Individual Details

James Montgomery Stockton was born 20 July 1807 in Overton County, Tennessee and died 17 January 1875 in Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa. He was a Presbyterian Minister. According to an 1850 Census, James and Susan lived in Hancock County, Illinois with both being listed as age 43 and their children were listed: Samuel, age 17 (1833); Thomas, age 15 (1835); William, age 15 (1835); Willis, age 13 (1837); John, age 10 (1840); James, age 8 (1842); Jerome, age 6 (1844); Sarah, age 2 (1848); and Minerva, age 2 (1848).

James married Susan Emily Kirkpatrick, daughter of Thomas Newton and Mary "Polly" (Lane) Kirkpatrick on 25 July 1832 at Morgan County, Illinois.

Susan's son, John K. Stockton wrote "The Trail of The Covered Wagon" that told the true story of his family going on a wagon train heading to California after hearing about the gold rush and what had happened along the way and why they turned around and went back settling in Page County, Iowa. They had left their home near Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois in the Spring of 1852 after selling their property to a neighbor. Along the way on their journey, their son James died of "Asiatic Cholera." Rev. James and son John both had become sick also, but they both recovered. Another daughter was born to Rev. James and Susan in Missouri by 1853, her name was Martha.

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Source: Nancy Wanita (Stockton) Bernhardt, June 2000.

Iowa South West, Bedford, Iowa, Saturday, February 6, 1875, Page 3, Col. 3: Died---Jan. 17, 1875, at his residence in Mason township, Rev. James Stockton. Mr. Stockton was one of the early settlers of this county, immigrating here in the Spring of 1853. He was in his 67th year, and was a faithful minister of the gospel in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church fifty-one years---preaching the glad news of salvation from Tennessee, his native State, to Iowa. For integrity he had few equals, confidentially striving for higher attainments in the Christian life, thus adding his testimony to the fact, "Tis religion that can give, Sweetest pleasures while we live." And as he died in full faith of that glorious gospel he had so long preached, thus evincing to the world that, " 'Tis religion can supply, solid comfort when we die."

Birth	20 Jul 1807	Overton Co., Tennessee
Marriage	25 Jul 1832	Morgan Co., Illinois - Susan Emily Kirkpatrick
Death	17 Jan 1875	Bedford, Taylor Co., Iowa
Burial		Memory Cemetery, East River Township, Page Co., Iowa

Spouse	Susan Emily Kirkpatrick (1808 - 1883)
Child	Samuel Stockton (1833 - )
Child	Thomas Stockton (1835 - )
Child	William Stockton (1835 - )
Child	Willis Stockton (1837 - )
Child	John K. Stockton (1840 - 1921)
Child	James Stockton (1842 - )
Child	Jerome Stockton (1844 - )
Child	Sarah Stockton (1848 - )
Child	Minerva Stockton (1848 - )
Child	Martha Stockton (1853 - )