More Yeckley Info....

This information was sent to me by Sheldon Talbot in an email Sept. 16th, 2009, entitled "Yeckley Genealogy--Which Adam came first?"

I have added the info and update the Yeckley Family blogs. After visiting with him on the phone a couple of weeks ago I am so excited and can hardly wait for more of the family stories from him. He has many others to share.... "Thanks Sheldon"!

He says: "Hope that all of you have made contact with each other. (referring to myself, Linda, Scott and Deven). If not then we need to get on each others mailing list and form some sort of committee. We are all descendents of Adam Yeckley and every so often some says how does the Adam Yeckley of New York relate to the Adam Yeckley of California. I will now set things straight.

First of all I am in the midst of trying to organize my Yeckley files. I only have 10- 3-inch binders full of Yeckley data. I have them filed by time peiods. I am hoping to complete this by October 1, 2009, when I have another operation on my eyes. This makes three in 18 months.

First of all we must understand the naming procedures of German people belonging to the Dutch Reformed Church in New York in the 1700's

The first male child is given the name of the fathers father. The First female child is given the name of the mothers mother. The second male child is given the name of the mothers father and the second female child is given the name of the father's mother, and so on. That is why in our lineage, the first male child is always named Adam and the first female child almost always is named Mary Elizabeth.

So if we ask the computer (Ancestry.com) why is Adam Yeckley? The computer does not know what to say.

2. This is the order of the Adam's

1. 1730-1770? Adam A, Yeckley also spelled Jeckli among a dozen other ways

2. 1750 1790? Adam A. Yeckley Jr. There is no such thing as a Jr. in this namimg system

3. 1793-1878 William Stitt Yeckley William Stitt was a real Person and friend

4. 1821-1880 Adam Yeckley Our common Ancestor.

5. 1840- Adam Yeckley-- John Yeckley's son

The Adam Yeckley found in Gorham Ontario, New York is a Son of Adam Yeckley's brother John Yeckley who was a Deacon in the Prebvsterian church in Gorham.

After Adam A. Yeckley Jr. Died in Seneca , New York in 1819, his widow Jame Kimburgh Yeckley went to live in Gorham beside John, her brother in law.

AdamYeckley (No 2) migration and time line is as follows

1. Born Montgomery, Orange County New York--1770?

2. Married Jane Kimburgh in Ulster County New York Red Brick Church

3. Moved to Newburgh, New York-- 1810

4. Moved to Seneca, New York in 1814 when the land was opened up for settlement.

(Same as Joseph Smith Sr.)

5 He died in Seneca in 1819. Joseph Smith Jr. probably went to his funeral.

John's wife Ester and Jane were always mixed up by the census enumerators.

Adam Yeckley (No.4) Timr line is as follows.

1. Born in 1822. I don;t know where. William Stitt did not move to Indiana umtil

about 1836 when the Indian lands were opened up He was in Union, Marshell County in 1840 along with the John McElrath family.

2. Moved to Butte, Yuba County California along with the Nash's and the McMurtry's.

3. The family split up some staying in California, some going to Arizona, some to New Mexico, and some to Utah

4. Adam Yeckley and family bought a ranch near Circleville, Utah and raised sheep.

A herd of sheep is generally about 1,500 animals. They lived next to Butch Cassidy's Parents. Minnie Jane and Butch Cassidy were exactly the same age , so they knew each other.

5. About 1880 Adam Yeckley and family with out Minnie Jane but with Thomas James, Harriets Widower. trailed the sheep to Texas, heading for the Indian lands in Oklahoma , where there would be free lands.

6. He died near Old Clarendon Texas in 1880.(not in Plymouth, Marshall Indiana)

His wife went on to Oklahoma where she died near Cache creek Comanche County, Oklahoma. (Not in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana). there was somebodies Adam's and Mary Elizabeth's being born and dying in Plymouth but not ours.

Much of the original work was done by my mother Memphis Ula Sudweeks Talbot and Jane Wiltshire Westwood, It seems that now is the time for all of us to get together aand get the correct information. I have all of my mothers work and AnaVon has all of Aunt Jane's work. so lets work together.

Please resend me your names and addresses and phone numbers my computer crashed and lost some of my emails.

Deven : You mai pass this on to your mother.

Sorry if you already have this information but I thought it would be of use to you.

Thanks

Sheldon H. Talbot"

History of William Cook Mitchell

History of William Cooke Mitchell I

(taken from the journal of William Cooke Mitchell II or Jr.)
(Copied by Lanna Parker of St. George and sent to us, Dec. 14, 1959)

William Cooke Mitchell was born Jan. 14, 1806 at York, England, the son of Enoch and Mary Cooke Mitchell. He grew to be a man who was large of stature, a man who was quick of intellect, honest in his dealings, and firm in his religious convictions. It is quite commonly understood that he became a minister in one of the Protestant churches in his homeland. (no direct proof)
He married Eliza Ridsdale and to them were born two children: Eliza who was born Sept. 30, 1830 in Hull, Yorkshire, England, and William Cooke Jr., born 13th April in Liverpool, England. In the year of 1840 the family was visited by Elder John Taylor, who entered upon a discussion of religious doctrine with the father. This discussion lasted all of one night, but by morning Elder Taylor had converted William and his wife. They accepted the gospel of the L.D.S. faith and were baptized Feb. 10, 1840. The following is taken from a brief history written by William Cooke Jr. -----
Soon after my father's baptism, his greatest desire was to come to Zion, but he was called to preach the gospel on the Isle of Man. This call he accepted, taking his family with him. Upon their return to England, and after a short residence in Hull, England they set sail for America on the ship "Turean". They were in a company of 204 saints, under the direction of Joseph Fielding and eventually reached Nauvoo the last of Nov. 1841. Although the family was financially secure and had accrued considerable property in Nauvoo, they turned the key on the front door and left, leaving nearly all they had, never to return, when they with many other saints were driven from the city by the mob.
After crossing the Mississippi River and arriving at Council Bluffs in July 1846, the family started for the Rocky Mts. in Bishop George Miller's Co. After traveling 140 miles westward, because of the lateness of the season, and the fact that so many of the able bodied men of the group had left with the Mormon Battalion, this company was ordered by Pres. Young to return to Winter Quarters. On the return trip both William C. and his wife Eliza became ill (apparently with cholera) and the children were left to manage their four yoke of oxen. Shortly after their arrival at Winter Quarters, the father was called on a mission to the British Isles. Although he was just able to walk with a cane, he left his wife ill in bed, and taking his son with him, he set out for his homeland for the mission. They arrived in Liverpool on April 11, 1847 and just a few days later he received word that his wife and Mother had passed away at Winter Quarters.
According to the journal of the son William C. Jr., he and his father traveled over most of England and Wales, preaching the restored gospel and making many new acquaintances. It was on Jan. 29, 1849 that they left Liverpool for the return trip to America, leaving on the ship Zealand in company with many other saints. On the same ship were Louisa and Mary Moore, from Great Pontoon, Lincolnshire, England. After William C. Sr. arrived in America he married Louisa Moore in Janesville, Iowa in July 1849. William C. Sr. was unable to find any trace f his daughter Eliza, who had been sent to New York State with friends. He left his wife, Louisa, and son for the west and reached Salt Lake City Oct. 27, 1849. (Several years later he learned that Eliza had married a Winfield Scott Chapman in New York. She died there Oct. 9, 1865.
After about a year's residence in Salt Lake, William C. was called by Pres. Brigham Young, to go south and help settle the Little Salt Lake Valley. On Dec. 10, 1850, they went in Pres. George A. Smith's Company to what is now called Parowan, arriving there on January 13, 1851. William Cooke M. Sr. was active in helping to build the mud wall, the public buildings, and many homes in the new settlement, as well as fencing and working the fields.
In the fall of 1852 William C. Sr. married Mary Moore in the Endowment house in Salt Lake City. He later returned with his family to live in Parowan again.
In 1857, while getting out timber from the mountain, cutting and hauling timber from the first left-hand canyon, he was accidentally killed. A wagon load of logs tipped over, pinning him under it near what is know as Hogsback. He was killed on June 20, 1857 and buried in Parowan Cemetery.
Eliza Ridsdale Mitchell (Our Great Grandmother) was born Nov. 25, 1823 in Great Ponton, Near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. She died May 11, 1897 at Huntington, Utah.
Mary Moore Mitchell (her sister) was born Nov. 19, 1821 in Great Ponton, Lincolnshire, England. She died Aug. 18, 1907 in Escalante, Utah.
William Cooke Mitchell Sr. was the son of Enoch Mitchell and Mary Cooke. Enoch was the son of James and Mary Hauge. James was the son of Thomas and Jane (?). Enoch Mitchell's mother was the daughter of John and Ann Hague.
The ship Zealand sailed from Liverpool England with 358 saints bound for Utah U.S.A. in Orson Spencer's Co. arriving at New Orleans April 2, 1849. The emigrants came up the Missouri River arriving at Kanesville Iowa, May 17, 1849.
William Cooke Mitchell Sr. had one daughter, Mary Ellen Mitchell (Our Grandmother), by Louisa, and three boys and one daughter by Mary, whose names are Zetland, James, John, and Elizabeth Mitchell. Parents of Louisa and Mary Moore were William and Elizabeth Halvey Moore. Parents of Elizabeth Halvey were John Halvey and Elizabeth Hutchinson Halvey.
William Cooke Mitchell II or Jr. died May 22, 1911 in Parowan, Utah.
Eliza R. Mitchell Chapman (daughter of William Sr. & Eliza Ridsdale) had only one child "Fannie". She later came to Utah, joined the church and married John Pidding Jones and died at Enoch, Utah in 1937.

Photos from the past.....

Look what an old high school friend sent to Marty.... It was of their class trip to Catalina sometime in the 70's he said.

(Marty is on the right in the tan shirt.... as if you couldn't tell!)

Interview with Thomas Adam Yeackley

 

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.

Sad Day..... We lost a Good Friend & Aunt

Aunt Phyllis, 55, passed away peacefully at her home in Washington City Wednesday, May 13, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born Sept. 18, 1953, in Panguitch, to Robert Phil and Roene Adams Dickinson, and was the youngest of three daughters.

Phyllis was sealed for time and all eternity to her sweetheart, Kirkman Z. Mitchell, Feb. 16, 1974, in the St. George LDS temple. They are the parents of four children and the grandparents of seven grandchildren.

Phyllis loved to provide service to others and had a deep, unwavering faith. She always served with her whole heart in the many callings she had in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed attending the temple.

She loved sewing and quilting, but most of all she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her top priority was her family and she made her home a magical and welcoming place for all of us. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, cousin, niece and friend to so many who loved her so much.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Kirk, Washington City; children, Mindi (Kenny) Jacobson, Coalville; Kody (Rachel) Mitchell, Washington City; Krystal Mitchell, Salt Lake City; and MaKayle (Luke) Larsen, Layton; grandchildren, Kaden and Kyler Jacobson, and Kelton, Rylee, Bitner, Kinley Mitchell and Kaisa Larsen; her Mother, Roene A. Dickinson; and sisters, RoLayne (Harry J.) Gardner, all Idaho Falls, Idaho; Lynda (Paul) Henrie, West Jordan; in addition to many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Phil Dickinson.

Funeral services were held May 18, at the Washington Fields LDS 11th ward chapel in Washington City.

Interment was in the Kingston Cemetery.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for all those who provided compassionate love and support to Phyllis, during her illness.

Expressions of love and sympathy may be made through donations to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, (801) 584-5800, or Primary Children's Medical Center, (801) 662-5959, or donate online.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, UT, (435) 673-2454.