Minerd.com Biography of Austin and Sarah Margaret (Hunter) Younkin of Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado

Austin Younkin was born on May 26, 1848 in Milford Township, Somerset County, PA, the son of Dr. Jonas and Martha (Pringey) Younkin. Evidence suggests that he thought he was born in Indiana.

On Jan. 25, 1871, at the age of 22, he married Sarah Margaret "Maggie" Hunter (April 1850- ? ), a native of Virginia, with nuptials taking place in Wapello, Louisa County, IA.

The Younkins had no natural born offspring but adopted or provided foster care for other children. Among them over the decades were Edith J.O. Younkin (born 1879) -- Jonathan Maury (May 1892- ? ) -- Laura McFry (born 1896 in Kansas) -- Alfred Younkin (born 1899 in New York) -- Martha May Younkin (born 1907 in Nebraska) -- Verda Younkin (born 1912 in Colorado).

In 1880, with the family living in Columbus Junction, Louisa County, IA, Austin's aged father resided under their roof.

Federal census records for 1900 show the family living on a farm in South Fork Precinct, Pawnee County, NE.

By 1910, they had relocated to a farm in the Seibert Precinct of Kit Carson County, CO.

Austin died in or near Siebert on Feb. 17, 1930. [Find-a-Grave]

~ Adopted Daughter Edith J.O. Younkin ~

Adopted daughter Edith J.O. Younkin (1879- ? ) was born in 1879 in Iowa.

~ Foster Son Jonathan Maury ~

Adopted or foster son Jonathan Maury (1892- ? ) was born in May 1892 in Nebraska.

~ Adopted Daughter Laura (Younkin) McFry ~

Adopted daughter Laura Younkin (1896- ? ) was born in 1896 in Kansas.

She married (?) McFry ( ? - ? ).

Sadly, by the age of 25, she had become widowed and had moved back into the Younkin home in Precinct 4 of Kit Carson County, CO.

~ Adopted Son Alfred Younkin ~

Adopted son Alfred Younkin (1899- ? ) was born in 1899 in New York.

~ Adopted Daughter Martha May Younkin ~

Adopted daughter Martha May Younkin (1907- ? ) was born in 1907 in Nebraska.

Research is underway to determine if she is the same Martha May Younkin who, at age 18, married 31-year-old William Francis Fisher on Dec. 19, 1923 in Hugo, CO.

~ Adopted Daughter Verda Younkin ~

Adopted daughter Verda Younkin (1912- ? ) was born 1912 in Colorado.

Research is underway to confirm whether she is the same "Virda Younkin" who, on Aug. 7, 1929, at the age of 16, married 22-year-old Virgil W. Weaver at Greeley, CO and the same "Virda Alice Younkin" who wed Norman A. Erb in Denver on Oct. 7, 1939.