Person:John Stoops (3)

Based on the letter by Dr. A. B. Stoops, I believe he was the father of 'Little John' Stoops, who was the only one of the clan to stay in Nicholas Co. However, I have not found any info on his wife or other children.

 "Philip and William Stoops, brothers, came as Pioneers from Pennsylvania and settled in Nicholas County, Kentucky.  Philip, the Pioneer, was married twice.  By his first wife, Polly Ferguson, he had three sons -- John, William, and Philip -- and four daughters -- Ann, Ailsie, Becca and Polly; and by his second wife, Aggie Morgan, three sons -- James, Thomas and Jessie and three daughters -- Sallie, Nancy and Marget. John, my grandfather, died in Nicholas County, Kentucky. The balance of the family removed to Hamilton County, Indiana."  {Transcription of letter from Dr. Alexander B. Stoops, dated 11 Mar 1890, in the research of Albert Shankland, citing Mrs. Lizzie (Stoops) Pitman as owner of letter; copy in possession of researcher S. B. Fitting}
 In the 1820 census for Nicholas Kentucky, there is record for John Stoops with 3 males under 10, 2 males 10 - 16, 1 male 26-45; and 1 female 0-10, 1 female 16-26; with one person engaged in agriculture.  He is next door to [brother?] William Stoops.
 In the 1840 census for Nicholas Co., Kentucky, there is a record for John Jr.Stoops, with 1 male 20-30, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 50-60. I believe this may be his son with his widow.

 However, on the Stoops mailing list is another theory. On 5 June 1999, Fred Knudsen wrote "I can offer a little information on the John Stoops, son of Pioneer Philip, who settled in Hamilton Co., which is adjacent to Marion Co. According to my records, he was born in either PA or Nicholas Co., KY, on 10 Sep 1793, to Philip Stoops (1768-1841) and Mary FERGUSON (1763-1811). He served in the War of 1812, and saw considerable service in Canada (probably with KY troops). He was apparently well-established as a miller in Hamilton Co. by the mid 1820's, and on 29 May 1826, conveyed 100 acres to Philip Stoops of Nicholas Co., KY, suggesting that he preceded his father to IN, and then sold Philip the land near Noblesville on which he settled.John's brief entry in the genealogy of the WHEELER-[Philip] Stoops families states that he never married. Yet, on 11 Mar 1826, John Stoops and his wife Mary of Hamilton Co. sold 60 acres of land to James VAN WAGONER, and Mary Stoops is named in the probate records of John's estate, dated 8 Apr 1840." {<http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/STOOPS/1999-06/0928596843>}