John Stoliker was of Dutch descent and was born in the Township of Stanbridge, Quebec on September 17, 1797. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the British Army and took part in the War of 1812, serving 15 months; he was at the close of the War honorably discharged and received a Sergeant’s warrant.

In 1817 he was married to Miss Phylinda Crawford and worked about Stanbridge until 1834 when he removed to Gananoque. During the Rebellion of 1837-38 he was called out and served as Sergeant in the Militia under Captain Webster.

After the war, he was awarded a pension in 1877 as a Militiaman of the War of 1812; Lived at South Lake, Ontario. Pension was $20.

Since his services were no longer required in military life, he turned his attention to a variety of pursuits including rafting, lumbering, carpentering, farming and working in the Mill. He manufactured pearlash in the old stone building at the water’s edge near the Wringer Factory. He was adept at this business and was in demand for many years at high wages until the introduction of carbonate of soda which put an end to the pearlash industry.

His family consisted of five sons and four daughters, all of whom survived him. Six were born in Stanbridge and three at Gananoque. Mrs Stoliker died in Leeds County on March 4, 1870 in her 69th year. After her death Mr. Stoliker lived around among his children having good health and retaining his cheerful disposition to the last. He died on February 23, 1883 aged 85 years and 5 months.

[Graveside Team ed: The GPS coordinates of his grave on the map are approximated since little more than the town is known.]