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David Youngken
(1804-1884)

David Youngken's grave, 1884
Courtesy Tom Myers
David Youngken was born on April 4, 1804, likely in Bucks County, PA, the son of John and Anna Maria (Essig) Youngken

He was baptized in infancy by Rev. Mensch, with Jacob and Susanna Funk serving as his godparents. The pastor gave the parents baptismal certificate written in German. 

David entered into the rite of marriage with Matilda Green (Sept. 8, 1809-1871). 

Together, they produced one known son, Josiah G. Youngkin. Perhaps there were other children.

Matilda passed away at the age of 62 on Nov. 30, 1871. 

David lived on for another nearly 13 years. The federal census enumeration of 1880 shows him in the household of his married son. 

He was gathered in by the grim reaper of death at the age of 80 on Aug. 8, 1884. The remains were laid to rest in Richlandtown Union Cemetery in Bucks County. In its "Richlandtown" column, the Perkasie (PA) News Herald reported that he had been the "owner of the well known nursery and fruit farm lying on the limits of the town..." 

A report about this branch was written by Gustavus N. Hart of Haddonfield, NJ and published in the Younkin Family News Bulletin edition of Christmas 1937. 

Their grave markers stood erect and legible when photographed by Tom Myers, who posted them on the Find a Grave website and graciously has allowed his images to be used in this biography.

~ Son Josiah G. Youngkin ~

Son Josiah G. Youngkin (1827-1907) was born on Feb. 6, 1827 in Richland Township, Bucks County. 

He completed two years of study at the Quakertown School and then became a teacher himself, spending a dozen years as an educator. 

In 1853, at the age of 26, he married Maria Helen Minnich (1831-1897), daughter of Joseph and Sarah Minnich of Allentown. 

Their nine known offspring were Oswin A. Youngkin, Charles Eugene Youngken, Milton A. Youngken, Alice H. Youngken, Ida Stull, Elizabeth Jane "Lizzie" Younken, Titus C. Youngken, David J. Youngken and John Ferdinand Youngken. 

Five years into the marriage, Josiah is known to have acquired his father's farm at Richlandtown, where he "engaged in fruit growing, and his botanical garden is filled with the choicest of flowers," said a profile in the 1887 History of Bucks County, edited by J.H. Battle. In May 1885, the Perkasie News Herald reported that he was "building an addition to his house. He has torn down part of the old one." 

They are known to have held a dance at their residence in July 1893. In July 1897, the couple hosted a visit from Titus C. Youngken of Philadelphia. 

By 1899, the Youngkins lived in Springfield, Bucks County. He later showed his father's German-language baptismal certificate to a friend, Gustavus N. Hart of Haddonfield, NJ, and told him stories about the early days of the Revolutionary War era. 

Sadness blanketed the family when Maria Helen passed away on Dec. 16 or 22, 1897.

View of Perkasie, 1894 - Courtesy Library of Congress

The widowed Josiah spent his final years in Richland Township, Bucks County. He made news in the Philadelphia Times in July 1899 when laying claim to several millions of dollars worth of property in Luzerne County, which he said had belonged to his grandfather John. The article said that Josiah "lives in a frame mansion, near Applebachville, on the road leading from Richlandtown to the Bethlehem road, in Bucks county." It added that he "has in his possession an old Bible which belonged to his father, David, and gives the date and place of birth, and also the marriage certificate of his great-grandfather, John Youngken." Around that time, he leased his farm to Dr. A.G. Langler of Easton for purposes of mining ore. 

Having been afflicted with hardening of the arteries and a ruptured aorta, he died at the old homestead on Jan. 25, 1907, just 19 days shy of his 80th birthday. Interment was in Springfield Cemetery. Milton Youngken of Richland Township signed the death certificate. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. An obituary in the North Penn Reporter spelled his name "Chessiah" but a similar one in the Perkasie News Herald spelled it correctly. Both versions said that "In his younger days he taught school and was also a school director at one time in Richland township." The News Herald added that he "was a respected and life-long resident near Richlandtown."

Profile in the 1887 History of Bucks County, edited by J.H. Battle
Courtesy Google Books

Son Oswin A. Youngkin (1855-1901)

Son Milton A. Youngkin (1859-1925) was born in about 1859. He was married to Senora S. Sloyer ( ? -1927). They were the parents of 10 -- Mrs. Charles Taylor, Bessie Youngkin, George Youngkin, Paul Youngkin, Norman Youngkin, Jessiah Youngkin and Walter Youngkin in addition to three who died young. Milton is known to have dwelled in Richlandtown in 1907. He suffered a stroke of apoplexy and died suddenly at the age of 66 on July 31, 1925. His obituary appeared in the Allentown Morning Call. Rev. E.H. Trafford officiated the funeral service. Senora lived for another two years. Having been in poor health and confined to bed, she died of paralysis on May 31, 1927. The funeral took place in the Springfield Church, jointly led by Rev. O.H. Melchor and Rev. Elbert Landis.

Daughter Alice H. Youngkin (1861- ? ) was born in about 1861 and grew to womanhood in Richland Township, Bucks County.

Daughter Ida Youngken (1862-1934) married Benjamin Stull ( ? - ? ). The Stulls made their dwelling-place in Perkasie, PA in 1925.

Daughter Elizabeth Jane "Lizzie" Youngken (1864- ? ) was born in about 1864.  

Son Titus C. Youngken (1866- ? ) was born in about 1866. He was in Philadelphia in 1897-1925. 

Son David J. Youngken (1867-1928) was born in 1867. His homeplace in 1907 was near Richlandtown and in 1925 in Philadelphia The 1992 obituary of his great-grandson David E. Youngken, killed in an automobile accident in North Carolina, was published in the Younkin Family News Bulletin (January-March 1993).  

Son John Ferdinand Youngken (1872-1956) was born in about 1872. He resided near Richlandtown, PA in 1907-1925.

Heber Youngken Jr., with a portrait of his father.
Courtesy Younkin Family News Bulletin, January-March 1993

Son Charles Eugene Youngken ( ? - ? ) lived in Quakertown, PA in 1900-1907. On Sept. 11, 1884, he was joined in wedlock with Marian W. Wilkinson ( ? - ? ) of Philadelphia. The wedding was held in the Grace Baptist Church, Philadelphia, by the hand of Rev. Russell H. Conwell, and announced in the Bucks County Intelligencer. They became the parents of Dr. Heber Wilkinson Youngken, Eugene Wingrove Youngken and Dell Wallace Youngken. As of 1925, the Youngkens were in North Walls, PA. Son Heber was a professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and the author of A Textbook of Pharmacognosywhich went into more than 60 printings.

   
Graves of siblings Samuel (1831) and Christena (1836). Courtesy Tom Myers

 

Copyright © 2023-2024 Mark A. Miner

Research for this page conducted by Della Shafer and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan