Sullivan-Bradford County PA Archives Biographies.....YONKIN, John 1829 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2007, 1:32 am Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) HON. JOHN YONKIN. - Prominent among the well known, thrifty and honored citizens of Cherry township, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch deserves more then a passing notice. His ancestors came to this country almost a century ago, and they and their descendants, seemingly unaffected by the fever of change which draws so many to seek the far west, have always been loyal to the Quaker state. Mr. Yonkin himself has remained a faithful son of his native state and county, being born September 26, 1829, in Cherry township, where his long and busy life has been spent. He is the son of Henry and Barbre (Hartzigg) Yonkin, who was born at Havre, France, and in Switzerland, respectively. A brief sketch of the grandparents on both sides will be of interest to all readers of this biographical work, and is herewith presented. Henry and Elizabeth (Hartzigg) Yonkin were natives of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and came to America in 1807. Prior to sailing on their long journey, - as it was considered in those days, - some trouble arose which caused them to be detained for a year before they could start. This delay, added to the rascally conduct of the captain of the vessel, who took advantage of their youth and ignorance of travel to swindle them out of their small capital, caused their funds to be entirely exhausted by the time they reached the shores of the new world, and, in accordance with a custom prevailing in those days, upon landing they were sold to a farmer at Bethlehem to pay for their passage. They remained with this man for several years, then lived in different parts of the state until 1823, when they removed to Cherry township, Sullivan county, which was then a part of Lycoming county. Here Mr. Yonkin purchased seventy-five acres of wild land, for which he paid two dollars per acre, made a clearing and built a log cabin. He followed farming and also worked as a wheelwright, and in the course of time became a well-to-do and prominent citizen of his locality. His family consisted of seven children: Henry, father of our subject; John, who married Miss Mary Lavenverg; Elizabeth, now the widow of Henry Graifley, of Cherry township; Catherine, wife of Christian Mozier; Joseph, who married Lucretia Hoffa; Jacob, living in Cherry township, whose wife, Elizabeth Moyer, is deceased; Peter, deceased, whose wife, Catherine Suber, survives him. Mr. Yonkin and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and in politics he was a Democrat. He died in June, 1851, at the age of seventy-seven years. His last words to his wife were: "I wish you the good luck to live ten years more," which wish was fulfilled, his beloved companion dying just ten years later, in 1861, aged eighty-six years. Both were buried in the Lutheran cemetery in Cherry township. On the maternal side the grandparents of our subject were John and Catherine (Shiredecker) Hartzigg, natives of Switzerland, who came to America in 1813 and settled in New Jersey, removing later to that portion of Muncy township, Lycoming county, now Cherry township, Sullivan county. Here Mr. Hartzigg carried on farming and also worked as a wheelwright. Once in their early settlement here Mr. Hartzigg was taken very ill. A physician must be consulted and medicine obtained. To do this Mrs. Hartzigg walked forty miles in a day to Berwick, through twenty miles of unbroken forests, and the next day returned on foot the same distance to her home. He died in 1852, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife several years later, at the age of eighty years. Their children were as follows: Barbre, who became the wife of Henry Yonkin, father of our subject; John M. and William, who married sisters, Eliza and Sarah Kester; and Salina, who married Philip Miller. Henry, father of our subject, was born in Havre, France, in 1806. He came to this country in 1824, and settled in Sullivan county, where he purchased fifty acres of wild land, at two dollars per acre, from a man named John Kunkle. To this he afterward added fifty acres more, and eventually had a fine farm. He became an influential citizen and held a number of public offices, being supervisor, school director, tax collector, etc. In politics he was a Democrat, and with his wife was a member of the Lutheran church. He died December 29, 1889, at the age of eighty-three years, his wife surviving him until October 7, 1891, and reaching the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Their children were as follows: John, the subject of this sketch; Mary C., the widow of William Smith, who resides with her daughter, Ida Zaner, in Cherry township; Charles F., living in Forks township, Sullivan county, married Miss Wealthy Merrithew; George W., a farmer in Cherry township, married Miss Mary Sweeney, and is represented in this work; Ellen is the wife of H. G. Huffmaster, whose sketch will be found on another page; W. H. whose sketch is also included in this book, is a farmer in Cherry township and married Miss Hannah Fairchild; Jacob died at the age of sixteen years; Emily died when eight years old; Hannah married Fain Moyer, a farmer in Lycoming county; Elmira is the wife of R. C. Kashinka, a blacksmith in Cherry township; Peter J. married Miss Elizabeth Kaneller, and farms on the old homestead. Edward married Miss Ellen Smith, and carries on farming in Cherry township. Judge John Yonkin left his home when sixteen years of age, intent on making his own way in the world, and going to Bradford county at once found employment with Colonel Gordon F. Mason, who combined the occupations of farmer and land-agent, and also operated sawmills and did a general lumbering business. He remained with this gentleman for fourteen years, a trusted and faithful employe, and in 1874 purchased from John R. Huffmaster the farm on which he now resides. The place was then an unbroken wilderness, and the price paid for it was four thousand two hundred dollars, Mr. Yonkin buying it for his youngest brother, to whom he offered it for four thousand dollars. The latter, however, declined to take it and Mr. Yonker moved on it himself, and has by hard work and careful management converted it into one of the finest farms in Sullivan county. Judge Yonkin was married February 21, 1863, at the residence of the Rev. Charles L. Early, Lutheran minister in Colley township, to Miss Loretta A. Barge. Mrs. Yonkin was born in Cherry township, March 16, 1841, and is a daughter of Gulieb and Sarah (Suber) Barge - the former a native of Germany and the latter of Northampton, Pennsylvania. The father was brought to this country when a child of three years, his parents settling in Cherry township, and here he spent his entire life, dying August 19, 1890, at the age of seventy-five. His wife died in 1888, aged sixty-two years. Their remains were laid to rest in Zion Lutheran cemetery. In addition to Mrs. Yonkin their family consisted of Sally A., deceased; Jacob, a farmer and fruit-grower in Wilmot township, who married Miss Frances Sacks; Emeline, the wife of Clark Fox, a farmer in Jefferson county, Kansas; Jesse married Miss Mary Bowen and lives in Bradford county, Pennsylvania; Mary S. married Michael Brobst, a farmer in Montour county, Pennsylvania; Caroline E. is the wife of Fred Swere, of Bloomsbury, Pennsylvania; Della C., deceased, was the wife of Freeman Frye. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Yonkin, Frederick and Mary E. Barge, were natives of Germany and came to this country in 1813, settling in Cherry township, where they carried on farming. Her maternal grandparents, Jacob and Mary M. (Fronfelder) Suber, were born in Pennsylvania, and settled in Sullivan couty in 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Yonkin have one son, Ira B., who carries on his father's farm and is well known as a good business man. Judge Yonkin is a man of much prominence in public affairs and has filled many offices of honor and responsibility. He served as township treasurer four years and was school director for two terms. In 1878 he was elected county commissioner, serving for three years. In 1886 he was elected associate judge of Sullivan county, but his seat was contested by E. A. Strong. In 1891 he was again elected to this important position, which he held for one term of five years. He is a man of superior intelligence, of undoubted integrity, genial in his manner and a general favorite with all who know him. He is thoroughly posted in all the vital questions of the day and is a most agreeable companion. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb