Sullivan-Elk County PA Archives Biographies.....YONKIN, William H. 1838 - 
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  Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899)
  
      WILLIAM H. YONKIN. - With other prominent members of the Yonkin family whose
  histories will be found in this biographical record of Sullivan county, the
  gentleman whose name heads this sketch has made for himself a well earned
  reputation as a man of ability, enterprise and intelligence. To such there is
  always open a field of action in which their talents may be brought into play,
  and used, if they so elect, to further the best interests of their community.
  That has been the case with Mr. Yonkin, as a brief relation of the chief events
  in his life will prove.
  
      William H. Yonkin was born January 13, 1838, in Cherry township, Sullivan
  county, on a farm adjoining the one on which he now resides. His parents, Henry
  and Barbre (Hartzigg) Yonkin, were old settlers of the county and highly
  respected citizens. A full sketch of their lives and record of their ancestors
  and immediate family will be found in the history of their son, Hon. John
  Yonkin, on another page of this book. Until reaching his majority William
  remained at home, assisting his father in farming, then started out on his own
  account. In some seven years he was employed on various farms in the vicinity
  and then went to Elk county, where for three years he was engaged in lumbering.
  At the end of that time he returned to Sullivan county and purchased fifty acres
  of his present property, from Frederick Miller, to which a few years later he
  added fifty more acres.
  
      Of this he has made a fertile, well-ordered farm, where with his family he
  enjoys life in a comfortable home, and entertains his many friends with genuine
  hospitality.
  
      On June 30, 1869, Mr. Yonkin was united in marriage with Miss Hannah A.
  Fairchild, and this union has been blessed with two children - Otis F. and Mina
  Claire - both of whom are at home with their parents. In 1874 Mr. Yonkin was
  elected to the responsible office of sheriff of Sullivan county, which he held
  for three years, fulfilling its duties to the satisfaction of all concerned.
  That his fellow citizens appreciated his ability and faithfulness in positions
  of trust is further shown in the fact that he has served them as collector for
  two years, constable for five years, township clerk for four years, and township
  treasurer for two years.  At present (1898) Mr. Yonkin is holding a government
  position, having been appointed in 1895 United States store-keeper and gauger at
  Mildred, Sullivan county. In this office, as in others, he has demonstrated his
  fitness for the place by his honesty, tact and courtesy.
  
      Mr. Yonkin has been a Master Mason since 1867 and is an honored member of
  Lodge No. 387, at Dushore. He has also been a member of the Farmers' Alliance
  since 1890. He belongs to the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Democrat.
  
      Mrs. Yonkin was born in Cherry township, September 23, 1847, and is a
  daughter of Steven and Nancy (Thomas) Fairchild; the father having been born in
  New Jersey and the mother in Cherry township, Sullivan county. Mr. Fairchild
  came to Cherry township with his parents in 1819, they being pioneers of this
  region. He followed the occupation of a farmer and also operated sawmills. He
  died April 5, 1880, aged seventy-five years, his wife surviving him until July
  20, 1890, when she, too, passed away, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their
  remains are interred in Cadwallader cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild four
  children were born, namely: Caroline, who died when three years old; Hannah A.,
  wife of our subject; Charlotte A., residing on the old homestead; and William
  T., who married Miss Anna Hall and who also lives at the old home.
  
      The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Yonkin were Freeman and Hannah (Ketcham)
  Fairchild, who removed from Morris county, New Jersey, and in 1819 to Cherry
  township. The mother was born in May, 1784, and died October 16, 1872. The
  father was born in 1782 and died in 1834. To this couple were born the following
  children: Steven, married to Miss Nancy Thomas; Harriet, who became the wife of
  Wells Willocks; Caroline M., who married John W. Martin; and Daniel, who married
  Miss Elizabeth Richard.
  
      The grandparents on the maternal side were Samuel T. and Charlotte
  (Huffmaster) Thomas, natives of Germany, who came to the United States and to
  Sullivan county at an early day. In accordance with an old custom, Mrs. Thomas,
  then a young girl, not having money enough to bring her over, was sold on her
  arrival in this country, the purchase money defraying her passage. The children
  born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were: Nancy, mother of Mrs. Yonkin; Caroline, who
  died when fifteen years old; Margaret, the wife of Adrian Van Houten; William,
  who is married and lives at Berwick, Pennsylvania; and Mary M., who married
  Frank Parsons and also lives at Berwick.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from: 
    
  History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania
  by Thomas J. Ingham
    
  Compendium of Biography
    
  The Lewis Publishing Company
  Chicago: 1899
  
  
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