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John Youngkin |
John Youngkin was born on May 25, 1833 in Forks Township, Northampton County, PA, a twin with his brother Charles, the sons of Fagan "Lane" and Hannah "Anna" (Schweitzer) Youngkin of the family of George Yonkin Jr. He gave his life in Union Army service during the Civil War.
He and his twin were christened on Dec. 13, 1833 in the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Easton, PA. Witnesses were Philip Sandt and Elisabeth.
On Dec. 11, 1853, when he was 20 years of age, John was married to Hannah Ritter (Jan. 19, 1827-1922), daughter of Charles and Catherine (Snyder) Ritter of Newburg near Nazareth, Northampton County. Performing the ceremony in Bethlehem was Rev. D.F. Brendle, minister of the German Reformed Church of Farmersville and other communities in his circuit.
The couple became the parents of William Henry Youngkin, Georgius Washington "George" Youngkin, Amanda C. Wilson, Sarah Ann Ruth Fell, Susannah Violetta Youngkin and John Peter Youngkin. Assisting in the births of the couple's eldest two sons was Dr. Griffith I. Sholl.
John joined the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted in Easton on Feb. 8, 1864 and was mustered into the 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, possibly also known as the 41st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E. Back home, at the birth of their youngest child in April 1864, the little boy was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Hecktown.
Then on May 31, 1864, John was transferred to the 190th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A or E, and thence to the 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A.
Sadly, he was taken prisoner in or around Salisbury, NC and, stricken with diarrhea, died on Jan. 21, 1865 while in captivity. In the Army records his name also has been spelled "Yaukin." While his burial location is unknown, there is some evidence to suggest that he sleeps for the ages in an unmarked grave in Salisbury National Cemetery in Rowan County, NC. His family was led to believe that he had starved to death at Andersonville.
The widowed Hannah applied for a military pension on April 10, 1865 as compensation for her loss. [Widow App. #88.985 - Cert. #53.699]. Hannah could not read or write, and affixed her signature with an "X" on official documents. Signing their names as witnesses to her paperwork were Hannah Kocher and sister-in-law Malinda Younkin. Hannah's petition was approved, and she began to receive monthly checks in the amount of $8.00. At that time, she made her residence in Upper Nazareth Township.
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Book naming the Youngkin orphans
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Census records for 1870 show her and her sons William and John in her Easton household, while both daughters remained away in an orphans' home. Five of the six offspring are named in the 1877 book Pennsylvania Soldier's Orphan Schools, authored by James Laughery Paul.
Hannah lived for a total of an extraordinary 58 years as a widow. She spent much of that time with her married daughter Sarah Fell in Brooklyn, NY, at the address of 117 South Elliott Place. After Sarah's sudden death in 1919, Hannah moved back to Easton to share a residence with her daughter Amanda in Easton at the corner of 103 Burke Street and Paxmosa. At her 93rd birthday, in 1920, the Brooklyn Times Union said she was "as hale and hearty as a person thirty years her junior enjoying good health would be... Mrs. Youngkin received many congratulatory letters and gifts from friends in Brooklyn."
She suffered from acute heart decomposition and, after contracting bronchial pneumonia, died at the age of 95 on Dec. 3, 1922. The remains were lowered under the sod of Easton Cemetery. An obituary in the Allentown Morning Call noted that she was survived by eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The Times Union called her an "old Brooklynite" and said that her "forefathers settled in Pennsylvania in 1641."
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| John and Hannah's sons named in the book Pennsylvania Soldier's Orphan Schools |
~ Son William Henry Youngkin ~
Son William Henry Youngkin (1854-1900) was born on April 13, 1854 in Bethlehem Township. Dr. Griffith I. Sholl assisted in the baby's delivery.
As of 1866, fatherless, he lived in Nazareth in the household of Susannah Snovel, with his mother writing that his host "provides for him at present, but has not adopted him." Then t the age 13, William was admitted to the soldier's orphans school in Womelsdorf, Berks County. PA. He considered his homeplace during these school years to be in Easton, PA. He was discharged on his 16th birthday on April 13, 1870.
William is known to have lived with his widowed mother and bachelor brother John in Easton in 1880. When listed in the 1884 Easton City Directory, he was a cigar manufacturer dwelling at 33 North Seventh Street.
In time he relocated to Kings County, NY and was engaged in building bathtubs, possibly working for his brother-in-law Robert M. Wilson, who owned the Bath Tub Factory of Rome, NY.
Burdened with kidney failure known as "Bright's Disease," he was spirited away in death at the age of 47 on Jan. 27, 1900. The remains were interred in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.
~ Son William Henry Youngkin ~
Son Georgius Washington "George" Youngkin (1856-1899) was born on Jan. 6, 1856 in Bethlehem Township. Dr. Griffith I. Sholl assisted in the delivery of the baby boy. George was christened in infancy in Newark, NJ.
He was admitted to the soldier's orphans school at Womelsdorf, Berks County, PA on April 22, 1864. Then on Sept. 12, 1866, from the orphans school at Bridesburg, he was transferred to the school in Quakertown, Bucks County. In these young years, his home was considered to be in Nazareth, PA. On Aug. 31, 1868, he was transferred yet again to the school in Chester Springs, PA. He was released from Chester Springs on his 16th birthday occurring on Jan. 6, 1872.
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| Soldier's orphans school, Chester Springs, attended by George W. Youngkin Courtesy Pennsylvania Soldier's Orphan Schools, 1877 |
George eventually was joined in matrimony with Elizabeth A. Youngkin (Dec. 24, 1855-1936), originally from Easton and the daughter of German immigrants Joseph and Magadeline (Dithorn) Seiler.
They appear to have made a residence in Brooklyn, NY, where he was active with the Catholic Benevolent Legion.
One known daughter of the couple was Otilia F. Kohl (1877-1952).
Sadly, at the age of 43, George died on Aug. 4, 1899. His remains were laid to eternal repose in St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery in Easton.
Elizabeth endured as a widow for another 37 years, remaining in Easton, with her final address with her granddaughter M. Elizabeth Bachman at 3006 Freemansburg Street. At the age of 80, burdened with heart disease and a skin issue known as "lupus vulgaris," she died on Sept. 16, 1936. Burial was in Easton Heights Cemetery. Her obituary was printed in the Allentown Morning Call.
Daughter Otilia Youngkin (1877-1952) wed Oscar S. Kohn and dwelled in Easton.
~ Daughter Amanda Catharine (Younkin) Wilson ~
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The Wilson grave, Easton Cemetery Courtesy George Cortelyou |
On May 9, 1865, she and her sister Sarah were admitted to the Civil War Orphans Home in Heidelberg, Berks County, PA, headed by Rev. D.B. Albright and his wife Lydia. As of October 1866, she and her sister were in the orphans home at Bridesburg in Philadelphia. They appear to have returned to Heldelberg's orphans home as of 1870 when the federal census enumeration was made, even though Amanda considered Easton as her permanent home. Amanda was discharged from the Home on her 16th birthday on Sept. 25, 1873.
At the age of 17, she is known to have been received into the membership of St. Mark's United Church of Christ on April 3, 1874.
Circa 1877, she wed Robert Manning Wilson (Oct. 26, 1853-1901), son of Julia A. Hubbard.
The newlyweds relocated to Brooklyn, NY, where in 1880 they were marked in the U.S. Census, with Robert earning a living as a watchmaker.
They bore seven offspring, of whom these are known -- William Wilson, Robert E. Wilson, Grace E.M. Shimer, Claude H.H. Wilson and Blanche Amanda Harvard Wilson. Sadly, sons William and Robert did not survive childhood. Their daughter Blanche was born when the family briefly dwelled in Cambridge near Boston, MA in early 1888.
In time they relocated to Rome, Oneida County, NY, where Robert engaged in manufacturing. At one time he owned Rome Sanitary Works and was considered one of the largest manufacturers in town. Circa 1899, he sold the Bath Tub Factory at Rome to a trust known as the Standard Sanitary and Manufacturing Company of Pennsylvania, and remained on the payroll but performed very little work. He went on to buy a sanitary manufacturing company in Boston with the intent to become busy again. He was widely considered "well known and highly esteemed in this vicinity," said the Syracuse Post-Standard.
In about 1898, he purchased a cottage at Sylvan Beach from A.B. French, and for the next few summers they resided there, with him traveling from Rome "to spend a few days with them nearly every week."
On the fateful day of Aug. 31, 1901, while visiting his family at the cottage, the 50-year-old Robert was cleaning and oiling a rusty revolver when it accidentally fired with the bullet penetrating his heart. His family and friends, seated on the veranda, heard the shot and rushed inside. He was falling to the floor when they arrived, with the gun barrel still smoking, and within three minutes was dead, without having spoken. "When Mrs. Wilson saw her husband lying prostrate upon the floor," said the Post-Standard, "Dying as she supposed, she went into hysterics and the family deemed it unwise to acquaint her with the fact that he is dead. The shock to Mrs. Wilson's nervous system was severe."
The news was widely reported in Buffalo, Poughkeepsie and all throughout upstate New York, with his photo portrait appearing in the Rome Daily Sentinel. His remains were returned to Easton for interment. Some thought the shooting was suicide, but an inquest ruled it was accidental. Reported the Post-Standard, he "had always been an expert shot with the pistol and devoted considerable time to the sport. He had a target a which he was accustomed to shoot and had been target shooting a couple of days ago."
It came to light that he carried "the largest life insurance of any man in Rome," between $100,000 and $250,000. The financially secure widow returned to Easton for good and held a membership in the First Reformed Church.
The widowed Amanda and her children returned to Easton. She was a member of the First Reformed Church.
In her final years she lived with her son Claude at 521 High Street in Easton. At the age of 73, suffering from hypertension and acute enlargement of the heart, she passed away on Dec. 6, 1930. Burial was in Easton Cemetery. Son-in-law Nathan G. Shimer of Easton was the informant for the official Pennsylvania certificate of death. An obituary in the Allentown Morning Call said she was "the last member of the family." Inscribed on their prominent grave marker is the text "The memory of the just is blessed."
Daughter Grace E.M. Wilson (1886-1974) was born in Jan. 1886. She tied the marital cord with Nathan George Shimer (1880-1955), a son of Nathan and Lydia E. (Boyer) Shimer of Bethlehem Township. They were the parents of Blanche Shimer. Nathan was a 1902 graduate of Easton High School and studied for a time at Lafayette College. Said the Allentown Morning Call, "he worked for many years as assistant to his brother, Dr. Sterling Shimer, Easton. After the death of his brother, he was associated with Dr. H. Crozier Leigh of Easton." Nathan held memberships in the Tatamy Fire Company, Forks Township Volunteer Fire Company, Easton lodge of the Moose, McKinley Club and Order of Fleas. The couple lived for decades at 346 Bushkill Street, Allentown. They are known to have spent the summer of 1939 at Wildwood, NJ. Nathan in October 1944 was appointed by a Lehigh County Judge as a "majority inspector" of Easton's Second Ward, replacing Mary Phillips, who had resigned. For the last five months of his life, Nathan suffered from a serious illness. Sadly, he died on March 29, 1955 and sleeps for all time in the burial plot of his wife's family in Easton Cemetery. Grace survived her husband by nearly two decades. The angel of death cleaved her away on March 5, 1974.
- Granddaughter Blanche Shimer ( ? - ? ) entered into marriage with Francis Kern ( ? - ? ). The Kerns settled in Easton.
Son Claude H.H. Wilson (1888-1932) was born in about 1888 in Rome, NY and in boyhood moved to Easton near Allentown. He was a World War I veteran. In the early 1930s, he made his home with his sister Grace Shimer at 346 Bushkill Street, Easton. On the fateful day of July 20, 1932, he shot himself in the head with a .32 calibre revolver, as reported in the Morning Call.
Mr. and Mrs. Shimer and Mr. Wilson had gone to the High street house to do some cleaning up. This was formerly Mr. Wilson's home, where he resided with his mother, Mrs. Amanda Youngkin Wilson, until she died a year or so ago. While in the house, he told his sister that he was going to the third floor to look over some of his belongings. A short time later, she heard a shot, but at the time thought nothing of it, thinking the noise came for [sic] outside the house. Later she went to the third floor to do some mopping there, and discovered his lifeless body. He apparently had found the revolver while rummaging in an old trunk... Mr. Wilson has been despondent for some time.
His brother-in-law Nathan G. Shimer served as executor of the estate.
Daughter Blanche Amanda Harvard Wilson (1890-1912) was born on Jan. 21, 1890 in Cambridge near Boston, MA. Other sources erroneously give her birth year as 1888. In her teens, she resided with her parents in Rome, NY, where he father was a manufacturer of bathtubs. After her father's tragic death, Blanche and her mother and siblings moved to Easton, PA. Their address together was at 346 Bushkill Street, Easton. Tragically, in the winter of 1912, Blanche contracted typhoid fever. She suffered for 40 days but could not get well, and further developed bronchial pneumonia, which one physician thought might have been tuberculosis. At the age of 22 years, three months and three days, she passed away at home on April 24, 1912. Her remains were laid to rest in Easton Cemetery.
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| John and Hannah's daughters listed in Pennsylvania Soldier's Orphan Schools |
~ Daughter Sarah Ann (Youngkin) Ruth Fell ~
Daughter Sarah Ann (Youngkin) Ruth Fell (1860-1919) was born on April 16 or 26, 1859/1860.
She was very young when her father died during the Civil War. On May 9, 1865, at the age of five, she and her sister Amanda were admitted to the Civil War Orphans Home in Heidelberg, Berks County, PA. The facility was headed by Rev. D.B. Albright and his wife Lydia and also has been known as the Bethany Orphans Home of Womelsdorf.
As of late 1866, she was at the orphans school in Bridesburg, Philadelphia. The sisters apparently returned to Heldelberg as of 1870 when the federal census enumeration was made, even though she considered Nazareth as her permanent homeplace. There is no record of her discharge from the Orphans Home.
There are confusing accounts regarding her married state. The Brooklyn Daily Times reported that her "first husband was John Ruth" and "John A. Fell, her second husband..."
She was the mother of two sons, Clarence Ruth and Daniel Joseph Fell.
Her address in later years was at 401 Clermont Avenue in Brooklyn. At the age of 59, on July 24, 1919, she died suddenly at home from acute indigestion. The remains were shipped from Brooklyn to Easton for burial. The Brooklyn Eagle and Easton newspapers ran obituaries.
Son Clarence Ruth ( ? - ? ) has not left any significant paper trail.
Son Daniel Joseph Fell (1884-1933) was born in April 1884. Circa 1907, he tied the marital cord with Alice Rebecca Sandt (1888-1977), daughter of William Philip and Grace A. (Werkheiser) Sandt. They were the parents of an only son, Donald S. Fell. Daniel was employed for 26 years by the Central, Lehigh and Hudson and Lehigh Valley Railroads, the last 15 years of which as a trainman on the Lehigh Valley. He held a membership in the Packer lodge of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Easton lodge of the Moose and Easton aerie of the Eagles. The Fells' address was 632 Ferry Street, Easton. Grief shattered the family when, at the age of 48, Daniel died in March 1933. Burial of the remains was under the sod of Easton Cemetery. An obituary in the Allentown Morning Call said he was "a well known railroader" and the "son of the late John and Sarah Fell." Alice outlived her husband by 44 years. She married a second time to Herbert J. Locke (1890-1975). Death spirited her away in 1977.
- Grandson Donald S. Fell (1907-1962) was born in 1907. He wed Margaret Tucker (1909-2000), daughter of Martin and Mary (Boris) Tucker of Pen Argyl. The couple did not reproduce. Margaret belonged to St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church of Wilson near Allentown. They lived at 904 Greenhill Avenue. Sadly, Donald died at the age of 55 on New Year's Eve 1962. As a widow, Margaret supported herself through work in the Chipman Knitting Mills in West Easton and later as a supervisor with Lisa Marie Sportswear, Phillipsburg. She retired in 1977. Margaret was swept away into the heavenly host at the age of 91 on Nov. 2, 2000, as a patient in ManorCare Health Services in Palmer Township.
~ Daughter Susannah Violetta Youngkin ~
Daughter Susannah Violetta Youngkin (1861-1868) was born on Nov. 30, 1861.
At the age of five, in 1866, she dwelled with her mother in Nazareth, PA.
Sadly, Susannah died on May 26, 1868, at the age of six-and-a-half years. Her final burial place is not known.
~ Son John Peter Youngkin ~
Son John Peter Youngkin (1864-1903) was born on April 27, 1864. He was baptized on or about May 2, 1864 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hecktown, PA.
John was an infant at the time of his father's death at war. At the age of eight, on Sept. 17, 1872, he was admitted to the soldier's orphans school in Womelsdorf, Berks County. During his time in the school, his hometown was considered to be Easton, PA.
John eventually married Minnie Wilhelmina Goeller (1866-1958), daughter of Catherine Goeller Richmiller.
They became the parents of Amanda Catherine Gilmartin, Frank Youngkin, Sarah A. Youngkin, Mary W. Youngkin (-1902-) and John Youngkin (who died young).
Circa 1903, the Youngkins dwelled in Brooklyn, NY at the address of 693 Sixth Avenue, with his employment marked as an "oiler."
Sadly, at the age of 39, John died in Brooklyn, NY on Sept. 19, 1903, from exhaustion caused by pulmonary tuberculosis.
Minnie survived her husband by a remarkable 55 years. In the spring of 1921, she made news in the Brooklyn Citizen when identifying a 15-year-old delinquent who had pick-pocketed her while walking in Surf Avenue on Coney Island. Her last address was 7101 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn.
At the age of 92, she passed away on Sept. 5, 1958. An obituary was published in the Brooklyn Bay Ridge Home Reporter. The headcount of her survivors was seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
John, Minnie and Amanda rest under a single marked stone at Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings County, NY.
Daughter Amanda Catherine Youngkin (1891-1970) exchanged marital vows with John Gilmartin ( ? - ? ). They became the parents of Nora Gilmartin and Mildred Massoni. Amanda was employed for years by the New York City Transit Authority and retired from the agency. She passed away on June 28, 1970. Her solemn requiem mass was held in the Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery, with an obituary printed in the New York Daily News.
- Granddaughter Nora Gilmartin ( ? - ? ) does not appear to have married. She passed away in late Sept. 1977. A short death notice was printed in the New York Daily News, calling her a "dear aunt" of her sister's three children. Her funeral mass of the resurrection was sung at Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church.
- Granddaughter Mildred V. Gilmartin (1919-1957) was born in about 1919. She wed John Massoni ( ? - ? ). They made their dwelling-place at 7311 Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Together the couple bore a trio of offspring -- Edward Massoni, John Massoni and Carol Ann McFadden. Grief cascaded over the family when, at the age of 38, Mildred died at home on Oct. 22, 1957. The New York Daily News published an obituary. Her solemn requiem mass was conducted in the nearby St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church.
Great-grandson Edward Massoni ( ? - ? )
Great-grandson John Massoni ( ? - ? )
Great-granddaughter Carol Ann Massoni ( ? - ? )
Son Frank Youngkin (1897-1943) was born in about 1897. He was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, NY and for 27 years was employed by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, the last nine of which as a dispatcher. Frank held a seat on the board of directors of the North Shore Beach Property Owners Association and belonged to the Holy Name Society of St. Ephrem's Roman Catholic Church. Frank was joined in wedlock with Irene ( ? - ? ). The pair bore five known children -- Claire Youngkin, Lorraine Youngkin, Maureen Youngkin, Frank Youngkin Jr. and Edwin Youngkin. His home in the early 1940s was at 826 70th Street. Sadly, he died at home on March 18, 1943. An obituary ran in the Brooklyn Eagle. A funeral mass was sung at the family church, followed by interment in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
- Granddaughter Claire Youngkin ( ? - ? )
- Granddaughter Lorraine Youngkin ( ? - ? )
- Granddaughter Maureen Youngkin ( ? - ? )
- Grandson Frank Youngkin Jr. ( ? - ? )
- Grandson Edwin Youngkin ( ? - ? )
Daughter Sarah A. Youngkin (1899- ? )
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Copyright © 2023-2024, 2026 Mark A. Miner |
Content for this biography courtesy of William C. Youngkin, Francis M. Marvin and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan |