Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Yonker, Nicholas 1833 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 1:28 pm

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

NICHOLAS YONKER. 

One of the finest farms in Florence Township is that owned and occupied by the 
gentleman above named who has high standing as a man of personal worth and 
abundant means. The estate is thoroughly improved, the buildings being 
unexcelled in the township, and the two hundred and forty acres of land made 
productive by the best means known to modern husbandmen. It affords pleasure 
to note these facts as the result of persistent zeal and unflagging industry 
on the part of Mr.Yonker, who was a poor boy, getting his start in life by 
working on a farm by the month. When he landed in this State in 1854, he had 
but $9; now he is numbered among the wealthy agriculturists of the county. The 
stock from which Mr. Yonker traces his descent was German and the family had 
resided in Switzerland for generations. In that famed county he was born 
February 2, 1833, his parents being Nicholas and Mary (Marte) Yonker, who 
spent their entire lives in that, their native land. They were the parents of 
six children named respectively: Nicholas, Benedict, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna 
Mary and Anna. The subject of this notice was reared in his native land, which 
he left on becoming of age to try his fortune in the United States. Coming to 
Illinois he spent two and a half years in Mokena, this county, after which he 
returned to the land of his birth. Ten months later he came again to America 
and spent the following year in Wilmington, this county. His next place of 
residence was Milton Township, where he labored five years, going thence to 
Peotone Township for a sojourn of two years. In 1866 he made settlement on 
section 14, Florence Township, where he still lives surrounded by the comforts 
to which his industry entitles him. The marriage of Mr. Yonker and Miss Anna 
E. Weyland was celebrated January 7, 1859, at the bride's home near 
Wilmington. She was born in Switzerland and is the daughter of Benedict 
Weyland. Her character and attainments gain the respect of those to whom she 
is known and many friends testify to her worth. The happy union has resulted 
in the birth of eight sons and daughters, of whom we note the following. 
Albert married Miss Isabella Gates and is the father of two children—Alpha and 
Elmer; he resides with his father and is engaged in farming. George and 
Frederick are deceased. Mary became the wife of William Grainmeyer, a farmer 
of Jackson Township, and they have one daughter—Louisa. Frank is dead. Sarah, 
Anna and Ollie are still lingering by the parental fireside. Mr. Yonker is a 
Republican of the strongest type. He and his family belong to the Evangelical 
Church and endeavor to consistently carry their Christian belief into their 
daily practice, winning thereby, the respect even of those who disbelieve the 
grand truths of the Gospel.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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