Person:Jesse Yoakum (3)

From newspaper clippings collected by Augusta Blaine Nelson:

A Succesful Farmer

One of the best farms in Piatt county is one of 800 acres in Willow Branch owned by Jesse Yoakum. The farm is in a high state of cultivation and is one of the few that is making money every year by growing and feeding cattle. 200 acres are in timber lying on the banks of the Sangamon, giving access to both water and shade. The corn is planted thick in the hill for fodder and to make small ears, especially for feeding. Although living in town Mr. Yoakum gives his farm his chief attention and may be counted as one of our most succesful farmers.

                                         OBITUARY

JESSE YOAKUM

Our community is called to deplore the death of one of its highly esteemed citizens. Jesse Yoakum died at his home in Monticello, Illinois, on the 12th day of March 1903 and would have been eighty years old had he lived until the 31st of the month. He was born in Ross County, Ohio and emigrated to Piatt county in 1858 and engaged in business for a number of years with Samuel W. Allerton. Mr. Yoakum owned lands in Macon county but disposed of them and invested in one of the finest farms in Willow Branch Township, several hundred acres of rich land which he owned at his death. He was a shrewd farmer and stock man and acquired a large estate by careful, prudent and honorable conduct of his large affairs.

He was first married in 1881 to Miss Alice McCoy who survived only ten years after her marriage, leaving a daughter, Miss Sarah Florence, who died at about the age of fifteen years. In 1873 Mr. Yoakum contracted a second marriage with Miss Emma Blain. They were married at Decatur, Illinois where she had resided for some years; having removed from her native state of Indiana. To this marriage was born on the 21st of July, 1881 a son, William Allerton Yoakum, who died at the age of about thirteen.

Mrs. Yoakum was the only survivor of Mr. Yoakum's family at his death. He left surviving a brother, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Mr. Yoakum was for years a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life was such as to win for him the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

His remains were interred in the Bement cemetery, Piatt county, Illinois.

To his bereaved widow and relatives we tender our sympathy and condolence

                                                                                           A Friend.

1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Jesse Yoakum Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850 Age In 1870: Ohio Home in 1870: Muhlenburg, Pickaway, Ohio Race: White Gender: male Post Office: Five Points

Source Information: United States. «i»Ninth Census of the United States, 1870«/i». Washington, D.C. National Archives and Records.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Jesse Yoakum Home in 1880: Willow Branch, Platte, Illinois Age: 57 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1823 Birthplace: Indiana Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Emma Father's Birthplace: Ohio Mother's Birthplace:Virginia Occupation: Farmer Race: White Gender: Male

Household Members: Jesse Yoakum 57 Emma Yoakum 31 Joseph Mitchell 17 John Adkins 19 Mariam Root 21

Source Citation: Year:«i» 1880;«/i» Census Place: «i»Willow Branch, Platt, Illinois«/i»; Roll:«i» T9..242;«/i» Family History Film: «i»1254242;«/i» Page: «i»336.3000«/i»; Enumeration District: «i»182;«/i» Image:«i» 0434«/i».

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Jessie Yoakum Home in 1900: Monticello, Platt, Illinois Age: 78 Birthplace: Ohio Relationship to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Emmie H

Household Members: Jessie Yoakum 78 Emmie H Yoakum 50 Alma Douglis 33

Source Citation: Year: «i»1900;«/i» Census Place: «i»Monticello, Platt, Illinois; «/i»roll: «i»T623.336;«/i» Page: «i»6A«/i»; Enumeration District: «i»131.«/i»