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I came across this many years ago, and was thrilled with all the information it gave. I lost track of it for many years and then found it again, and this time what interested me was what was left out. I don't think that Papa Charles told any lies, but unpleasantnesses were not mentioned. That leaves me wondering what unpleasantnesses were left out that I don't know about. But I like to imagine Papa Charles - always colorful - telling his family story to a willing listener.
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CHARLES FREDERICK STOKEY, A.M. – From the most reliable information obtainable it appears that the original ancestors of the Stokey family were of Anglo-Saxon blood, but many centuries ago some of them went to Switzerland, in which country the name, with different spellings, has been familiar to the present day. Prof. Stokey’s paternal great-grandfather, Henry Stokey, was a native of Switzerland, and, when a young man, changed his residence to France. His son Frederick, with his family, including his son Charles, came to the United States in 1827, locating for a while in New Jersey. He was a skilled mechanic, working at various places in this country, finally locating at Syracuse, New York, where his death occurred a number of years ago. His wife, Susan (LeClair) Stokey, survived him some years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fercist, in Wood county, Ohio, aged about ninety years.
Charles Stokey was born in the department of the Doubs, France, about six miles from the Swiss border, in the year 1811. With the exception of private instruction he had comparatively few educational advantages, notwithstanding which he early became proficient in German and French, besides acquiring by private reading a wide general knowledge. Under his father’s instruction he became a skilled artisan, and the two worked together in their native country until the family immigrated to the United States, Charles being sixteen years old at the time. For some time after coming to this country Charles Stokey worked in an establishment in New York city where surgeon’s instruments were manufactured, and while there met Mr. Hassler, superintendent of the coast survey, by whom he was employed to go to Washington City and undertake, under Joseph Saxton, uncle of Joseph S. Saxton, of Canton, the work of making a full set of standard weights and measures to be used throughout the United States, a task requiring great skill and the utmost scientific accuracy. Mr. Stokey was well fitted to do this work, and in due time the set for the general government was in readiness, after which he was required to make a similar set for each state in the Union. These standards of weight and measure may be seen today at the different state capitals, the ones at the national capital being kept securely locked in a certain room of the treasury department. The measures are made of brass and, like everything else in the possession of the government, are kept in the best possible condition, being so brilliantly polished that the slightest touch of the finger will leave a tarnish upon the bright surface. During the Civil war Prof. Stokey was stationed near Washington city, and desiring to see these specimens of his father’s handiwork, he visited the patent office where they were then kept. Later, in 1876 in the presence of professors and students of Mt. Union College, he was permitted to lay his hand upon the bright bushel measure. No sooner had he done this than the custodian began rubbing the spot touched with a piece of chamois skin, until its original brilliancy was restored. Mr. Stokey always considered these standard weights and measures his masterpieces of workmanship, as they are mechanically as perfect and scientifically as accurate as human skill could make them. Charles Stokey spent four years of close hard work on these devices, and resided in the national capital from 1837 to 1841. In the latter year he abandoned mechanical pursuits and moved to the woods of Wayne county, Ohio, where he cleared and developed a farm, on which he lived for a period of about twenty-one years. Disposing of his farm in 1862, he came to Canton, and for some time thereafter worked for Ephraim Ball & Company, of this city, continuing in their employ until failing health obliged him to retire from active life. He died in the year 1872, deeply lamented by all who knew him. Mr. Stokey was married at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837, to Miss Mary Eicher, who as born in France in the year 1813. She accompanied her parents to the United States in 1828, and died at Canton in 1891. Originally Charles Stokey was a Huguenot in his religion, but after coming to Canton united with the Methodist Episcopal church, to the teachings of which he continued faithful to the end of his days. Mrs. Stokey was also a member of the church to which her husband belonged, and like him exemplified her faith by a life singularly upright and pure.
Charles Frederick Stokey was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 20, 1845. At the proper age he entered the district schools of his native place and there pursued his studies until his parents moved to Stark county, when he became a pupil in the Canton schools. After spending two years in the city high school he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in due time completed the prescribed course of that institution, graduating in the year 1872. Meantime, in 1867, Prof. Stokey began teaching in the public schools of Stark county and after finishing his collegiate course taught one year in the state of Pennsylvania. His next educational work was in a military school at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1874 he was elected principal of the high school at East Liverpool, Ohio. Severing his connection with the schools of that city, Prof. Stokey accepted the chair of modern languages (French and German) in Mt. Union College, and after holding the position two years he came to Canton in 1877 to take charge of the special department of the public schools. While here he was elected superintendent of schools at Chagrin Falls, where he served one year. While at Chagrin Falls he was elected teacher of German in the Canton schools, where he served three years, when he was transferred back to the special school, then to the high school, as assistant, and finally he was made principal of the Crystal Park schools.
Possessing marked ability as a teacher and manager of schools, an indefatigable worker and thoroughly in love with his profession, it follows as a natural sequence that Prof. Stokey should become an important factor not only in connection with the educational work of his prescribed province, but in a field far transcending local limitations. His distinctive intellectuality and high attainments give him prestige among the leading educators of Canton and Stark county, and his efficiency is shown in a most pronounced way by his work since becoming identified with the city school system. The Professor is a member of the Stark County Teachers’ Institute and the author of the present constitution of that body. He has been a potential factor in the deliberations of this and other educational assemblies, taking a leading part in their public discussions and frequently addressing his fellow teachers or reading before them carefully prepared papers noted for scholarship and erudition. In addition to his professional duties Professor Stokey is now employed by the national weather bureau as special rain fall and the corn and wheat region observer. He also has a military record, having served during the last year of the Civil war, in the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, which was stationed during the greater part of that time in the Shenandoah valley and then in Washington, D. C. He discharged his duties as a brave and faithful soldier, but did not experience any very trying service, owing to the lateness of his enlistment. He had enlisted in 1862, under Lieut. Thaddeus K. Cock, of the Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. Muldenberg, of the Thirteenth United States Army, refused to muster him into service, because he was only seventeen.
In his fraternal relations Prof. Stokey is identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Grand Army of the Republic, having served five years as quartermaster of McKinley Post No. 25 and two years as adjutant. Politically he is an unswerving supporter of the Republican party, and as such has wielded a strong influence in its behalf, although he is by no means narrow or intolerant in his views. Personally he is a most companionable gentleman, a favority in social circles and courteous in his demeanor to all with whom he comes in contact. His long residence in Canton has made him well acquainted with the people of the city and county, and wherever known hs is honored for his inflexible integrity in thought, word and deed.
On the 23rd day of December, 1874, in the city of Pittsburg, was solemnized the marriage of Prof. Stokey and Miss Margaret Gracey Provines, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Jane (Gracey) Provines, both of Scotch-Irish descent. This union has resulted in the birth of five children, the oldest of whom is William Provines, first lieutenant in the engineer corps of the United States army, stationed at Washington, D. C. He was graduated from West Point in 1900, and is a young man of exceptional abilities, with a bright and promising future before him. Alma Gracey, the second in order of birth, is a student at Oberlin College; Fred Eicher is a machinist in the employ of the Hampden Watch Works. Laura Euphemia, who is still a member of the home circle, attended the Deaconess School in Washington, D. C., and is now a nurse in the Aultman hospital in this city. Eva Christine, the youngest of the family, is a senior in the Canton high school, with a fine record as a student.
Charles Stokey was born in the department of the Doubs, France, about six miles from the Swiss border, in the year 1811. With the exception of private instruction he had comparatively few educational advantages, notwithstanding which he early became proficient in German and French, besides acquiring by private reading a wide general knowledge. Under his father’s instruction he became a skilled artisan, and the two worked together in their native country until the family immigrated to the United States, Charles being sixteen years old at the time. For some time after coming to this country Charles Stokey worked in an establishment in New York city where surgeon’s instruments were manufactured, and while there met Mr. Hassler, superintendent of the coast survey, by whom he was employed to go to Washington City and undertake, under Joseph Saxton, uncle of Joseph S. Saxton, of Canton, the work of making a full set of standard weights and measures to be used throughout the United States, a task requiring great skill and the utmost scientific accuracy. Mr. Stokey was well fitted to do this work, and in due time the set for the general government was in readiness, after which he was required to make a similar set for each state in the Union. These standards of weight and measure may be seen today at the different state capitals, the ones at the national capital being kept securely locked in a certain room of the treasury department. The measures are made of brass and, like everything else in the possession of the government, are kept in the best possible condition, being so brilliantly polished that the slightest touch of the finger will leave a tarnish upon the bright surface. During the Civil war Prof. Stokey was stationed near Washington city, and desiring to see these specimens of his father’s handiwork, he visited the patent office where they were then kept. Later, in 1876 in the presence of professors and students of Mt. Union College, he was permitted to lay his hand upon the bright bushel measure. No sooner had he done this than the custodian began rubbing the spot touched with a piece of chamois skin, until its original brilliancy was restored. Mr. Stokey always considered these standard weights and measures his masterpieces of workmanship, as they are mechanically as perfect and scientifically as accurate as human skill could make them. Charles Stokey spent four years of close hard work on these devices, and resided in the national capital from 1837 to 1841. In the latter year he abandoned mechanical pursuits and moved to the woods of Wayne county, Ohio, where he cleared and developed a farm, on which he lived for a period of about twenty-one years. Disposing of his farm in 1862, he came to Canton, and for some time thereafter worked for Ephraim Ball & Company, of this city, continuing in their employ until failing health obliged him to retire from active life. He died in the year 1872, deeply lamented by all who knew him. Mr. Stokey was married at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837, to Miss Mary Eicher, who as born in France in the year 1813. She accompanied her parents to the United States in 1828, and died at Canton in 1891. Originally Charles Stokey was a Huguenot in his religion, but after coming to Canton united with the Methodist Episcopal church, to the teachings of which he continued faithful to the end of his days. Mrs. Stokey was also a member of the church to which her husband belonged, and like him exemplified her faith by a life singularly upright and pure.
Charles Frederick Stokey was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 20, 1845. At the proper age he entered the district schools of his native place and there pursued his studies until his parents moved to Stark county, when he became a pupil in the Canton schools. After spending two years in the city high school he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in due time completed the prescribed course of that institution, graduating in the year 1872. Meantime, in 1867, Prof. Stokey began teaching in the public schools of Stark county and after finishing his collegiate course taught one year in the state of Pennsylvania. His next educational work was in a military school at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1874 he was elected principal of the high school at East Liverpool, Ohio. Severing his connection with the schools of that city, Prof. Stokey accepted the chair of modern languages (French and German) in Mt. Union College, and after holding the position two years he came to Canton in 1877 to take charge of the special department of the public schools. While here he was elected superintendent of schools at Chagrin Falls, where he served one year. While at Chagrin Falls he was elected teacher of German in the Canton schools, where he served three years, when he was transferred back to the special school, then to the high school, as assistant, and finally he was made principal of the Crystal Park schools.
Possessing marked ability as a teacher and manager of schools, an indefatigable worker and thoroughly in love with his profession, it follows as a natural sequence that Prof. Stokey should become an important factor not only in connection with the educational work of his prescribed province, but in a field far transcending local limitations. His distinctive intellectuality and high attainments give him prestige among the leading educators of Canton and Stark county, and his efficiency is shown in a most pronounced way by his work since becoming identified with the city school system. The Professor is a member of the Stark County Teachers’ Institute and the author of the present constitution of that body. He has been a potential factor in the deliberations of this and other educational assemblies, taking a leading part in their public discussions and frequently addressing his fellow teachers or reading before them carefully prepared papers noted for scholarship and erudition. In addition to his professional duties Professor Stokey is now employed by the national weather bureau as special rain fall and the corn and wheat region observer. He also has a military record, having served during the last year of the Civil war, in the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, which was stationed during the greater part of that time in the Shenandoah valley and then in Washington, D. C. He discharged his duties as a brave and faithful soldier, but did not experience any very trying service, owing to the lateness of his enlistment. He had enlisted in 1862, under Lieut. Thaddeus K. Cock, of the Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. Muldenberg, of the Thirteenth United States Army, refused to muster him into service, because he was only seventeen.
In his fraternal relations Prof. Stokey is identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Grand Army of the Republic, having served five years as quartermaster of McKinley Post No. 25 and two years as adjutant. Politically he is an unswerving supporter of the Republican party, and as such has wielded a strong influence in its behalf, although he is by no means narrow or intolerant in his views. Personally he is a most companionable gentleman, a favority in social circles and courteous in his demeanor to all with whom he comes in contact. His long residence in Canton has made him well acquainted with the people of the city and county, and wherever known hs is honored for his inflexible integrity in thought, word and deed.
On the 23rd day of December, 1874, in the city of Pittsburg, was solemnized the marriage of Prof. Stokey and Miss Margaret Gracey Provines, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Jane (Gracey) Provines, both of Scotch-Irish descent. This union has resulted in the birth of five children, the oldest of whom is William Provines, first lieutenant in the engineer corps of the United States army, stationed at Washington, D. C. He was graduated from West Point in 1900, and is a young man of exceptional abilities, with a bright and promising future before him. Alma Gracey, the second in order of birth, is a student at Oberlin College; Fred Eicher is a machinist in the employ of the Hampden Watch Works. Laura Euphemia, who is still a member of the home circle, attended the Deaconess School in Washington, D. C., and is now a nurse in the Aultman hospital in this city. Eva Christine, the youngest of the family, is a senior in the Canton high school, with a fine record as a student.
audio---images---comment---transcript---~NOTES~---links---site navigation
1.
The book was published in 1904, but the information must have been collected in 1903, before Will was sent to the Philippines, and when Eva was still in high school.
Here is the link for the book:
archive.org/details/oldlandmarksofca00dann/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater
And here's an index of the names in the book:
www.starklibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/126/2023/01/DOCUMENT-GENEALOGY-INDEX-Index-to-Old-Landmarks-of-Canton-and-Stark-County-Ohio.pdf
2.
From the most reliable information obtainable it appears that the original ancestors of the Stokey family were of Anglo-Saxon blood, but many centuries ago some of them went to Switzerland, in which country the name, with different spellings, has been familiar to the present day.
I think blood may sort of matter to John Danner, the editor.
As for the story that the family was originally in England, I have heard that story. Probably both what I heard and what is here originally came from Papa Charles, so there's only one source for the information.
I was told that the name in Switzerland and France was Stocheich.
3.
Prof. Stokey’s paternal great-grandfather, Henry Stokey, was a native of Switzerland, and, when a young man, changed his residence to France. His son Frederick, with his family, including his son Charles, came to the United States in 1827, locating for a while in New Jersey.
I'm grateful to John Danner for collecting and publishing this information, but golly, he doesn't worry much about about making everything clear! I suppose with so much to write (this entry starts on page 866), maybe he didn't have time for de-obfuscation. We have:
4.
He was a skilled mechanic, working at various places in this country, finally locating at Syracuse, New York, where his death occurred a number of years ago. His wife, Susan (LeClair) Stokey, survived him some years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fercist, in Wood county, Ohio, aged about ninety years.
It's Frederick (Papa Charles's grandfather) who is the skilled mechanic in question, and whose wife was Susan (LeClair) Stokey - also known as Suzanne.
5.
Charles Stokey was born in the department of the Doubs, France, about six miles from the Swiss border, in the year 1811.
This is Papa Charles's father, whom I noted as the third generation. I believe his full name was Pierre Charles Stokey.
6.
For some time after coming to this country Charles Stokey worked in an establishment in New York city where surgeon’s instruments were manufactured, and while there met Mr. Hassler, superintendent of the coast survey, by whom he was employed to go to Washington City and undertake, under Joseph Saxton, uncle of Joseph S. Saxton, of Canton, the work of making a full set of standard weights and measures to be used throughout the United States, a task requiring great skill and the utmost scientific accuracy.
I wonder if the two Joseph Saxtons were related to Ida Saxton McKinley, the wife of President William McKinley. Ida's brother George Saxton was murdered in Canton in 1898, and Papa Charles testified in the ensuing murder trial:
1899-04-19 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE EXCERPT FEATURING PAPA CHARLES
7.
Charles Stokey spent four years of close hard work on these devices, and resided in the national capital from 1837 to 1841. In the latter year he abandoned mechanical pursuits and moved to the woods of Wayne county, Ohio, where he cleared and developed a farm, on which he lived for a period of about twenty-one years. Disposing of his farm in 1862, he came to Canton, and for some time thereafter worked for Ephraim Ball & Company, of this city, continuing in their employ until failing health obliged him to retire from active life.
This is a weird story. The family claim is that Charles Stokey did all the work, and that Joseph Saxton got all the credit, but Charles doesn't seem to have held a grudge, given that he moved to Canton, where Joseph S. Saxton was. And then he abandoned mechanical pursuits for farming. Why? It seems to me that the mechanical pursuits would be much more lucrative, and Charles had a large family to support. My first thought is that maybe his sight and/or his health had been affected by the four years of close, hard work, but you don't go into farming if you don't have the physical stamina for it, and Charles stuck at it for 20 years, clearing and developing the farm. Conceivably he never really wanted to do the mechanical stuff anyway, but only got into it because his father, Frederick, insisted. Whatever the story, he disposed of the farm during the Civil War and went to work for Ephraim Ball & Company. Ephraim Ball was an inventor. Among other things, he invented a stove, a plow, and a harvester. So Charles's mechanical skills would have been helpful there.
8.
He died in the year 1872, deeply lamented by all who knew him.
I'm sure it's pure coincidence that both Charles Stokey and Ephraim Ball died in 1872. I really doubt that that there was a catastrophic explosion, visible for miles around and creating a mammoth crater, involving one Ephraim Ball & Company's inventions, causing the deaths of Charles and Ephraim. That's pure daydreaming on my part. But Papa Charles omitted all mentions of unpleasantness in his family story, so who knows?
9.
Mr. Stokey was married at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837, to Miss Mary Eicher, who as born in France in the year 1813.
Mary Eicher was also called Marie Eicher. Aunt Eva, her granddaughter, claimed to pronounce fatigué in the French way, having learned it from her French grandmother. What Aunt Eva said, if I remember correctly, was fatty-gue, not fatty-gay, but I suppose the important part was giving it three syllables.
10.
Originally Charles Stokey was a Huguenot in his religion, but after coming to Canton united with the Methodist Episcopal church, to the teachings of which he continued faithful to the end of his days. Mrs. Stokey was also a member of the church to which her husband belonged, and like him exemplified her faith by a life singularly upright and pure.
AG mentioned that she had Marie Eicher's Bible. I figure it came to AG via Alma, not Fred.
The Stokeys came to America to escape the religious persecution of Huguenots. The story passed down was that, in France, they would sprinkle broken glass on the floor before going to bed at night, so that if soldiers came to get them, the boots on the broken glass would make noise and wake my ancestors up. I just hope my ancestors kept a bedpan within easy reach so they didn't have to get out of bed to go pee.
But note that there's no mention of religious persecution in the story that Papa Charles told the researcher. And then the Stokeys became Methodist.
11.
Charles Frederick Stokey was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 20, 1845. At the proper age he entered the district schools of his native place and there pursued his studies until his parents moved to Stark county, when he became a pupil in the Canton schools. After spending two years in the city high school he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in due time completed the prescribed course of that institution, graduating in the year 1872. Meantime, in 1867, Prof. Stokey began teaching in the public schools of Stark county and after finishing his collegiate course taught one year in the state of Pennsylvania. His next educational work was in a military school at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1874 he was elected principal of the high school at East Liverpool, Ohio. Severing his connection with the schools of that city, Prof. Stokey accepted the chair of modern languages (French and German) in Mt. Union College, and after holding the position two years he came to Canton in 1877 to take charge of the special department of the public schools. While here he was elected superintendent of schools at Chagrin Falls, where he served one year. While at Chagrin Falls he was elected teacher of German in the Canton schools, where he served three years, when he was transferred back to the special school, then to the high school, as assistant, and finally he was made principal of the Crystal Park schools.
Golly what a jumble. Sorting it out and adding in some stuff that's later in the article, we've got:
12.
I don't know what the special department of the Canton public schools was that Papa Charles was hired to head in 1877. Papa Charles called it ungraded - see:
1877-11-01 NEWSPAPER ITEM FEATURING PAPA CHARLES
13.
On the 23rd day of December, 1874, in the city of Pittsburg, was solemnized the marriage of Prof. Stokey and Miss Margaret Gracey Provines, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Jane (Gracey) Provines, both of Scotch-Irish descent.
Again with the bloodlines. And no mention of the fact that Papa Charles and Mama Margaret are now divorced, though it was front page news in the local newspaper.
14.
Fred Eicher is a machinist in the employ of the Hampden Watch Works.
This was the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company. No mention of the fact that Fred was helping to support his family with his pay from the watch factory, because Papa Charles was not helping.
15.
The Bidwells (friends of the Stokeys) are on pages 759-760 of this book. I've got the Bidwells in the Non-family page for Ohio folks.
The book was published in 1904, but the information must have been collected in 1903, before Will was sent to the Philippines, and when Eva was still in high school.
Here is the link for the book:
archive.org/details/oldlandmarksofca00dann/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater
And here's an index of the names in the book:
www.starklibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/126/2023/01/DOCUMENT-GENEALOGY-INDEX-Index-to-Old-Landmarks-of-Canton-and-Stark-County-Ohio.pdf
2.
From the most reliable information obtainable it appears that the original ancestors of the Stokey family were of Anglo-Saxon blood, but many centuries ago some of them went to Switzerland, in which country the name, with different spellings, has been familiar to the present day.
I think blood may sort of matter to John Danner, the editor.
As for the story that the family was originally in England, I have heard that story. Probably both what I heard and what is here originally came from Papa Charles, so there's only one source for the information.
I was told that the name in Switzerland and France was Stocheich.
3.
Prof. Stokey’s paternal great-grandfather, Henry Stokey, was a native of Switzerland, and, when a young man, changed his residence to France. His son Frederick, with his family, including his son Charles, came to the United States in 1827, locating for a while in New Jersey.
I'm grateful to John Danner for collecting and publishing this information, but golly, he doesn't worry much about about making everything clear! I suppose with so much to write (this entry starts on page 866), maybe he didn't have time for de-obfuscation. We have:
- First generation: Henry Stokey - started in Switzerland, moved to France
- Second generation: Frederick Stokey - started in Switzerland, came to the US in 1827
- Third generation: Charles Stokey - started in Switzerland, came to US with Frederick and the rest of the family in 1827
- Fourth generation: Charles Frederick Stokey (Papa Charles) - born in the US
4.
He was a skilled mechanic, working at various places in this country, finally locating at Syracuse, New York, where his death occurred a number of years ago. His wife, Susan (LeClair) Stokey, survived him some years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fercist, in Wood county, Ohio, aged about ninety years.
It's Frederick (Papa Charles's grandfather) who is the skilled mechanic in question, and whose wife was Susan (LeClair) Stokey - also known as Suzanne.
5.
Charles Stokey was born in the department of the Doubs, France, about six miles from the Swiss border, in the year 1811.
This is Papa Charles's father, whom I noted as the third generation. I believe his full name was Pierre Charles Stokey.
6.
For some time after coming to this country Charles Stokey worked in an establishment in New York city where surgeon’s instruments were manufactured, and while there met Mr. Hassler, superintendent of the coast survey, by whom he was employed to go to Washington City and undertake, under Joseph Saxton, uncle of Joseph S. Saxton, of Canton, the work of making a full set of standard weights and measures to be used throughout the United States, a task requiring great skill and the utmost scientific accuracy.
I wonder if the two Joseph Saxtons were related to Ida Saxton McKinley, the wife of President William McKinley. Ida's brother George Saxton was murdered in Canton in 1898, and Papa Charles testified in the ensuing murder trial:
1899-04-19 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE EXCERPT FEATURING PAPA CHARLES
7.
Charles Stokey spent four years of close hard work on these devices, and resided in the national capital from 1837 to 1841. In the latter year he abandoned mechanical pursuits and moved to the woods of Wayne county, Ohio, where he cleared and developed a farm, on which he lived for a period of about twenty-one years. Disposing of his farm in 1862, he came to Canton, and for some time thereafter worked for Ephraim Ball & Company, of this city, continuing in their employ until failing health obliged him to retire from active life.
This is a weird story. The family claim is that Charles Stokey did all the work, and that Joseph Saxton got all the credit, but Charles doesn't seem to have held a grudge, given that he moved to Canton, where Joseph S. Saxton was. And then he abandoned mechanical pursuits for farming. Why? It seems to me that the mechanical pursuits would be much more lucrative, and Charles had a large family to support. My first thought is that maybe his sight and/or his health had been affected by the four years of close, hard work, but you don't go into farming if you don't have the physical stamina for it, and Charles stuck at it for 20 years, clearing and developing the farm. Conceivably he never really wanted to do the mechanical stuff anyway, but only got into it because his father, Frederick, insisted. Whatever the story, he disposed of the farm during the Civil War and went to work for Ephraim Ball & Company. Ephraim Ball was an inventor. Among other things, he invented a stove, a plow, and a harvester. So Charles's mechanical skills would have been helpful there.
8.
He died in the year 1872, deeply lamented by all who knew him.
I'm sure it's pure coincidence that both Charles Stokey and Ephraim Ball died in 1872. I really doubt that that there was a catastrophic explosion, visible for miles around and creating a mammoth crater, involving one Ephraim Ball & Company's inventions, causing the deaths of Charles and Ephraim. That's pure daydreaming on my part. But Papa Charles omitted all mentions of unpleasantness in his family story, so who knows?
9.
Mr. Stokey was married at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837, to Miss Mary Eicher, who as born in France in the year 1813.
Mary Eicher was also called Marie Eicher. Aunt Eva, her granddaughter, claimed to pronounce fatigué in the French way, having learned it from her French grandmother. What Aunt Eva said, if I remember correctly, was fatty-gue, not fatty-gay, but I suppose the important part was giving it three syllables.
10.
Originally Charles Stokey was a Huguenot in his religion, but after coming to Canton united with the Methodist Episcopal church, to the teachings of which he continued faithful to the end of his days. Mrs. Stokey was also a member of the church to which her husband belonged, and like him exemplified her faith by a life singularly upright and pure.
AG mentioned that she had Marie Eicher's Bible. I figure it came to AG via Alma, not Fred.
The Stokeys came to America to escape the religious persecution of Huguenots. The story passed down was that, in France, they would sprinkle broken glass on the floor before going to bed at night, so that if soldiers came to get them, the boots on the broken glass would make noise and wake my ancestors up. I just hope my ancestors kept a bedpan within easy reach so they didn't have to get out of bed to go pee.
But note that there's no mention of religious persecution in the story that Papa Charles told the researcher. And then the Stokeys became Methodist.
11.
Charles Frederick Stokey was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 20, 1845. At the proper age he entered the district schools of his native place and there pursued his studies until his parents moved to Stark county, when he became a pupil in the Canton schools. After spending two years in the city high school he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in due time completed the prescribed course of that institution, graduating in the year 1872. Meantime, in 1867, Prof. Stokey began teaching in the public schools of Stark county and after finishing his collegiate course taught one year in the state of Pennsylvania. His next educational work was in a military school at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1874 he was elected principal of the high school at East Liverpool, Ohio. Severing his connection with the schools of that city, Prof. Stokey accepted the chair of modern languages (French and German) in Mt. Union College, and after holding the position two years he came to Canton in 1877 to take charge of the special department of the public schools. While here he was elected superintendent of schools at Chagrin Falls, where he served one year. While at Chagrin Falls he was elected teacher of German in the Canton schools, where he served three years, when he was transferred back to the special school, then to the high school, as assistant, and finally he was made principal of the Crystal Park schools.
Golly what a jumble. Sorting it out and adding in some stuff that's later in the article, we've got:
- 1845: Papa Charles is born. Attended schools in Wayne County.
- 1862: Age 17. Moves to Canton with his parents and siblings.
- 1862: Failed attempt to enlist in the army.
- 1862 to 1864? Two years in the Canton high school.
- 1865: Brief service in the army.
- 1867 to ??: Some teaching in Stark county.
- 1872: Graduation from Allegheny College. It sounds as though he didn't go straight through. Maybe there was some time at Allegheny before 1867, and then he left for a year to make more money for college.
- 1872-1873: A year of teaching in Pennsylvania. Perhaps this is when he met Mama Margaret.
- 1873-1874: A year of teaching at a military school in Poughkeepsie, NY. This might have been Riverview Military Academy.
- 1874-1875: Principal of the high school in East Liverpool, which is about 50 miles west of Canton.
- 1874 - December 23: Married Mama Margaret. A principal's salary should be enough to raise family on.
- 1875-1877: Chairman of the modern languages (French and German) department in Mount Union College, in Alliance, Ohio. Alliance is about 20 miles from Canton.
- 1877: Hired to head the special department of the public schools.
- Late 1870s, maybe? One year as superintendent of school in Chagrin Falls, 55 miles north of Canton.
- Late 1870s to early 1880s? German teacher in the Canton schools for 3 years
- Early 1880s? More time in the special school in Canton
- Mid 1880s? Assistant in the Canton highschool
- Late 1880s? Became principal of the Crystal Park schools. Crystal Park is an area in Canton.
12.
I don't know what the special department of the Canton public schools was that Papa Charles was hired to head in 1877. Papa Charles called it ungraded - see:
1877-11-01 NEWSPAPER ITEM FEATURING PAPA CHARLES
13.
On the 23rd day of December, 1874, in the city of Pittsburg, was solemnized the marriage of Prof. Stokey and Miss Margaret Gracey Provines, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Jane (Gracey) Provines, both of Scotch-Irish descent.
Again with the bloodlines. And no mention of the fact that Papa Charles and Mama Margaret are now divorced, though it was front page news in the local newspaper.
14.
Fred Eicher is a machinist in the employ of the Hampden Watch Works.
This was the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company. No mention of the fact that Fred was helping to support his family with his pay from the watch factory, because Papa Charles was not helping.
15.
The Bidwells (friends of the Stokeys) are on pages 759-760 of this book. I've got the Bidwells in the Non-family page for Ohio folks.
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