Who was Dick Stoker,
In 1930, the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, the Sonora Welfare Club, and Tuolumne Lodge No. 8 F&AM, installed a monument on the grave of Jacob Richard Stoker at the Masonic cemetery in Sonora. So, who was Dick Stoker?
There are few documented facts about Stoker; most of what we know is repeated information. What is clear is that Mark Twain was a friend of the Gillis brothers, Billy, Jim and Steve, and Richard Stoker. Twain had met Steve in Virginia City, Nevada, where Gillis was a typesetter on the Territorial Enterprise. Twain connected with him again in San Francisco. Apparently, Steve got in trouble with the police for intervening in a bar fight. Twain signed a straw bond for him. Rather than report to court, Steve left for Virginia City and suggested Twain stay with his brothers at their cabin on Jackass Hill in Tuolumne County. Also with Jim and Billy was their mining partner, Dick Stoker.
All four were great storytellers. Twain gathered much material during the short time he lived on Jackass Hill in the winter of 1864-65. Stoker was the inspiration for the character Dick Baker, who was featured in Twain’s “Roughing It”, “Jaybird”, “Acorn”, and “Burning Shame”.
For a number of years, William Gillis had charge of Twain’s Cabin on Jackass Hill. He would tell the tourists many of the interesting stories of the early days and experience of Steve and Jim Gillis, Dick Stoker and Mark Twain.
When Stoker died on Oct. 29, 1897, there was only a notice in one of the county’s newspapers, and no obituary. He was buried in Sonora’s Masonic cemetery. The grave was unmarked, and for many years forgotten. In 1925, William Gillis and Sonora undertaker Henry Burden located the grave. Numerous newspapers throughout California reported on the search for the grave and of Gillis’ desire to have a memorial placed on the grave. William, the last of the brothers, died in 1929, with the grave still unmarked. However, the organizations mentioned above moved ahead with the project. The bronze plaque was cast by Frank C. Holman at the Tuolumne Foundry.
On Nov. 7, 1931, dedication of the completed marker took place at the Masonic cemetery. Quite an assemblage of people gathered for the ceremonies. Several people gave short speeches, and the Sonora Union High School Band played a couple of pieces. The program ended with the American Legion sounding taps. For those who would like to see the grave and marker, it is on the left side of the cemetery, by the front fence.