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George Yonkin Sr. ( ? - ? ) was born in (?) likely in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, PA, the son of German immigrants Johann "Herman" and Magdalena Youngken. During the American Revolutionary War, in the 1775-1881 timeframe, he served in the Bucks County Militia. This service is referenced in the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 5. He was joined in wedlock with Elizabeth Bollinger (1769-1852). Four known offspring of this union were Mary Ann Holden, Christian Clayton, William Henry Younkin Sr. and George Yonkin Jr. The couple moved to Northumberland County, PA, where in 1811 they dwelled near Pottsgrove in Chillisquaque Township. Their name generally was spelled "Younken" and "Younkin" in public documents. Their house and barn and their contents were consumed in a fire in September 1833 and reported on the pages of the United States Gazette and the Lewisburg Journal. George's name appeared in a list of people having unclaimed mail at the Northumberland Post Office during the first week of the new year in 1835, published in the Sunbury Gazette.
When the federal census enumeration was made in 1850, the widowed Elizabeth dwelled by herself in Chillisquaque. Census records of 1850 show no one else by that surname in the county. She is believed to have passed away on Dec. 20, 1852. The Sunbury American reported in its "DIED" column Jan. 8, 1853 edition that "In Chillisquaque, on the 20th ult., Mrs. YOUNKEN, wife of George Younken, deceased, aged 76 years." George's estate remained unsettled as of 1853. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against estate administrator George E. Gehrig in March 1853 over an unpaid debt that the deceased owned to his son-in-law David Holden. In the case, published in the Sunbury American, George's heirs were named -- "Mary Ann intermarried with David Holden, of Chillisquaque township, Pennsylvania; Christian intermarried with Cook Clayton, of Jerseyville county, Illinois; William Yonkin, of Michigan; George Yonkin, (who is now deceased leaving three children, Elizabeth, Peter and George.)..." ~ Daughter Mary Ann (Yonkin) Holden ~ Daughter Mary Ann Yonkin (1809- ? ) was born in about 1809 in Pottsgrove, Montgomery County. She was joined in wedlock with Vermont native David Holden (1799-1858), perhaps also spelled "Halden." Five known children of this marriage were Henry Holden, William Holden, David Holden, Aaron Holden and Mary Holden. They put down roots in Chillisquaque Township near Pottsgrove, Northumberland County and were there in the 1850-1853 timeframe. The United States Census of 1850 shows David engaged as a boatman with his sons Henry and William. Sadly, David died in 1858 after writing his last will and testament on Nov. 22, 1858. Then on July 21, 1860, a notice of his estate, with Mary Ann named as the executrix, was printed in the Sunbury Gazette. The widowed Mary dwelled in Chillisquaque with her 12-year-old daughter Mary in 1860, with the town of Milton as their postal address. Perhaps in debt that she could not pay, Mary Ann surrendered their farm of eight acres to a sheriff's sale in December 1860. The Gazette noted that the tract was entirely cleared and contained a small two story frame house and a log stable. She may be the same "Mary A. Holden" of Pittston, PA who had a daughter or stepdaughter Jeanette/Janette Holden (1829-1895) who wed blacksmith William Stroh (1828-1889), a Civil War veteran of the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Company M, known as "Schooley's Battery." If so, she died in a most gruesome fashion after an accident on the Fourth of July 1868. The Harrisburg Telegraph said that:
She lingered for 11 days before dying on July 15, 1868. A burial site is not known. More research needs to be done to confirm that the victim was our Mary Ann. Son Henry Holden (1830- ? ) was born in about 1830. A bachelor at age 20, in 1850, he lived with his parents in Chillisquaque Township and worked with his father as a boatman. Son William Holden (1833- ? ) was born in about 1833. Nothing more about him is known. Son David Clayton Holden (1843- ? ) was born in about 1843. He was named in his father's last will and testament dated 1858. Son Aaron Clayton Holden (1845-1925) was born on Oct. 17, 1845. For years, he resided in Pittston, Luzerne County and was self-employed as a harness maker in the old Gazette Building on North Main Street. On March 15, 1870, at the age of 24, Aaron entered into marriage with Mary Josephine Hapeman (Oct. 18, 1852-1923), daughter of Nicholas V. and Caroline Hapeman of Scotch Hill near Wilkes-Barre, PA. The presiding pastor was Rev. Y.T. Smith of the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Two daughters born to the couple were Carrie M. Holden and Helen Damon. He made news in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader in October 1878 when exhibiting "handsome specimens of hand-made harness,... which attract general attention." His name was in the gossip columns of the Wilkes-Barre Sunday News in October 1882 when "remodeling and building in the rear of his place of business." He appears to have owned a house on Church Street in 1883, which was rented to Frank Brenton, and which caught fire when the terra cotta flue became overheated and set fire to its wooden back. Aaron was awarded a patent for the Holden Carriage Apron and then in 1886 tried to sell it to a party from Elmira [NY?]. Reported the Pittston Evening Gazette, "Mr. Holden has made many aprons within the past few years, but since the sale of the right, he has suspended their manufacture. The apron is a very convenient arrangement for any sort of a vehicle. It is readily applied, and protects completely against rain and snow storms." The Times Leader reported in April 1893 that he had gone to Virginia to "engage in business there" after having sold his harness business to Alex McDougal. Aaron and Michael Bolin are known in 1901 to have purchased an option to buy the 93-acre, shuttered Morgan coal slope in Upper Pittston with the hope of re-opening it for mining. An October 1903 business trip took him to Illinois. Their world was shattered when their 28-year-old daughter Carrie died after a seven-week illness in January 1904. The grieving Aaron and friend Bolin sold the Morgan coal lease to the Reliance Coal Company. He continued to pursue new buiness opportunities and in April 1906 helped form the Lauralla State Company with fellow investors James H. Hughes, Bernard J. Conlan, M.G. Baum and R.L. Cannon. In May 1908, he was an incorporator of the Florida Realty Company of Pennsylvania in partnership with A.A. Bryden, Frank C. Mosier, Richard M. Hughes, William Drury, Amon Armstrong and friend Bolin. Socially, he was a member of the Wyoming Valley Commandery of the Knights Templar and as a "knight" was said to have "had the distinction of being the first one knighted in Wyoming Valley Commandery." Their home for 27 years was on Pittston's west side, with an address in 1923 of 109 Spring Street. They held a membership in the West Pittston Presbyterian Church. Having been ill for several years, and then her health becoming worse in the spring of 1923, Mary Josephine died on June 14, 1923. An obituary in the Pittston Gazette said she was "a highly regarded resident and a member of one of Pittston's pioneer families... Due to her sterling character Mrs. Holden enjoyed the friendship of a wide circle and her death comes as a severe shock to members of the family and her many friends." Aaron's final home was with the Frank Williams family in West Pittston at the address of 403 Montgomery Avenue. On the fateful morning of March 4, 1925, the 79-year-old Aaron was found dead in bed. The deputy coroner wrote that "He had not been in the best of health for some time. cause of death being heart trouble." Burial was in West Pittston Cemetery, with Robert L. Damon of Allentown providing key details for the official Pennsylvania certificate of death. An obituary in the Times Leader called him "one of West Pittston's oldest and most highly respected residents... Mr. Holden was one of the pioneer business men of Pittston city... About 15 years ago he retired from [the harness] business and devoted the greater part of his time to real estate. He was a man of sterling character and was respected by all who knew him."
Daughter Mary Malinda Holden (1848- ? ) was born in about 1848. There is evidence to suggest that she may have died on May 13, 1863, at the age of about 15. This needs to be confirmed. ~ Daughter Christiana "Christiann" (Yonkin) Clayton ~ Daughter Christiana "Christiann" Yonkin (1810-1906) was born on Sept. 20, 1810. She wed New Jersey native Benjamin Cook Clayton (July 17, 1814-1898). Together they became the parents of Mary H. Senior, Anne Eliza Bohannon, Oskar Clayton and Minie/Winie Clayton. The pair initially made their residence in Chillisquaque, Northumberland County. Sometime in 1850 or 1851, they migrated to Illinois and in 1853-1880 dwelled on a farm near the county seat of Jerseyville, Jersey County, IL. In 1870, they provided a home for their married daughter Mary and granddaughter Hattie. By 1880, grandsons George Senior and Howard Green were under their roof. Sadly, Benjamin died on July 16, 1898, a day before his 84th birthday. Christiana outlived him by eight years. The spectre of death carried her away at the age of 95 on July 16, 1906. Her remains were lowered under the sod of Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville. Daughter Mary H. Clayton (1844-1877) was born in about 1844 in Northumberland County, PA. She entered into marriage with New Orleans native Henry George Senior (1845-1870), also known as "Henry B." and "H.S." Senior. Henry stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and had brown hair, blue eyes and a light complexion. Two known offspring were Hattie G. Senior, born in May 1869, and George Henry Senior, born in 1871. During the Civil War, Henry had served in the Union Army as a member of the 144th Illinois Infantry, Company I. He mustered into the regiment at Alton, IL on Oct. 3, 1864 and served as a blacksmith. He was honorably discharged in Springfield on July 14, 1865. Sadly, after just a few years of marriage, and with Mary expecting their second child, he died on May 10, 1870. The federal census enumeration of 1870 shows Mary and daughter residing under her parents' roof in Jerseyville, with the husband's whereabouts unknown. The family was plunged into grief when Mary died in 1877 at the age of about 33. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery. As of 1880, her son George lived with her parents in Jerseyville. A standard-issue military marker was erected at his gravesite by contract dated Nov. 21, 1883.
Daughter Anne Eliza Clayton (1848-1934) was born in about 1848 in Northumberland County, PA and migrated in young girlhood with her parents to Illinois. On Feb. 8, 1870, in Jerseyville, when she was about 21 years of age, she wed 45-year-old carpenter Edward Bohannon (1827-1911), a Vermont native. Together they bore a trio of children -- Gertrude A. Elliott, Mary Esther "Ettie" Bohannon and Benjamin Edward Bohannon. The Bohannons lived in Jerseyville in the decades of 1870-1900 and by 1910 had relocated into the city of Chicago. Sadly, Edward died in the Windy City on May 6, 1911. The widowed Anne Eliza and her unmarried daughter Esther and son moved by 1920 to Pasadena, CA, with her dwelling on South Pasadena Avenue. There, she took on roomers to generate income. The trio made a move to Grove Street in the 1920s and made a home there in 1930 at census-time. She died in Los Angeles County at the age of 85 on March 11, 1934.
Son Oskar/Oscar Clayton (1851- ? ) was born in about 1851 in Illinois. His fate seems to be lost to history. Daughter Minie/Winie Clayton (1863- ? ) was born in about 1863. At the age of 17, in 1880, she made a home with her parents in Jerseyville. Her research trail has gone cold. ~ Son William Henry Younkin Sr. ~
Son William Henry Younkin Sr. (1814-1861) was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania. He is known to have relocated to Michigan by the mid-1840s and to have settled in Jackson, Jackson County. Two days before Christmas 1846, William was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with Malinda Slayton (1925-1903), an Ohio native who was 11 years younger. They became the parents of seven known offspring -- George Younkin, William Henry Younkin Jr., Andrew J. Younkin, Orrin J. "Ornie" Younkin, twins Alfred Younkin and Albert Younkin, and Mary Alice Younkin. William purchased a tract of 40 acres on Feb. 1, 1849 from the General Land Office of the United States in Detroit, with the certificate no. 29.492 signed by President James Polk. The land comprised the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 3 South, Range 2 West. The federal census enumeration of 1850 places this family in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, with William engaged in shoemaking. Living under their roof that year were 18-year-old Lucy Slayton and eight-year-old Elvira Slayton. Sadly, George died in Jackson County on Aug. 5, 1861. Burial was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. A legal advertisement of the administration of his estate was printed in the American Citizen of Jackson. His untimely death left Malinda with six mouths to feed even as she was pregnant with a seventh. She outlived her husband by decades. In 1870 and 1880, she headed a household in Jackson with all seven of her children and her single sister Lucy in the household. She moved to the city of Flint and in 1903 was listed in the city director as boarding at 1317 Stockton. She succumbed to the spectre of death in Flint, at the age of 79, from the effects of organic heart disease, just four days before Christmas 1903. Her remains were returned to Jackson for burial. Son George Younkin (1847-1933) was born on Sept. 13, 1847 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI. In 1870, a bachelor at age 22, he lived at home and worked as a stationery engineer, operating some sort of equipment. George went on to earn income over the years as a railroad engineer in Jackson. He did not choose to marry until middle age. At the age of 55, on June 12, 1904, he wed 50-year-old Harriett (Rogers) Chambers (April 30, 1852-1930), also of Jackson. Rev. Charles Rogers officiated. She had been married before to Charles R. Chambers (1843-1906) and was the mother of five, of whom four were deceased by 1910, with son Thomas B. Chambers the only one alive. The federal census enumeration of 1910 shows George and Harriett together in Jackson, providing a home for 82-year-old uncle John Rogers, and living next-door to his brother Andrew and family. As of 1910, he was an equipment operator. Their longtime place of residence in Jackson was 1019 Chittock Avenue. Sadly, Harriet died on Dec. 10, 1930. George outlived her by three years. Burdened with chronic heart disease, hardening of the arteries and senility over the span of several years, he died at the age of 86 on Oct. 1, 1933. Burial was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. Mrs. Mary Edwards of Jackson signed the official Michigan certificate of death.
Son William Henry Younkin Jr. (1849-1939) was born on Aug. 18, 1849 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI. Single in 1870, at age 21, he worked as a railroad fireman and then engineer for the Michigan Central Railroad, which ran passenger trains between Chicago and Detroit. On Dec. 6, 1877, at the age of 28, he first married 19-year-old Canada native Caroline A. Defrenn (1858-1878). The nuptials were held in Jackson, presided by the hand of Rev. Moses Smith of the First Congregational Church, with William's mother and brother Orrin serving as witnesses. Their union was very brief, and she died in 1878 at the age of 19 or 20. His second spouse was Esther Louise "Etta" Goff (1861-1948). The pair did not reproduce but adopted two sons -- Harold Younkin and Charles Raymond Younkin. As with his brothers George and Andrew, William's occupation over the years was as a railroad engineer in Jackson. In December 1885, he broke his knee after a fall "into a clinker pit ... while walking home on the railroad, after turning in his engine," said the Jackson Citizen. "Mr. Younkin's innumerable friends will be pleased to learn as much, and we all hope he may soon be ready for duty again." They moved by 1900 to Summit, Jackson County and made a dwelling together at 3005 East South Street. William eventually retired from the Michigan Central in the summer of 1919, and about 50 engineers and their wives came to a party at the Younkin home to celebrate. Said the Jackson Evening News, "A bountiful chicken dinner, provided by the company, was served at 5 o'clock, from tables decked with pretty season's flowers. At its conclusion, George B. Weed, acting as toastmasteer, presented the speakers, who offered their congratulations to Mr. Younkin and said many complimentary things of him. One, Frank McDevitt, was an exception, according to his own statement, and being 'determined to tell the truth' succeeded in creating much merriment by his facetious remarks... Mr. Younkin responded most feelingly [and] spoke of his appreciation of their gift and of their friendship and referred to the loss he felt would be his in the absence of his daily associations which had been his for the past fifth-three years." He received a watch chain and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers charm. At age 90, suffering from chronic kidney and heart disease, and then having fractured his left femur, he died on Nov. 8, 1939. Etta lived for another nine years and passed away in Jackson on July 31, 1948. Their remains were placed into the sleep of the ages in the mausoleum of Woodland Abbey.
Son Andrew J. Younkin (1851-1942) was born in 1851. He and his brother William both worked as railroad firemen in 1870 in Jackson. In about 1880, at the age of 29, he tied the knot with Frances Fenton (1848-1924), who was three years older than he, and the daughter of Mary E. Fenton. She had been married before and may have brought four stepchildren into the second union. The couple produced at least two daughters of their own -- Melinda M. Younkin and Frances F. Younkin. Andrew made a living as a railroad engineer in 1880, and at that time he and Frances shared a home with his widowed mother and siblings. In 1910, he was an equipment operator, with Frances' widowed mother in the 1013 Chittock Avenue household. For decades, his brother George and wife Harriet were next-door neighbors in town. Sadly, Frances died in Jackson at the age of 76 on Sept. 13, 1924. Burial was in her in-laws' plot in Jackson, where her mother Mary Fenton also is believed to sleep. He was afflicted with heart disease and senility and passed away at the age of 91 on Oct. 16, 1942. Interment was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.
Son Alfred "Fred" Younkin (1859-1947) was born on May 5, 1859 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, a twin with his brother Albert. In young manhood he went to work as a railroad fireman. Alfred was united in holy matrimony with Estella J. "Stella" Teachout (June 1862-1943), daughter of Ed and Mary Jane Teachout. They settled in Jackson. While they did not reproduce, the pair adopted a son, Ralph Edward Younkin. When the federal census enumeration was made in 1900, Alfred earned a living as a locomotive engineer and continued this work for decades with the Michigan Central Railroad. Their home in 1930 was on Oak Street, Jackson. Stricken with cancer of the bowels, Estella died in Jackson on July 14, 1943. Alfred outlived her by four years and passed away in Jackson on Sept. 9, 1947.
Son Albert "Bert" Younkin (1859-1949) was born on May 5, 1859 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, a twin with his brother Alfred. When he was 21 years of age, he was employed in Jackson as a "confectioner," selling candy and sweet treats. He went on to make a living as a baker an migrated to the West Coast, where in 1900 he lived in El Monte, Los Angeles County. As of 1900, he shared a home with his aunt Lucy Slayton and an adopted son, Charles Hudson. He moved to Arizona and in 1910 earned a living as a cook in a boarding house in Yavapai County, AZ. During the 1910s, he was on the move again and migrated back to California, putting down stakes in Ontario, San Bernardino County. Bert had no occupation in 1920 but lived with his 64-year-old "partner" Ida V. Ross -- a private duty nurse -- and two roomers. His next move during the 1920s was to Pasadena, Los Angeles County. There, in 1930, he was a cook for Dr. George Dock and his wife Miriam. He appears to have made his way back to Michigan by the 1940s. At the age of 89, he died in Flint, MI on St. Patrick's Day 1949.
Daughter Mary Alice Younkin (1861-1951) was born on Oct. 23, 1861, a little under three months after her father had died. She grew to womanhood in Jackson, MI. On Aug. 9, 1884, in the town of her birth, the 22-year-old Mary Alice was joined in wedlock with 25-year-old William E. Edwards (1860-1926), a resident of Battle Creek and a native of Brookville, Canada, Rev. George R. Holt presided. At the time, William earned a living as a railroader. A trio of daughters of this union were Malinda Annabelle Edwards, Fern Elizabeth Edwards and Ruth L. Edwards.
~ Son George Yonkin ~ Son George Yonkin ( ? - ? ) was married He was the father of three -- Elizabeth Yonkin, Peter Yonkin and George Yonkin. They resided in Lycoming County, PA. Sadly, George was deceased by 1853 when he and the children were named in a legal advertisement.in the Sunbury (PA) American. Whatever became of this branch has faded into the misty shroud of the past.
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