| Yoakums from Tn. & Ky. to the Illinois frontier I have chosen to limit the scope of my research to Yoakum family who arrived in Illinois prior to 1830. This is partially because there have been conflicting issues regarding the line from previous innacuracies. . For more on this topic, please see the excellent Steve Smith article. |
| Martha (Zeh/See) and George Washington Yoakum. George Washington Yoakum was born abt. 1755 in Peach Creek, Virginia and is believed to be the son of Valentine "Felty" Yoakum and Margaret See. For two years during his childhood, George and his sister were both captives of the Shawnee Nation led by Chief Cornstalk.They were taken captive at the Muddy Creek Massacre, one of the Greenbriar (county) Massacres.. Here's an excellent article on the Greenbriar Massacres. In retaliation for settlers attacks on indians, and because of encroachment on their lands, the Nation rose against settlers. Several families were attacked, leading to the death of George's father, "Felty" and his uncle as well as several members of the Clenendin family. This is known as the Muddy Creek massacre. George was released at Fort Pitt through the efforts of Colonel Bouquet. (Here's more information on George's captivity and release.) During their time in captivity, it is believed that the tribe and captives resumed their normal activities, and that the group may have walked several hundred miles annually. George helped establish at least one (if not three) Yoakum Forts. He fought in the first battle of the Revolution, also known as The Battle of Point Pleasant. He is listed in the Daughters of the American Revolution DAR Patriot Index, Centennial Edition, Part III, Washington DC, 1990 on page 3323. On October 28, 1800, George W. Yoakum died in the Cumberland Gap in Tennessee while hunting bear. It was believed for many years that his widow was buried next to him, but Steve Smith's research has revealed that the woman buried there is more likely George's mother and that his wife/widow later came to Illinois with several of their children. This is the same claim made by the well regarded (John Carroll Powers Biographies for 1876 Early History of Sangamon County, IL) My research leads me to believe that--at least--the following children came with her. (This information is distilled from several sources, including census records, biographies, etc.) (A more comprehensive history of George will be online soon, including photos of Fort Pitt and other areas of interest to this line.) John settled in Montgomery county, Illinois. He was known as "Commodore" Yoakum. James settled in Salisbury Illinois, Menard County (then Sangamon county) he married Julia Owens. However, he is also claimed to be the son of Robert Yoakum of Virginia in the Illustrated Atlas Map of Menard County, Illinois 1874. I believe that the IAMMC is incorrect.I won't list the incredible amount of material I have to back that, but will simply mention proximity (settlers settled near family), naming patterns (sur and given name) and, contradictory and more well regarded materials such as the Early History which claim otherwise. William settled in Salisbury Illinois he married Sarah Simmons. Matthias settled in Salisbury and married Elizabeth McHenry. She was the daughter of Joseph McHenry. (Elizabeth was the sister of Henry McHenry. An interesting historical incident concerning him is here.) Rachel married Col. Ray. The Yoakum's who came to Central Illinois arel referred to as "Snow Birds", having survived the Deep Snow of 1830-1831. This was the same year their neighbor Abraham Lincoln moved to the area with his family. Please note: In the same book by John Powers there is another less-closely-related "Y" family. If you want more information on that line, please check out this page, Yocom's in Illinois. Because of the lack of comprehensive records at such an early point in Illinois history, not much else is known about Martha Zeh. In the Menard county courthouse I found a land transfer dated 1831 that references "Mearttha Yoakum" who deeded part of Matthias original lands to William Yoakum, Matthias son or brother.. Considering the early date of this transfer and the lack of other females named Martha or Mearrta Yoakum in the area: To the best of my knowledge, there was no other Martha Yoakum in either Sangamon or Menard county at this time, so I believe it safe to consider this to be George's widow, and the Martha VanBebber who's families so closely paralleled each other on the east coast. Martha is presumed by this researcher to be buried in Tolan Farms (AKA Batterton Farms)Cemetery, south of Petersburg near Salisbury Illinois. An index of the The Batterton/Tolan Farms Cemetery lists several other Yoakum and Batterton family members. ** In 2007, Stan and Jeanie Lowe found and photographed another cemetery which may have been the final resting place of Martha Yoakum, as the cemetery contains Nancy Yoakum and is located in the same area that they all lived in Menard/Sangamon county. Information on Tibbs Cemetery is available on the Illinois Trails website at www.illinoistrails.com |
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