AREA HISTORY:  Yocumtown, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE VILLAGE OF YOCUMTOWN, Pages 631-632

The village of Yocumtown is located on high ground, overlooking to the north and 
east the beautiful Fishing Creek Valley.  The stream which passes near it was 
called, by the first settlers, Y Creek, as its course nearly outlines that 
letter.  The valley was also called "Y Creek Valley" says our intelligent 
informant, Joseph Wickersham, whose ancestors settled in the vicinity at a very 
early date, coming with the tide of Quaker immigrants from Chester County, Penn.

David Warren, one of the first settlers who lived in this vicinity, was 
accustomed to put bells on his horses, when he turned them into pasture, in 
order that he might find them in the thickets.  This was done before the era of 
fences.

David Richardson, of England, was the first surveyor of this region.  Edward 
Shippen, of Philadelphia, took out warrants for large tracts of land in Fishing 
Creek Valley, the first settlers of which were nearly all Quakers, who came 
there as early as 1732, among whom were the Healds, Warrenses, Millses etc.

Having few wagons some of the pioneer farmers sawed rings from the trunks of gum 
trees for wagon wheels, thrashed the first crops of wheat with the flail, and 
separated the grain from the chaff by means of linen sheets; placing both 
together, and throwing them up in the air, a gentle breeze would separate the 
chaff from the wheat.

Thomas Mills, in 1814, built the first house where Yocumtown stands.

William Nailer, before 1770, built a fulling-mill along the Fishing Creek near 
Yocumtown.  Elijah Yocum became the owner later, and near by built a meeting 
house.  A woolen factory was afterward attached to the fulling-mill.  This 
industry was subsequently owned by Messrs Arnold, Ginder, Heathcoate and others.

A man named Plow accidentally drowned himself more than half a century ago, 
north of the village, by attempting to drink from a spring near his house, by 
lying down to the water.  He lost his balance, fell headlong into the deep 
spring and lost his life.

The muster grounds of militia times for Newberry and Fairview Townships, were 
near the old Conrad Brubaker property below Yocumtown.  At this place James 
Mills, in 1739, built the first stone house in the neighborhood.  He was one of 
the original Quaker settlers.  The militia were drilled by Capts. John Weitzel 
and David Fisher, of Fairview.  The company numbered 100 men.

David Reeser, who died in Yocumtown a few years ago, was a soldier in the war of 
1812, along the Niagara frontier.

This town lies on the old and considerably traveled route from Lewisberry to 
Middletown.  It was named after Elijah Yocum, who located here about 1816.  Some 
of his first neighbors were Daniel Brookhart, Lee Montgomery, James Mills and 
Isaiah Yocum.  Stores have been kept here by Samuel Kister, Samuel Fortenbaugh, 
Hiram N. Prowell, David Good and others.  There has been no hotel for a number 
of years.  Dr. William E. Sweiler, an intelligent and successful practitioner, 
has long been the village physician.  A tannery was in successful operation here 
for many years.  The business was conducted by Samuel Kister, and later by his 
son Clinton Kister.  The schoolhouse is to the north of the village, near which 
is the Union Church, a neat and cozy building with a bell and spire.  Various 
denominations worship in it, and a prosperous Sunday-school is held.  The old 
log, weather-boarded school and meeting house stood on the same site for more 
than half a century.  Israel Garrettson, now a prosperous farmer and member of 
the State agricultural board, kept school here eleven years in succession, a 
long time ago.  The population is 140.