Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Interview with Thomas Adam Yeackley

This Interview was sent to me by his Grandaughter Linda at LindMrrs@aol.com. She states that "This is an interview with my grandfather Thomas Adam Yeckley,(born Nov. 1891)son of Oscar B. Yeckley and Emma Gertrude Baker. This interview was conducted in September 1973 by a student who lived down the street from my grandfather."


Thomas said, "There were five boys and four girls in our family. Some died young. One brother and two sisters died. I was born in a dug-out in Greer County. At that time Greer County was in Texas, later becoming a part of Oklahoma. The dug-out was in a creek bank by the Navaho Mountains (they now call them the Wichita Mountains). It was a pretty little creek and never over flowed. There was an arbor built out of willows at the front of the dug-out. The willows made a good shade and we cooked and ate there. When I was born my grandmother Yeckley (Mary Elizabeth Nash ) delivered me. We were fifty miles from no where. As long as my grandmother lived, she was with us.
My father (Oscar) was born in California. His grandfather had gone there from Pennsylvania to look for gold. He had no luck and when he died the family moved to Utah and when they left there to come to Greer County to homestead they brought a herd of sheep with them. The Indians used to come by the dug-out sometimes and ask for mutton and my mother or grandmother always gave it to them.
My Dad (Oscar) decided to get rid of the sheep and raise Mustang ponies to sell. They were mean. They could bite you and paw at your at the same time. We had a garden and chickens and two milk cows the and later when we moved.
They opened up Kiowa country in 1901. Texas allowed any man aged 21 or a widow to homestead a half section—that’s three hundred and twenty acres. I was 10 then. We moved there and my Dad and grandmother homesteaded a section. Dad built a house right on the dividing line because you had to live on your homestead.
Dad had given up raising Mustangs and started raising cattle. We kept Mustangs to herd cattle with though. Dad set the girls and boys alike to chopping trees for wood for the house, and fences and wood to burn. He dern near worked us kids to death. We sowed wheat and put up hay on that place too. We had a lot of tallow and the women folks made lye soap and candles with it. We were still near the mountains. About half way up our mountain there was a spring and that’s where my mother and grandmother did the wash—used their home-made soap. There were a lot of currant bushes around the spring and they spread the clothes over them to dry. Anyone for miles around would know when it was our wash day. It looked as if the whole mountain was covered with clothes.
We had a one room school there and one teacher taught first to eighth grades. Some rode horses, some came in buggies, but we walked to school. We were only about a half mile away. The girls got to go to school more because they didn’t have so much work to do.
We didn’t celebrate holidays at home, but every Fourth of July there was a big picnic at Granite, Oklahoma. It lasted three or four days. My Dad love to get out and go and w always went to that picnic. Hitched up the wagon, a Schooner wagon it was, put on the bows and the wagon sheets, put in a stove and some beds, and away we’d go. People didn’t think anything of going thirty or forty miles to a shin-dig. There was a park on the east side of the mountain at Granite. Everybody gathered there and had fun. They pitched horse shoes and had square dances. Kids tried to catch a greased pig and that was fun. They’d grease a pole that had a dollar fastened on top (that was a lot of money then). Some kids actually got it by rolling in the sand and climbing the pole before the sand fell off them. There were lemonade stands there and you could get a bit glass for, I guess, maybe a nickel. We saw people we knew for thirty or forty miles around and just visited for three or four days. Dad liked to go camping in the summer anyway. We didn’t shoot Roman Candles on the Fourth of July, but we did at Christmas. We sometimes set the whole prairie afire and they had to stop all that.
The Navaho Mountains were beautiful. Cedars grew on the mountain and all around the creek that came down from the mountains were oaks and elms. There were diamondback rattlesnakes around the bottom part of the mountain. You sure had to stay away from these. They were thick as the hair on a dog’s back. My Dad had to kill rattlers on occasion. He killed a nine foot panther once. There were wolves and coyotes, too.
When I was a good sized boy we left the homestead and moved to Okemah. We drove fifty head of cattle and took two schooner wagons. Mother drove one and Dad drove one. We settled on land we leased from the Creek Indians—built a house and fenced the place to keep the cattle in. We tried to go to school that winder, but it was five miles away and the snows were bad that year. We all had chills and fever. One sister, and one brother, and my grandmother died of malaria that winter. The neighbors built coffins for our dead. WE had never been around churches, but there was a parson who conducted burial services for each member of our family that died. We lost all of the cattle that winter, too.
There is no way to compare a family of today with ours then. We all felt very close. We had to be. We depended on each other. People visited one another for several days at a time. I don’t believe people like each other as much as they use to".

##

The following was written by the student who interviewed my grandfather.

The most important rule in Tom’s family seemed to be “we’ll work together to survive”. That would make for a close-knit family. It seems to me the social disorganization of this type family came about when there was no need to work together to survive. The family today nourishes the community, with it’s members contributing time and money to promoting and preserving an interest in art, music, education, theater, religion, civic projects, all cultural values. Perhaps reorganization is centered around these services.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Adam Yeckley & Mary Elizabeth Nash

Adam YECKLEY was born in 1824 probably in Manchester or Palmyra, NY area. He died on 26 Nov 1880 near Clarendon, Texas. He was buried in or near Clarendon, Texas. Adam married Mary Elizabeth (Arvinda) NASH daughter of James NASH and Mary SCOTT on 14/15 Aug 1844 in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana. Mary was born on 24 Jun 1827 in Plymouth, Marshall, In She died on 4 Oct 1904 in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana. She was buried in Oct 1904. The 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census has Adam listed as a Farmer, age 36, born in N.Y. His Wife, Elizabeth, housewife, age 32, born in Ind. In the 1860's Adam and his family lived in Timbucktoo California, which is about 20 miles east of Marysville on Highway 20. It was a large gold mining town way back when, at its peak it had a population of 6,000. When the gold ran out so did the people, there is nothing left there now except a California state historical marker. Scott said that when he was in Marysville, he read through some of the Timbuktu (Timbucktoo) Council minutes (which are stored in the Marysville lib.) That is where he found out that Adam Yeckley was a member of the local volunteer fire dept. 1864 and 1865. The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has Adam listed as Blacksmith, age 49 with wife Elizabeth, housewife, age 43. And then the 1880 Piute County, Circleville Township, Utah census has Adam age 59, birthplace CT., herding sheep, his wife Arvinda, keeping house, age 58, birthplace CT. Adam also lists his parents birthplace as CT on this 1880 census and Mary’s parents are listed as RI. Adam’s Temple work was done in the Arizona Temple. He was baptized 22 May 1954 and endowed 15 Mar 1956. Adam and Mary had the following children:

*Alida Harriet YECKLEY was born on 12 Jul 1845 in Plymouth, Marshall, IN. In the 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census she is listed as Harriet age 15, Alida married Thomas E. JAMES 2 Aug 1866. Thomas was born about 1841 in Plymouth, Marshall, In. She died in 1878. Thomas James is also listed in the 1880 Piute County, Circleville Township, Utah census.
*Mary Jane YECKLEY was born on 8 May 1847 in Plymouth, Marshall, In. Mary married Julius MCMARTY about 1867 in Grass Valley, Yuba, CA. Julius was born about 1853 in Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca.
*John YECKLEY was born on 3 Jun 1849 in Plymouth, Marshall, In. He died on 23 Feb 1852.
*Alfred YECKLEY was born on 3 Apr 1851 in Plymouth, Marshall, In. He died 1 Jan 1852.
*Arthur Lorenzo YECKLEY was born on 9 Jan 1853 in Timbuktu, Yuba, Ca. In the 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census he is listed as Arthur (Andrew) age 7, The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has Arthur listed as age 16, And then the 1880 Piute County, Circleville Township, Utah census has Arthur age 29, herding sheep, birthplace as MI. He died on 24 Nov 1914. He was buried on 30 Nov 1914. Arthur married Emma WHITE on 5 Feb 1890. Emma was born about 1856 in Plymouth, Marshall, In.
*William Thaddeus YECKLEY was born on 22 Mar 1855 in Timbuktu, Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca. In the 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census he is listed as William age 5, The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has William listed as age 15, And then the 1880 Piute County, Circleville Township, Utah census has William age 23, herding sheep, birthplace as MI. He died on 5 Nov 1920. William married Hatty Wade on 23 Jun 1889.
*Annie Marie YECKLEY was born on 24 Feb 1857 in Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca. In the 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census she is listed as Anna M. age 3, The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has Annie listed as age 13, Annie Yeckley married Junius Theodore McMurty born 22 Feb 1844 in Kentucky. He died on 30 Nov. 1925. They were married 3 July 1872 in Yuba county California, and they had 8 children. I have noticed in some of Scott’s records that he has Junius and Julius as the same man, married to both sisters, Annie Marie and Mary Jane. I think they were different men. Junius was a civil war vet and is buried in the Sawtelle Soldier's home in Los Angeles. Annie Marie Yeckley died 30 Dec. 1902 and is buried in Colman California. (I think this is Scott Clark’s family Line)
*Francis Marion YECKLEY was born on 23 Apr 1859 in Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca. In the 1860 Sutter County, Butte township, California census he is listed as Francis age 1, He died on 10 Jan 1860.
*Walter J. YECKLEY was born on 27 Nov 1860 in Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca. He died in Mar 1862.
*Oscar B. YECKLEY was born on 29 Jun 1866 in Grass Valley, Yuba; Ca. The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has Oscar listed as age 4, Oscar married Emma Gertrude BAKER on 29 Jan 1890. Emma was born about 1870 in Grass Valley, Yuba, Ca. Oscar died (31 Mar 1937 ?) and they had nine children: Mary Josephine, Thomas Adam, Bertha A. born 1895, Cordie Cornelius (Pete), Inez, Jewel M., Roy Alfred, Charles Elbert 1908-1982, Leon Delbert Birth: 17 May 1914, Greer Co., Oklahoma Death: 9 Jul 1980, Castle, Oklahoma Burial: 11 Jul 1980 Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
*Minnie Jane YECKLEY was born on 13 Apr 1864 in Timbuktu, (Yuba), Ca. Her birth marker says 13 April 1835. The 1870 Nevada county, Grass Valley Township, California census has Minnie listed as age 6. And then the 1880 Piute County, Circleville Township, Utah census has Minnie Jane age 15, birthplace as MI. She was baptized 6 Sept. 1914 and she was endowed 29 June 1938. Also she also sealed to George on 29 June 1938 and sealed their children were all sealed to them on 22 Aug 1955 in the St. George Temple. She died on 31 Mar 1937 in Circleville, Piute, Utah. She was buried on 2 Apr 1937 in Circleville, Piute, Utah. Minnie married (1) George WILTSHIRE son of William WILTSHIRE and Ann CHADNEY on 22 Jun 1880 in Circleville, Piute, Utah. George was born on 8 Nov 1842 in Upton-On-Severn, Worcestershire, England. He was a farmer and a Rancher with Cattle. He died on 4 Dec 1890 in Circleville, Piute, Utah. He was buried on 6 Dec 1890 in Circleville, Piute, Utah. They had five children: George (1881-1957), Minnie May (1883-1966), Almina (1884- ?), Rosamond (1886- 1957), Orson William (1889 – 1892) (THIS IS MY FAMILY….My Connection to the YECKLEY Family is through Minnie Jane & George WILTSHIRE. See Wiltshire Family records for more information about this family. )
Minnie married (2) FRANKLIN WOOLLEY on 11 Oct 1910. FRANKLIN died on 18 Apr 1945.

William Stiitt Yeckley & Phoebe McAlrath

Adam's Father is William Stit/Stitt YECKLEY, christened on 13 May 1793 in German Reformed Dutch Church at Montgomery, Orange, NY. William married Phoebe McAlrath around 1821 probably in Manchester or Palmyra, NY area.. Phoebe was born about 1802, maybe in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana. (one of my side notes states her birth date as 9 June 1800 in New York). They moved to Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana in the 1830's. William died 22 Jan. 1878 and Phoebe died 26 April 1848.

They had the following children:

*Adam YECKLEY (Listed as the Family Unit above)
*Elizabeth YECKLEY was born in 1824 probably in Manchester or Palmyra, NY area. Elizabeth married Thomas R. Hawkins on 22 Sep 1842 in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana. She is listed in the Indiana marriage records along side Adam YECKLEY marriage to Mary Elizabeth NASH. This is the Thomas Hawkins Family where we find the information about Phoebe’s last name being “McAlrath”. It states: “ Thomas, father of William W. Hawkins, was born on his father’s farm, where he was also reared and received a common-school education. He was married to Elizabeth Yeckley, daughter of William and Phoebe (McAlrath) Yeckley, but Mrs. Hawkins was called from the life after giving birth to two children: Marian M. and William W. born 22 Sept. 1845, the latter being two years of age at the time of his Mother’s death”. (See information notes for sources and references). Elizabeth passed away in 1847.
*Josiah YECKLEY was born about 1828 probably in Manchester or Palmyra, NY area..
*Mary Jane YECKLEY was born about 1829 probably in Manchester or Palmyra, NY area. She married Hiram Lish on 04 JUL 1846 in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana.
*? YECKLEY.

Adam Abraham Yeckley & Jane Kimbergh

William's Father was Adam YECKLEY (Jr.). He was christened on 12 May 1770 in German Reformed Dutch Church at Montgomery, Orange, NY. Adam is listed as Adam Yeakly married to Jane Kimbargh, 12 AUG 1790 in the records at the Reformed Dutch Church, Shawangunk, Ulster, New York. In other notes Jane is listed as Jane Kimberg or Cimbergh, married 12 Aug. 1790 in Ulster, New York. Jane was born (1771 ?) and she died (1851?). Adam died 1819. (I have some side notes that say Adam’s name could have been Adam Abraham or Adam Alexander Yeckley)

They had the following children:

William Stit YECKLEY (sometimes spelled: Yeakly) Born: 1793 N.Y.
Dorothy or Dorothea YECKLEY Born: 1794 N.Y.
Barbara YECKLEY Born: 1796 N.Y.
Louis Lodewyck YECKLEY Born: 1797 N.Y.
Adam YECKLEY Born: 1799 N.Y.
John YECKLEY Born: 1799 N.Y.
Elizabeth Kimbergh YECKLEY Born: 1801 N.Y.
? YECKLEY
? YECKLEY.
Polly Jane YECKLEY Born: 1808 N.Y.

Adam Yeckley & Barbara Bender

And Adam's father is listed as Adam Jekli (YECKLEY). Jekli is the German Way of spelling YECKLEY. This is the way it is listed in the records found at the German Reformed Dutch Church at Montgomery, Orange, NY. Adam married Barbara Bender.

They had the following children:

? (YECKLEY).
? (YECKLEY).
Adam YECKLEY (Jr.)
? (YECKLEY).

My Resources and Fact Links...

My information came from the following places:
….The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R), Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998, Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA.
…. Information from Ross FARNSWORTH % Universal Genealogy Center 275 East South Temple #201 Salt Lake City, UT 84111. He is listed as a submitter at the Genealogy Center.
…. some NY Census Records.
…..Family Files and records from my Grandfather, his sister Jane Wiltshire Westwood and his Aunt Almina (Mina) Steele.
…. Information exchanged from Scott Clark over the internet.
…. Information about the Hawkins family was found on the internet at the following website: http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/stjoseph/stjbioref-41.htm The information is listed under the heading William W. Hawkins and the source for the information is listed as an excerpt from a published book entitled, “Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana Together with Biographies of Many Prominent Men of Northern Indiana and the Whole State, Both Living and Dead”
Goodspeed Brothers Publishers, Chicago1893
John Morris Co. Printers and Binders