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Killian Youngken
(1780-1838)

KiIlian's grave, 1838, in English
Courtesy Tom Myers
Killian Youngken was born on Jan. 13, 1780, in Springfield Township, Bucks County, the only son of German immigrants Johann "Herman" and Eva (Kressler Shill) Youngken.

He was eight years of age when his father died. He then became the legal ward of his half-brother-in-law, Henry Haupt.

Killian learned the occupations of farming and milling. At some point he adopted the spelling of "Youngken" as is shown on his grave marker.

In 1804, at the age of 23 or 24, he wed Catherine Fackenthall (June 18, 1779-1859), daughter of Michael and Christena (Derr) Fackenthall. 

They bore these known children together -- John Fackenthal Youngken (in 1805 in Herkimer County, NY), Mary Youngkin, Joseph Youngkin, Samuel F. Youngken, Eliza Summers and Christena Youngkin.

Apparently the family was in Herkimer County, NY circa 1805 at the birth of their eldest son. Little else of their lives is known. 

At the age of 58 years and 19 days, Killian died on Feb. 1, 1838 in Tinicum Township, Bucks County. Interment was in the Lower Tinicum church cemetery, also known as the "Fox Grave Yard," in Bucks County. A one-sentence obituary was published in the Bucks County Intelligencer.

His last will and testament is still on file in Bucks County, no. 7266. The stone marking his grave still stands, is legible and written in English, showing how quickly the family was adapting to the American customs and language from a German way typically resistant to change.

Killian's obit, Bucks County Intelligencer, 1838 
Catherine lived for another 21 years as a widow. When the federal census enumeration was made in 1850, Catherine lived in Tinicum Township, at the age of 70, employing 19-year-old Hannah Bigly as a live-in domestic.

She died in March 1859.

When in 1905 her late father was profiled in the book A Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Vol. III, authored by William W.H. Davis, her name and key dates and married name were included.

Decades later, Catherine's grand-nephew Dr. B.F. Fackenthal, age 88, who was actively preserving old Pennsylvania German records and letters, contributed content published in the Aug. 10, 1939 edition of the Younkin Family News Bulletin. He helped the publisher track down Killian's descendants in California, among them a granddaughter, Kate Y. Willis. Dr. Fackenthal at the time had "just recently built a library (costing many thousands of dollars for Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.," reported the YFNB.

Christ Lutheran and Reformed Church, Lower Tinicum 

~ Daughter Mary Youngkin ~

Daughter Mary Youngkin ( ? - ? ). 

She passed away unmarried at the age of 20 or 22 in Tinicum. 

Burial was in Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery.

~ Son Joseph Youngkin ~

Son Joseph Youngkin (1808- ? ) was born on Dec. 2, 1808 in Tinicum, Bucks County. 

He did not survive childhood. Death cleaved him away at the age of six to eight years in Tinicum. 

His remains were laid to rest in Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery.

~ Daughter Eliza (Younken) Summers ~

Daughter Eliza Younken (1813-1873) was born on Oct. 24, 1813 in Tinicum. 

On Jan. 8, 1835, at the age of 21, she married Isaac Summers (April 9, 1807-1874). 

Three known daughters were Catharine Harriet Heany/Keeny, Catharine Ulmer and Mary Christina Summers. 

Grief swept over the family when daughter Mary Christina died as she neared her 18th birthday in 1869. 

Eliza died in the Tinicum community of her birth at the age of 59 on April 13, 1873. Interment of the remains was in the new cemetery of the Lower Tinicum Church. 

Isaac outlived her by five years. The angel of death cleaved him away at the age of 67 on Sept. 23, 1874. Their grave markers are standing and legible today.

Daughter Catherine Harriet Summers (1836- ? ) was born in April 1836. She reputedly married (?) Heany/Keeny ( ? - ? ). She died young. The body was interred in Lower Tinicum Church Cemetery. 

Daughter Catharine Summers (1844-1864) was born on May 24, 1844 in Tinicum, Bucks County. She wed Israel Ulmer ( ? - ? ). Their only daughter, Katy Ulmer, died at birth in 1864. Catharine passed away at the age of 20 years, two months and 12 days on Aug. 6, 1864. Her remains lie in eternal repose in Lower Tinicum Church Cemetery. Her stone remains upright and legible.

Daughter Mary Christina Summers (1851-1869) was born on May 5, 1851. She surrendered to the angel of death at the age of 17 years, 11 months and 12 days on March 30, 1869. Interment was in Lower Tinicum Church Cemetery.

   
Graves of siblings Samuel (1831) and Christena (1836). Courtesy Tom Myers

~ Son Samuel F. Youngken ~

Son Samuel F. Youngken (1811-1831) was born on April 15, 1811. 

At his Christian baptism in infancy, Johannas Fackenthal and Elisabeth were his sponsors. 

He only lived for 20 years of life. Death swept him away in Tinicum on Aug. 31, 1831. 

Interment was in Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery in Tinicum. News of his death was published in the Bucks County Intelligencer.

~ Daughter Christena Youngken ~

Daughter Christena Youngken (1815-1836) was born on Oct. 11, 1815. 

She never married. 

 Sadly, at the age of 20, Christena died on Sept. 25, 1836. Burial was in Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery in Tinicum.

 

Copyright © 2023-2024 Mark A. Miner

Research for this page conducted by Della Shafer and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan