BIOGRAPHY: George B. YOCUM, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/
_______________________________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 465-466.

  GEORGE B. YOCUM, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at Ickesburg, Perry 
county, Pa., July 3, 1845, son of Samuel and Mary (Skandish) Yocum.  His 
paternal grandparents were Mr. And Mrs. John Yocum.  Three of the children of 
Samuel Yocum and his wife died in early life.  The others are:  Sarah Emma (Mrs. 
John Forsythe), who had two children, and died aged twenty-eight years;  George 
B., and John, of Ohio, married to a lady of that State, has three children,  
Adam, George and Annie.  Samuel Yocum died aged sixty-six years;  his wife 
reached the age of seventy-three.
  The removal of the family to Lewistown took place when George B. Yocum was 
about five years old.  He was accordingly educated in the Lewistown schools.  He 
resided with his parents until he attained his majority.  Soon after this he 
began the business which he has carried on efficiently and profitably all his 
life since, that of making excavations and constructing masonry under contract.  
This work has been done principally in Lewistown and its vicinity.  But before 
the start in this handicraft came Mr. Yocum's connection with the great event of 
the century, for our county -- the war of the Rebellion.  He was not yet of age 
when, on July 14, 1864, he enlisted at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa., for four 
months' service, under Capt. A. B. Selheimer, in Company H, One Hundred and 
Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers.  He was honorably discharged November 4, 
1864, but was not long out of the patriotic struggle.  He re-enlisted March 28, 
1865, in Company E, Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and, having 
faithfully served at Monocacy and Petersburg, and amid other stirring scenes of 
the last days of the Rebellion, he was discharged June 25, 1865.  Mr. Yocum 
adheres to the Democratic party.  He was elected on its ticket to the borough 
council, in which he served three consecutive terms.  In 1894 he received the 
Democratic nomination for chief burgess, and was elected for a term of three 
years.  He is a member of Lodge No. 170, K. G. E., and of Colonel Hulings Post, 
No. 176, G. A. R., and of Lodge No. 270, K. of P., all of Lewistown.
  George B. Yocum was married August 5, 1866, to Rebecca, daughter of John and 
Sarah Soles.  Their children are:  Samuel, married Hettie Bilger, has four 
children;  Sarah Jane;  John, married Amanda Beatty, has one child;  Edward, 
married Laura Willey, has one child;  Harry;  and Charles Hurlbut, who was born 
May 20, 1873, and died at the age of eleven years.  Mr. Yocum and his family 
attend the Lutheran church.  The parents of Mrs. Yocum, Mr. And Mrs. Soles, are 
both deceased.  Their children are:  Eva;  Eliza;  Sarah A.;  John;  Mary;  
Harry;  Rebecca (Mrs. Yocum);  William;  Hannah J.;  and George.