YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
MRS. ELIZABETH J. STOKER
A venerable pioneer woman of Sutter County was the late Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stoker, who for about fifty-eight years resided within the confines of the county. Her birth occurred in Missouri, on June 29, 1826. She was the eldest daughter of E. J. Vincent, who in 1834 removed to Illinois, when she was eight years old. As a child of seven years, Mrs. Stoker witnessed the phenomenon known as the falling of the stars, which occurred in 1833 and was visible in Missouri. Her maternal grandfather, William Orr, was a minister, and had the honor of preaching the first Baptist sermon on Illinois soil. He served through the Black Hawk Wars, and was a strong type of the pioneer frontiersmen of those early days. He reached the age of ninety-nine years, nine months and four days, and to the last retained his faculties unimpaired. Mrs. Stoker had three brothers who were veterans in the Civil War.
The marriage of Miss Elizabeth Vincent united her with Benjamin F. Stoker, a native of Kentucky, reared near Lexington, where his father was a farmer. At the age of nineteen Benjamin Stoker located within a mile of Quincy, Adams County, Ill., where he engaged in general farming until 1855. He then came to California via Panama; but after one year in the mines, he returned to Illinois. In 1864 he made up an outfit and crossed the plains with his wife and eight children; and they arrived at Oroville on July 22, 1864. One year was spent at Grass Valley; and then the family removed to Sutter County, where Mr. Stoker purchased 240 acres of land. By his industry he built up a productive farm, devoted mostly to grain-raising. Mr. Stoker passed away on June 2, 1904, after an active career in which he was most successful; he was survived by his widow and by nine children, all of whom grew up and lived in Sutter County, where they became successful farmers. They were as follows: Isaac James, William Henry, Charles Thomas (deceased), Jesse Albert, Mrs. Nancy Todd, Mrs. Mary Zeigler, George S., Mrs. Millie Rodefer, and Mrs. Mintie Luther. Mrs. Stoker resided in the home built in 1873, and was in her ninety-eighth year when she passed away on July 8, 1923. She was proud of her nine children, and of the nineteen grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren who had been added to her family circle.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 416
GEORGE W. ONSTOTT
Endowed with energy and perseverance, George W. Onstott has won for himself the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens and through industry has become a successful landowner in Sutter County, his fine eighty-acre orchard adjoining Yuba City on the northwest. On this ranch he was born on July 9, 1876, a son of John P. and Lizzie (Brown) Onstott. George W. Onstott attended grammar school at Yuba City and then entered business college in Marysville. As soon as he was old enough, he became associated with his father in the nursery and vineyard business. In time he became the owner of 103 acres, first improved to vineyard and then, after many years, replanted to peaches, apricots and plums. He sold twenty-three acres, retaining eighty acres of the place, which is now a splendid orchard property, with full improvements. He has large drying-yards, as well as a dehydrator of large capacity, where he does commercial drying of fruits, thus supplying a long-felt want in the neighborhood.
The marriage of Mr. Onstott united him with Miss Daisy Wilkie, a native of Sutter County, and a daughter of John Wilkie, a California pioneer, now eighty-four years old and residing in Yuba City, who formerly owned and operated the Yuba City Flour Mills. Since 1919 Mr. Onstott has been a member of Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E. In politics he is a progressive Republican.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 416
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