The earliest Stonerocks in Ohio settled first in Ross and
later in Pickaway County. The first recorded Stonerock
marriage in Ohio was William Stonerock who married
Rebecca JONES on March 5, 1805 in Ross Co., Ohio. Soon
afterward, Pheby Stonerock married James JONES on
February 30, 1808 [sic]in Ross County . Nothing else is
known of these two couples for they do not show up in
the 1810 Ohio Census records. Therefore, we can assume
that they most likely pushed further into the frontier
beyond the Western or Northern borders of Ohio.
In the 1806 Ohio Tax records, we find a George
Stonerock residing in Ross County, Ohio. This George
Stonerock is believed to be the eldest of the early
Stonerocks in Ohio. We will refer to him as "Big George"
and more will be covered about him later in this
discussion.
Other early Stonerock marriages in Ohio were Caty
Stonerock who married James ROBUCK on July 20, 1809 in
Ross County, Ohio. A George Stonerock who we will call
"Little George", married Margaret LEWIS on January 14,
1813 in Pickaway County, Ohio. John Stonerock married
Ruth CREVISTON on December 12, 1816 in Pickaway
County, Ohio. "Big George" Stonerock married Margaret
RIENHART on November 22, 1819 in Pickaway County,
Ohio. Samuel Stonerock married Elizabeth FOGLE on May
26, 1821 in Greene County, Ohio. Sarah Stonerock
married Charles OSTERHOUT on February 27, 1822 in
Pickaway County, Ohio.
Where did these early Stonerocks come from? First,
let's examine what we know about "Big George". In the
marriage register of George's marriage to Margaret
Rienhart, we find George's Surname recorded as
"STEINROCK".
According to the 1820 Ohio Census for
Pickaway County, George and Margaret are listed as being
over 45 years of age. "Little George" who is in another
household, is listed as being 25-45 yrs old. John who is also in another household, is between the ages of 16-26 years old. In the 1904 edition of the History of Pickaway County, page 90, it states:
"George Stonerock, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania of German parents."
There were no Stonerocks in Pennsylvania in the last
half of the 18th century but there were certainly
STEINROCKs and STEINRUCKs. A George Steinrock who was the
son of immigrant Johan George Steinrock is listed in the
1785 tax list of Douglas Township, Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania. George Steinrock's wife was Madeline
ABENDSCHON.
The question arises of why the spellings of the
surname STEINROCK evolved to STONEROCK. It is not
so much a matter of knowing the German language and
the pronunciation of names, nor is it a matter of the
spellings being different in the 1800s and 1900s; rather it
is a matter of what happens to German names under the
pressure of the English language. The German
immigrants and their children were not always literate,
and even when they were, they sometimes spoke their
name and an English-speaker wrote it down as he heard it
using English phonetics, and that became the name.
An English speaker hearing the name STEINROCK and
knowing nothing of German names might well write down
STAYROOK, STAINROOK, STEINRUCK, STONEROOK,
STANERUCK or STONEROCK. The number of variants can
be many. Sometimes, names were Anglicized to
something familiar to English-speakers, because the
name sounded similar to an English name or perhaps the
German immigrant wanted to change it to 'fit in' better.
SOURCES:
- 1806 Ohio Tax Records, Ross County Residents and Owners.
- Pickaway Co., Ohio Marriage Volume I, pages 20 & 87.
- Pickaway Co., Ohio Marriage Volume II, page 428.
- Greene Co., Ohio Marriages Volume 101, page 27.
- Ross Co., Ohio Marriages Volume GA, page 36.
- Ross Co., Ohio Marriages Volume GB, page 06.
- Ross Co., Ohio Marriages Volume A, page 43.
- 1820 U.S. Census (population), Ohio, Pickaway Co., Pages 167-A & 186-A, National Archives Microfilm Publication M33, roll 89.
- Kauffman, S. Duane, Unpublished Steinrock/Steinruck Genealogy. January 8, 1994. (Revised December 15, 1995). Perkasie, Pa.
- Van Cleaf, Aaron R. "History of Pickaway County and its Representative Citizens". Biographical Publishing Company. 1906.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
I wish to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the research of the early STEINROCK and STONEROCK families:
- S. Duane Kauffman
- Paula Radwanski
- Forrest E. Redman
- Martha Knaggs
- Peggy Stonerock Brandenburg
- Ermil Stonerock
STONEROCK Births-Pickaway Co., Ohio
Little Brown Birth Record Book
Name Sex/race DOB, Twp./Town, Parents, Pg no.
- John W. Stonerock M/W Oct. 12, 1856, Jackson, Jeremiah & Mary Stonerock (25)
- Sarah Stonerock F/W Aug. 17, 1856, Jackson, Joseph & Caroline Stonerock (25)
Volume 1, Birth Record Book
Name, Sex/race DOB, Twp./Town, Parents, Pg no.
- Ella Stonerock F/W Nov. 27, 1867 Monroe, Jacob & Margaret Stonerock (4)
- Hiram Stonerock M/W Aug 23, 1868 Jackson, Mr & Mrs Hiram Stonerock (13)
- Female Stonerock F/W Jan. 18, 1869 Jackson, Mr & Mrs Jeremiah Stonerock (19)
- William H. Stonerock M/W Jan. 16, 1872 Jackson, John & Nancy Oder Stonerock (53)
- Charles Stonerock M/W Jan. 27, 1875 Jackson, John & Martha Johnson Stonerock (93)
- William H. Stonerock M/W Feb. 16, 1876 Darbeyville, Ezra & Lucy Fullen Stonerock (105)
- Mary Ida Stonerock F/W Apr. 26, 1877 Jackson, Daniel & Mary Morgan Stonerock (138)
- Millie Belle Stonerock F/W Feb. 24, 1878 Jackson, Jacob & Margaret Johnson Stonerock (138)
- Mary E. Stonerock F/W May 2, 1878 Muhlenberg, Ezra & Lucy Fullen Stonerock (145)
- Catherine Stonerock F/W Jan. 18, 1879 Jackson, John Lydia Morris Stonerock (152)
Volume 2, Birth Record Book
Name Sex/race DOB, Twp./Town, Parents, Pg no.
- Minnie Stonerock F/W June 28, 1879 Jackson, Jacob & Margaret Johnson Stonerock (11)
- Jerome Stonerock M/W Aug. 10, 1879 Jackson, David & Mary Morgan Stonerock (12)
- Cora M. Stonerock F/W Nov. 13, 1882 Muhlenberg, Melvin & Malinda Ambrose Stonerock (41)
- Jeremiah Stonerock M/W Apr. 30, 1882 Jackson, Jacob & Margaret Johnson Stonerock (48)
- Sallie Stonerock F/W Sept. 9, 1882 Jackson, Robert & Rebecca Stitt Stonerock (48)
- Maggy Stonerock F/W Nov. 13, 1884 Circleville, David & Maggy Morgan Stonerock (76)
- Flora Stonerock F/W Nov. 13, 1884 Circleville, David & Maggy Morgan Stonerock (76)
- S.V. Stonerock M/W Feb. 14, 1886 Muhlenberg, Wm & Lennrie Ambrose Stonerock (79)
- Virgil Stonerock M/W Sept. 2, 1885 Madison, George & Ester Burley Stonerock (84)
- Willa Stonerock F/W June 11, 1885 Jackson, Ira & Emma Van Kueren Stonerock (87)
Volume 3, Birth Record Book
Name, Sex/race, DOB, Twp./Town, Parents, Pg no.
- Alva Stonerock M/W July 5, 1887 Jackson, Frank & Minnie Hardesty Stonerock (208)
- Anna Stonerock F/W Feb. 24, 1888 Madison, George & Hester Barley Stonerock (208)
- Finley Allen Stonerock M/W Mar.18, 1888 Darbeyville, Melvin &Linna Ambrose Stonerock (208)
- Leroy Stonerock M/W July 24, 1888 Jackson, Frank & Minnie Hardesty Stonerock (209)
- Ettie Stonerock F/W Feb. 28, 1889 Jackson, Jacob & Margaret Johnson Stonerock (209)
- Otis Stonerock M/W Jan. 10, 1890 Jackson, Robert & Becka Still Stonerock (210)
- Lulu Stonerock F/W Sept. 29, 1889 Jackson, Ira & Emma Van Curow Stonerock (210)
- Arena Stonerock F/W May 26, 1889 Jackson, Samuel & Effie Williams Stonerock (210)
- Lawrence B. Stonerock M/W Aug. 5, 1890 Sciota, George & Eraceste Barby Stonerock (211)
- Nellie E. Stonerock F/W Apr. 21, 1890 Muhlenberg, Melvin & Linnie Ambrose Stonerock (211)
- Rena Stonerock F/W Mar. 4, 1892 Muhlenberg, Mell & Linna Ambrose Stonerock (212)
- Laninia Stonerock F/W Nov._1891 Jackson, Samuel & Effie Williams Stonerock (212)
- Jennie Lynd Stonerock F/W Jan7, 1894 Muhlenberg, Melbourne &Lynd Ambrose Stonerock (214)
- Eda Stonerock F/W Dec. 26, 1893 Jackson, Robert & Rebecca Still Stonerock (214)
- Dora Alice Stonerock F/W June 11, 1893 Deercreek, Samuel & Eva Williams Stonerock (214)
- Callie V. Stonerock F/W April 26, 1894 Jackson, Leonzo & Vackie Mickle Stonerock (215)
- Roy Stonerock M/W Mar. 26, 1895 Jackson, S. Millard & Belle Updegraff Stonerock (216)
- Harry D. Stonerock M/W Mar. 2, 1896 Jackson, Ira S. & Emma Van Kreaven Stonerock (216)
- J.L. Stonerock M/W Mar. 2, 1896 Muhlenberg, Marion & Leavey Strait Stonerock (216)
- Leroy Stonerock M/W June 13, 1895 Muhlenberg, John & Leizzie Rose Stonerock (216)
- Bernice Stonerock F/W Mar. 5, 1896 Muhlenberg, Melvin & Melinda Ambrose Stonerock (216)
- Georgia Stonerock F/W May 13, 1895 Deercreek, Samuel & Effie Williams Stonerock (217)
- Mc Elen Stonerock M/W Dec. 10, 1897 Jackson, Fred & Dollie Downy Stonerock (218)
- James C. Stonerock M/W Oct. 24, 1897 Muhlenberg, John & Elizabeth Rose Stonerock (219)
- Charles B. Stonerock M/W Oct. 12, 1897 Darbeyville, Marion & Lucy Strait Stonerock (219)
- Virgil Stonerock M/W Oct. 15, 1903 Perry, Harley & Maggie Joy Stonerock (224)
- Ciesta B. Stonerock F/W Sept. 3, 1905 Wayne, Albert & Belle Carter Stonerock (226)
STONEROCK Deaths-Pickaway Co., Ohio
Volume 2, Death Record Book
Name, Sex/race, Age, Single/Married, Occupation, Twp./Town, Cause of death, DOD, Parents, Pg no.
- John Stonerock, M/W, 64, M, Farmer, Pickaway, disease-gravel, June 5, 1879, not listed, (177)
- Ezra Stonerock, M/W, 26, M, not listed, Deercreek, NL, April 30, 1882, NL, (197)
- Flora Stonerock, F/W, 15, S, NL, NL, Lung Disease, Sept. 20, 1883, NL, (206)
- Joseph Stonerock, M/W, 36, NL, Farmer, Williamsport, Consumption, Dec. 16, 1885, NL, (217)
- Flora Stonerock, F/W, 8mos, NL, NL, NL, Lung Fever, July 14, 1885, (218)
- Emma Stonerock, F/W, 26, married, housekeeper, NL, consumption, March 12, 1887, NL, (224)
Volume 3, Death Record Book
Name, Sex/race, Age, Single/Married, Occupation, Twp./Town, Cause of death, DOD, Parents, Pg no.
Grooms 1813-1898
Groom's name, Bride's name, Date of marriage, Minister or JP, Marriage Book/Page no.
- George Stonerock, and Margaret Lewis, January 14, 1813, Mathew Ferguson, Volume 1/pg 20.
- John Stonerock, and Ruth Creviston, December 12, 1816, Rev. James Robinson, Volume 1/pg 87.
- George Stonerock, and Margaret Rienhart, November 22, 1819,
NL, Volume 2/pg 68.
- John Stonerock, and Sarah Daisy Johnson, August 16, 1835, NL, Volume 3/pg 139 & 187.
- Joseph Stonerock, and Caroline Fitzgerald, June 5, 1841,
NL, Volume 4/pg 39, #407.
- Hiram Stonerock, and Ellen Fitzgerald, August 11, 1842, Ebenezer L. Dain-JP, Volume 4/pg 63.
- Henry Stonerock, and Julia Pace, June 27, 1847, Mitchell Thomas-JP, Volume 4/pg 160, #1629.
- Jeremiah Stonerock, and Mary Whitesides, December 12, 1848, Isaac George-JP, Volume 4/pg 191.
- Robert Stonerock, and Mary J. Fullen, March 10, 1859, Horace Keyes-JP, Volume 5/pg 398.
- Joseph Stonerock, and Eliza Neff, September 5, 1862, Elijah Beathard-JP, Volume 5, 398. *Oath from John Stonerock verifying Joseph's age.
- Jacob Stonerock, and Margaret J. Johnson, February 23, 1865, J.D. Andrew-JP, Volume 6/pg 235A.
- John Stonerock, and Mary Older, March 30, 1869, J.P. Anderson-JP, Volume 6/pg 777A.
- Joseph M. Stonerock, and Eliza Johnson, December 25, 1870, A. Buckles-Minister, Volume 7/pg 113B.
- Ezra Stonerock, and Lucy Fullen, May 15, 1875, NL, Volume 7/pg 435A.
- David Stonerock, and Maggie Mogan, April 30, 1876, A.O. Walker-Priest, Volume 7/pg 504C.
- Samuel Stonerock, and Sallie Older, July 4, 1876, Jacob Baughman-JP, Volume 7/pg 515B.
- Thomas Stonerock, and Sarah Hart, November 23, 1879, B.N. Walker-JP, Volume 8/pg 130B.
- Samuel Stonerock, and Emma Smith, August 29, 1880, B.N. Walker-JP, Volume 8/pg 198B.
- Melvin Stonerock, and Malinda Ambrose, February 27, 1881, J.F. Kemfer-JP, Volume 8/pg 245A.
- George Stonerock, and Hester Rasor, March 26, 1882, John Arebaugh-JP, Volume 8/pg 345B.
- Ira Stonerock, and Emma Van Keuren, October 24, 1882, A.D. Radcliff-JP, Volume 8/pg 383B.
- Samuel Stonerock, and Effie Williams, August 11, 1888, J.P. Van Vickle-JP, Volume 9/pg 188A.
- John W. Stonerock, and Elizabeth Roese, June 21, 1891, J.B. Reobbins-JP, Volume 9/pg 434C.
- Albert Stonerock, and Bessie Joseph, January 13, 1892, Isaiah Brashares-Minister, Volume 10/pg 2C.
- Millard Stonerock, and Belle Updegraff, July 22, 1892, William Abernathy-Minister, Volume 10/pg 41C.
- Wesley Stonerock, and Lucinda Snyder, February 25, 1893, William Cardiff-JP, Volume 10/pg 104A.
- Alonzo Stonerock, and Rebecca Ann Mickel, October 18, 1893, W.R. Mc Cutcheon-Lutheran Minister, Volume 10/pg 155.
- Marion J. Stonerock, and Lucy Straight, October 24, 1894, G.G. Brintlinger-JP, Volume 10/pg 234B.
- Harley W. Stonerock, and Mazie C. Joy, October 11, 1896, J.W. Miller-Methodist Minister, Volume 10/pg 413B.
- Harry Stonerock, and Addie Sines, December 26, 1896, NL, Volume 10/pg 431C,*No marriage return.
- William Stonerock, and Mabel Thomas, December 25, 1898, A.E. Wright-Minister, Volume 11/pg 158C.
- Chancery Stonerock, and Tabitha Stewart, February 7, 1900,
