Peter Yoakum

     Peter Yoakum was born in 1780 at Greenbrier County, Virginia Colony, USA. He was the son of George I. Yoakum and Martha VanBebber. Peter Yoakum married Sarah Stinnett, daughter of Isham Stinnett and Elizabeth Austin, in 1821 at Powell Valley, Claiborne County, Tennessee.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Linda N. Johnston, comp., 'Peter and Sarah Yoakum,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 11 (September 2002), pp. 6 - 8.

PETER AND SARAH YOAKUM

I have not found many researchers of the descendents from Peter and Sarah Yoakum. Though many connect to his siblings, and parents George Yoakum and Martha 'Patty' VanBibber. What I have found places Peter as their second child, following Isaac. Both of them born in Greenbrier, Virginia. Peter was born in 1781. By the 'Tennessee Bible Records' he married Sally Stinnette in Powell s Valley, TN, about 1821. Sally was born in TN in 1795 and was called Sarah in later records in Illinois. She was a daughter of Isham Stinnett, Sr. and Elizabeth Austin, they had thirteen children. Sarah and Peter had at least six children. Tracing their births from Tennessee to Illinois. Peter died before the 1850 census was taken and Sarah had died before the 1860 census, in Pulaski Co., IL. Their graves have not been located.

Children:

Jonathan Isam Yoakum - no dates or information, his name is given in a deed dated 1843, recorded at Pulaski County Courthouse, Illinois. He and his brother William Jackson Yoakum given as heirs of that property. His name is always listed first, so I am assuming he would be the older of the two brothers.

William Jackson Yoakum - Born 1824 in Claiborne Co., TN. (In some census records he gave his birth place as North Carolina.) He died November 10, 1880, at Grand Chain, Pulaski, IL. He was married first to Mary Ann (her last name is still unknown.) They had at least three children, and I believe Mary Ann died between 1852 and 1856. He than married again a Mary Anne and with her had five more children. My great grandmother Melinda Eveline Yoakum-Ellenwood was the oldest of the eight children. She told her grand daughter Melinda Jane Ellenwood of being raised by her stepmother, speaking of her endearingly and of how much she missed her. As a teenage young lady, Melinda Eveline and her stepmother worked in the Union Hospital at Cairo, Illinois. She was only allowed to roll bandages, cook and wash dishes; never to attend the soldiers. Her stepmother and other women from the area worked with the doctors and nurses who cared for the wounded. They traveled by horse and cart between Mound City and Cairo several times a week. They took washing and bandages home to clean and return and the next trip. After the war, 1867, she married George Washington Ellenwood. He and his brother Elisa Hutchinson Ellenwood served under Col. Coates, in the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and were formerly in Company K of the 109th Illinois Infantry. George W. enlisted in July 1862, serve through the Vicksburg campaign, and mustered out in July 1865.

George W. Yoakum - Born October 1833 in Tennessee. Died August 27, 1888, Pulaski Co., Illinois. He, his wife and three sons are buried at the Yoakum-Waters Cemetery, North East of Olmsted, IL. Section 7, twp. 15 S., Range 2 East, Pulaski Co., IL. He married in 1853, Juliette M. Cooper (the daughter of John L. and Sarah Copeland Cooper). They had eight children. Their son James F. Yoakum, b. Sept. 30, 1856, was both a school teacher and a preacher in the Methodist Church.

Eliza Yoakum - Born abt. 1835, in Johnson Co., Illinois. Died February 4, 1884, Pulaski Co., Illinois. She is buried, in a marked grave, at the New Grand Chain Cemetery, Pulaski Co., IL. Other family members should be there also, but there are many unmarked graves and records were lost. She married November 25, 1855 to Elias Hutchinson Ellenwood, brother of George W. as mentioned above. They had four children. There son Charles F. Ellenwood married Ella/Elnora Yoakum (the younger sister of Melinda Eveline Yoakum-Ellenwood).

Louisa Yoakum - Born 1837 in Illinois.

Manerva Ann Yoakum - Born 1839 in Illinois. No other history is know of these two sisters.

SOURCES:

Peter and Sarah Yoakum --

Deed 1843, Pulaski County Courthouse, IL. By Hugh McGee a Justice of the Peace of said County. Peter Yoacum to Deed to Jonathan Isam Yoacum & William Jackson Yoacum, 'the South West quarter of the South East quarter of section Five Township Fifteen south of range Two East in district of Lands subject to sale at Shawney Town Illinois containing forty acres together.' Signed by Hugh McGee and witnessed by J. Ellenwood (signature), Peter Yoacum and Sarah Yaum, with seal and Marks. At the beginning and in the last paragraph the recorder states 'The said Peter Yoakum and Sarah his Wife of the first part have d' Throughout the deed there are three spellings of the name. I believe that the J. Ellenwood who witnessed this deed may be John D. Ellenwood, father of George W. and Elisa H. Ellenwood; as he owned property in the same area at that time.

George W. Yoakum and George W. Ellenwood --

'History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois' ; Edited by William Henry Perrin, Published 1883, Chicago, IL, Page 311 -- GEORGE W. YOAKUM, farmer P.O. New Grand Chain, is a native of East Tennessee, born in October, 1833, a son of Peter and Sarah (Stinnette) Yoakum, natives of the same state. His marriage and children with their history is given here.

Page 30 -- GEORGE W. ELLENWOOD, farmer, P.O. New Grand Chain, was born in Pulaski County, Ill., January 16, 1845. His parents, John D. and Mary E. Ellenwood, both died when he was small. Some of his sibling history and military is given here. 'In March 1867, he wedded Malinda E. Yocum a daughter of William J. and Mary Ann Yocum. This union has been blessed with five children -- Florence M., James F., Charlie E., Amine B. and George W.'

Peter and Sarah's marriage is recorded in 'Tennessee Bible Records & Marriage Bonds', By Acklen, 1974; Pages 152-154. Found at the El Paso Pub. Library, TX, 1976. This is the Henderson Yoakum Bible which gives family history as he recalled from family stories. Henderson Yoakum was born in 1810. He lists the children of George and Margaret (VanBibber) Yoakum; as having seven children. Isaac Yoakum; married _______ Davis, of Powell's Valley. Peter Yoakum; married Sally Stinit, of Powell's Valley. Feltz Yoakum; married Sally Reynolds, of West Illinois. Robert Yoakum; married ______ Berry, of Tennessee. Margaret Yoakum (called Peggy); married ______ Condra, of Powell's Valley. Nancy Yoakum; married ______ . This is followed by a more complete history of there son George Yoakum II; married Mary Ann Maddy in 1807; and their children and grandchildren. Also given here is the Bible record by Franklin Yoakum, born 1819. He and Henderson were sons of George Yoakum and Mary Ann Maddy. In the year of this publication, 1974; the Franklin Bible was 'property of Chas. H. Yoakum, of Los Angeles, Calif.' While Henderson Yoakum's Bible was 'sent by Mrs. C.L. Clark.'

If you have any additional information and/or corrections to this history please contact:
Linda N. Johnston, 2201 Marshall Drive, Edmond, OK 73013-4431.