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Aaron Younkin was born on Jan. 17, 1819 in Monroe County, PA, the son of Henry and Anna Mariah (Overpeck) Younkin Jr.

He entered into the bond of marriage with Mary “Polly” George (1820-1901), also a native of Monroe County.

Nine known children were born to Aaron and Mary, among them Reuben A. Younkin, Uriah Younkin, Catherine "Kate'" Harmon, Louisa DeArmy, Lucinda Killen, Elizabeth "Lizzie" McNutt, Henry Youngkin, Angeline S. "Annie" Esch and Edward E. Younkin.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1850, the pair shared a home with Aaron's widowed father on a farm in Brush Valley, Indiana County, PA.

Farms of Aaron Younkin and son Uriah (circled) and J. Overdorff west of Mechanicsburg. Atlas of Indiana Co., Pennsylvania, 1871

Detail from the 1871 Atlas

The 1860 U.S. Census shows the family remaining in Brush Valley with the following children under their roof -- Reuban (age 20), Uriah (17), Catherine (12), Louisa (10), Lucinda (8), Elizabeth (4) and Henry (2). Their home was just to the west of Mechanicsburg in Brush Valley Township, and they belonged to the Evangelical Church.

The family was plunged into worry when two of their sons enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. Son Uriah, with the 6th Pennsylvania Artillery, came home with minor injuries. Tragically, their eldest son Reuben of the 153rd Pennsylvania Infantry was fatally wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg.

Aaron's two farms are depicted in the 1871 Atlas of Indiana Co., Pennsylvania, published by F.W. Beers & Co. They are west of Mechanicsburg, in proximity to the farm of "U. Younkin."

Still in Brush Valley in 1880, Aaron and Mary made a home with their son Uriah and his wife Louisa and children.

Aaron surrendered to the grim reaper of death at the age of 69 on June 7, 1888 in Brush Valley. In its "Brush Valley" section, the Indiana (PA) Progress said that Aaron had been "one of our oldest and most respected citizens... His remains were followed to the cemetery by a large concourse of citizens." Burial was in Fry Cemetery in Brush Valley. His son Uriah was named as administrator of the estate.

Mary outlived her spouse by a baker's dozen years. Evidence suggests that she stayed for a few years on the family farm with her married daughter Mary Elizabeth Brown and family. But in the summer of 1891, the farm was sold to her married daughter Catharine Harman.

Mary's "X" mark and the signatures of her daughters Louisa and Catherine. National Archives

Mary's military pension card. National Archives

The Indiana Weekly Messenger once said that she was "a lifelong and consistent member of the Evangelical church, and much esteemed by the community."

In April 1891, Mary successfully petitioned the federal government to award her a pension as compensation for the loss of her son. [Mother App. #509.157 - Cert. #345.744] She wrote in a sworn statement that "I am in necessitious circumstances and dependent on a small dowry the interest of $564 at 6 percent per annum for food & raiment, the rest necessary to support & clothe me." Among those writing affidavits of support in her case was neighbor and appraiser Zachariah R. Kepple, who lived about 100 rods away, neighbor Maggie Woolf, living about a third of a mile away, and son-in-law and daughter Simon and Louisa Dearmy.

For three years, she boarded with her married daughter Angeline Esch in Brush Valley, but at the daughter's death and widower's remarriage and move to the city of Indiana, she had to find other accommodations. 

She died in the Harman home at age 80 years, six months and 21 days, on April 30, 1901, from influenza ("grip") and what the Progress called "a complication of diseases." Funeral services were held in the Younkin residence, with burial in the "Fry graveyard" in Brush Valley. Her Progress obituary spelled her name "Younkin." She left behind 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Son Uriah again served as estate administrator.

~ Son Henry Youngkin ~

Son Henry Youngkin (1857-1873) was born in about 1857 in Brush Valley, Indiana County, PA.

He died on Feb. 10, 1873, at age 15 years. The cause of his untimely passing is not known.

Burial was in Brush Valley's Fry Cemetery.

Inscribed on the bottom of the face of his grave marker is this epitaph:

.A little time on earth he spent,

Till God for him his angels sent.

And then on time he closed his eyes,

To wake in glory in the skies.