with five children, moved back to Brookville, destitute of worldly goods, but yet full of vim, he struggled on, and at the outbreak of the Civil War, in the year of 1861, when at the age of 48 years, he enlisted in Company H, 52nd Ind. Vol. Inf., and was badly wounded at Fort Donaldson in Feb. 1862. In the autumn of 1862, he returned to his home in Brookville, when in the early part of 1865 he was married again at Brookville, Ind. to Mrs. Ruth Searren, a widow with one child, a son. To this union were born three children, on son Arthur, and two girls, Mary and Cora. All are married and are doing well. July 27th 1875, Colonel James Stoops died, full of faith in the salvation of his soul, he having made that faith known at a protracted meeting going on in the Presbyterian Church of Brookville in 1858. Having then and there joined the church, holding on to that faith received, until the end came. He was buried in the Brookville Cemetey by the side of a son, John M. Stoops, died Feb. 9th 1870, at the age of 22 years, in Arcola, Illinois. Colonel Stoops by his first marriage had nine children - four boys and five girls, their names are: Martha Emaline, Mary Elizabeth, Margaretta, Richard Johnson, James Whitcom, Sarah, John Mortimar, Queen Victoria and Louis. Of these nine children only four lived to marry and have homes of their own. ...".

Martha Emaline Stoops b 3-21-1836 d 2-8-1909 md age 21 Milton E. Quick, son of Cyrus Quick; their six children were Vallandingham Quick, Charles Quick, William E. Quick, James C. Quick, Laura Quick, and Robert J. Quick.

Margaretta "Mag" Stoops b 1-17-1840 d 2-19-1908 md 12-1-1859 William Wilson, son of 'Uncle Charles' and 'Aunt Polly' Wilson; their seven children were Charles Wilson, James Wilson, Hattie Wilson, John S. Wilson, Fielding R. Wilson, Mary Olive Wilson and Sarah Alice Wilson.

Queen Victoria Stoops b 9-5-1850 d 3-17-1893 md 12-29-1870 Isaac W. Whitney, son of Asa Whitney; their three children were Jennie Whitney, Mattie A. Whitney and Clarence Whitney.

Richard Johnson Stoops b 4-30-1842 served as a private in Company K 101 Ind Vol Inf 2d Brigade 3d Div. 14th Army Corp, Dept of the Cumberland md first 12-25-1866 Nancy M. Ward md next 10-9-1907 Lucy A. Simpson; living in Lebanon, Oregon in 1909.

[Source "Genealogy of The Family of Col. James Stoops by Richard Johnson Stoops, Lebanon, Oregon September 1909" c/o Stoops genealogy vertical files Brookville Library.]