Bruce
Many thanks to you for investigating these Stokes and for your considered reply. I had made a feeble attempt to consult the OR volumes on Missouri but quickly found it was an effort for scholars. I have since found a Union provost record for Granville which shows a clever provost maneuver. Granville Stokes and David Reynolds were arrested for aiding the rebellion in May 1862. Each was fined one thousand dollars which would be null and void as long as they stuck to the oath (administered on the spot), did not leave the county, and did not fraternize with or aid “so called confederates.” Otherwise the fine/penalty would become due. This was signed by Ben S. Jones, Captain, Co. M 3rd Reg Iowa Vol Cavalry.
I found another provost record regarding Granville’s brother William Henry Stokes who took the oath two weeks after Granville in May 1862. That record is not online so I am waiting for a paper copy from Jefferson City, hoping there will be details. I read that after Pea Ridge when Price became a confederate general, his men who did not want to join the CSA could return to MO, take the oath, post a bond and be paroled. I am curious to discover if Wm Henry was one of those men.
The story in the Webster county history regarding a Stokes being shot, which may after all be anecdotal, interests me especially because Isham Cunningham (from whose home/prison Stokes was taken and shot) is the man from whom Thomas Stokes bought his land in Webster county in Feb 1859. Cunningham, who was postmaster in Union township, moved to Marshfield and became postmaster there. Thomas Stokes then became postmaster in Union township in Sept 1859. (The small log PO building, which is still there, was perhaps on the land Stokes had bought. I can think of no other reason Thomas Stokes would have been appointed Postmaster.) In Nov 1861 this Bristol post office in Union township was discontinued. Perhaps it was too difficult to get the mail through under the circumstances or perhaps Thomas Stokes did not take the oath required of all office holders, or both. The Stokes and Cunninghams therefore were well acquainted before the incident described in the Webster Goodspeed history. I have been unable to tell if Cunningham was sympathetic to the confederates or was a Union man. Would his house have been requisitioned by the Union command for use as a prison?
The Robert A. Stokes who was imprisoned in Ill (thank you for that information) was a cousin of William Henry, Granville, and Jasper who were sons of Thomas Stokes.
To complete this story I will just mention that Thomas Stokes and his family lived next door to Thomas and Sarah Stokes Caffey, Thomas’ sister. The Caffeys and their 12 children were Union all the way. The strife across that fence must have been mighty.
Again, I thank you for the information you have provided to advance my search.