James Edward Yoakum

     James Edward Yoakum was born in January 1864 at Knoxville Township, Ray County, Missouri. He was the son of William Franklin Yoakum and Nancy Elizabeth Poff. James Edward Yoakum married, at age 24, Rosa E. McCubbins, age 17 on Sunday, 26 February 1888. James Edward Yoakum died on 12 June 1946 at Ray County, Missouri, at age 82 years and 5 months.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Earl Quintrell, comp., 'James Yoakum,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 3 (January 2002), pp. 10 - 11.

JAMES YOAKUM

'There isn't a better citizen in Ray County than Jim,' said a gentleman to the writer recently in speaking of Mr. James Yoakum of two miles north of Knoxville.

He is a real progressive farmer who knows how to coax the black soil of Ray County into yielding abundant crops of corn, wheat, oats, etc.---and Jim Yoakum knows how to give the proper attention to live stock of nearly every kind to obtain the best results.

The writer found Mr. Yoakum, during a conversation in 'The Missourian office, to be a very pleasant gentleman. He keeps abreast with the times and is really progressive in every truly practical way. A gentleman who has known Mr. Yoakum since boyhood days says:

'James Yoakum (Jim) as every friend calls him is an old time Missourian of the best sort ---although not an old man, being, however, in the prime of life and of importance to his home and country!

'He was born without inherited land, and he began by working by the month---low wages and long hours. He was very soon marked as being different from other fellows in that he was found working and taking care of things like they were his own, saving the master's stuff---in many cases preventing loss exceeding the cost of his wages, thus twice and thrice earning his pay! Needless to say, his services were soon in demand, and he did not have to hunt a job---he worked 12 months without deducting time when others worked 7 and 8 months with wet days off.

'Uncle Reuben Green, a large farmer, soon got hold of Jim---and here his fortunes were assured for as Jim worked year by year for Uncle Reuben (one of the noblest men that ever lived) he studied and learned Uncle Reuben's methods of successful farming and stock raising.

Mr. Yoakum has a young stallion that weighed 1350 pounds when 16 months old and a pair of yearling mules that tipped the beam at 2200---that's the way he produces them.

As we always like to put in a few lines of a biographical nature will state that Mr. James Yoakum married Rosa McCubbin on February 26, 1888, and the names of their children are Pryor, Charley, Pearley, Jesse, Gertie, Dollie, Claude, Bessie and Albert.

Mr. and Mrs. Yoakum and their family reside at the Yoakum farm two miles north of Knoxville on what formerly was known as the Uncle Dan Taylor place. Mr. Yoakum now owns 180 acres of land in Knoxville Township, and his success in building up the soil and adding to the estate is an example worth the while of every Ray Countian. His use of willow trees and his methods of plowing have resulted in filling many a gully and drain. His hauling of all available barn manure to the fields has shown its worth in every case.

Mr. Yoakum has also had charge of the Jewell Mayes farm of 240 acres for several years, the son, Pryor Yoakum, residing there and handling the place with his father to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. Yoakum is a good citizen from every point of view. He believes in good schools and good churches, good lodges and good homes. Comfort and industry go hand in hand with him. The community made up of Jim Yoakums would be a model in progress and prosperity, and such a community would widely attract the attention of the people of our great commonwealth!

The Missourian, Richmond, Ray County, Missouri -- Thursday -- March 30, 1916, pg. 2.