John W. Stakes was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and born in 1809.
His first settlement in Illinois was in Hancock county, and in 1834 he came to Prophetstown.
At that time a Mr. McClure was running a small ferry boat across Rock river, from the
mouth of Walker's slough, on the bottom above the present village of Prophetstown, the point being where the old
Lewiston and Galena trail crossed the river, and Mr. Stakes bought him out.
He remained at that place about two years, and then went with John Bowman and Josiah T. Atkinson to
Union Grove Precinct, the three making claims there. The claim of Mr. Stakes was where the city of Morrison
now stands. He put up a log house on the land where Ed. B. Warner's residence is now situated
in that city, and lived there about a year, and then purchased the ferry at Prophetstown of James Knox. He ran the ferry
about a year, and then sold to John C. Pratt, and went back and died at his home in Morrison in 1861. Mr. Stakes married Miss Sa! rah Bowman in 1833. Their children have been: Mary Ann, who first married William Wright, and after his death, George McKnight, and lives in Iowa; Rebecca, wife of Fletcher Bollen, living in Geneseo, Henry county; Elizabeth, wife of Gardner Reynolds, living in Prophetstown; Walter W., now dead; Susan M., living in Prophetstown; Emeline A., wife of Ebenezer Beardsley, living in Iowa; Sarah Helen, living in Prophetstown; Lusina, wife of Orpheus Parker, living in Iowa; and John B., living in Prophetstown. Mrs. Stakes is still living on a farm adjoining her first home in Prophetstown.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 375-376
