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William Henry Younkin Sr.
(1814-1861)

Younkin family grave marker, Jackson, MI
Courtesy Deb Hayes Wolfe
William Henry Younkin Sr.
was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania, the son of George and Elizabeth (Bollinger) Yonkin Sr.  

He is known to have relocated to Michigan by the mid-1840s and to have settled in Jackson, Jackson County. 

Two days before Christmas 1846, William was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with Malinda Slayton (1925-1903), an Ohio native who was 11 years younger. 

They became the parents of seven known offspring -- George Younkin, William Henry Younkin Jr., Andrew J. Younkin, Orrin J. "Ornie" Younkin, twins Alfred Younkin and Albert Younkin, and Mary Alice Younkin. 

William purchased a tract of 40 acres on Feb. 1, 1849 from the General Land Office of the United States in Detroit, with the certificate no. 29.492 signed by President James Polk. The land comprised the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 3 South, Range 2 West. 

The federal census enumeration of 1850 places this family in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, with William engaged in shoemaking. Living under their roof that year were 18-year-old Lucy Slayton and eight-year-old Elvira Slayton. 

Sadly, George died in Jackson County on Aug. 5, 1861. Burial was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. A legal advertisement of the administration of his estate was printed in the American Citizen of Jackson. 

His untimely death left Malinda with six mouths to feed even as she was pregnant with a seventh. She outlived her husband by decades. 

In 1870 and 1880, she headed a household in Jackson with all seven of her children and her single sister Lucy in the household. She moved to the city of Flint and in 1903 was listed in the city director as boarding at 1317 Stockton. 

She succumbed to the spectre of death in Flint, at the age of 79, from the effects of organic heart disease, just four days before Christmas 1903. Her remains were returned to Jackson for burial.

~ Son George Younkin ~

Son George Younkin (1847-1933) was born on Sept. 13, 1847 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI. 

In 1870, a bachelor at age 22, he lived at home and worked as a stationery engineer, operating some sort of equipment. George went on to earn income over the years as a railroad engineer in Jackson. 

He did not choose to marry until middle age. At the age of 55, on June 12, 1904, he wed 50-year-old Harriett (Rogers) Chambers (April 30, 1852-1930), also of Jackson. Rev. Charles Rogers officiated. She had been married before to Charles R. Chambers (1843-1906) and was the mother of five, of whom four were deceased by 1910, with son Thomas B. Chambers the only one alive. 

The federal census enumeration of 1910 shows George and Harriett together in Jackson, providing a home for 82-year-old uncle John Rogers, and living next-door to his brother Andrew and family. As of 1910, he was an equipment operator. Their longtime place of residence in Jackson was 1019 Chittock Avenue. 

Sadly, Harriet died on Dec. 10, 1930. 

George outlived her by three years. Burdened with chronic heart disease, hardening of the arteries and senility over the span of several years, he died at the age of 86 on Oct. 1, 1933. Burial was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. Mrs. Mary Edwards of Jackson signed the official Michigan certificate of death.

Stepson Thomas B. Chambers (1870-1932) was born in 1870. 

    Michigan Central Railroad shops in Jackson, MI 

~ Son William Henry Younkin Jr. ~

Son William Henry Younkin Jr. (1849-1939) was born on Aug. 18, 1849 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI. 

Single in 1870, at age 21, he worked as a railroad fireman and then engineer for the Michigan Central Railroad, which ran passenger trains between Chicago and Detroit. 

On Dec. 6, 1877, at the age of 28, he first married 19-year-old Canada native Caroline A. Defrenn (1858-1878). The nuptials were held in Jackson, presided by the hand of Rev. Moses Smith of the First Congregational Church, with William's mother and brother Orrin serving as witnesses. 

Their union was very brief, and she died in 1878 at the age of 19 or 20. 

His second spouse was Esther Louise "Etta" Goff (1861-1948). 

The pair did not reproduce but adopted two sons -- Harold Younkin and Charles Raymond Younkin. 

As with his brothers George and Andrew, William's occupation over the years was as a railroad engineer in Jackson. In December 1885, he broke his knee after a fall "into a clinker pit ... while walking home on the railroad, after turning in his engine," said the Jackson Citizen. "Mr. Younkin's innumerable friends will be pleased to learn as much, and we all hope he may soon be ready for duty again." 

They moved by 1900 to Summit, Jackson County and made a dwelling together at 3005 East South Street. William eventually retired from the Michigan Central in the summer of 1919, and about 50 engineers and their wives came to a party at the Younkin home to celebrate. Said the Jackson Evening News, "A bountiful chicken dinner, provided by the company, was served at 5 o'clock, from tables decked with pretty season's flowers. At its conclusion, George B. Weed, acting as toastmasteer, presented the speakers, who offered their congratulations to Mr. Younkin and said many complimentary things of him. One, Frank McDevitt, was an exception, according to his own statement, and being 'determined to tell the truth' succeeded in creating much merriment by his facetious remarks... Mr. Younkin responded most feelingly [and] spoke of his appreciation of their gift and of their friendship and referred to the loss he felt would be his in the absence of his daily associations which had been his for the past fifth-three years." He received a watch chain and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers charm. 

At age 90, suffering from chronic kidney and heart disease, and then having fractured his left femur, he died on Nov. 8, 1939. 

Etta lived for another nine years and passed away in Jackson on July 31, 1948. Their remains were placed into the sleep of the ages in the mausoleum of Woodland Abbey.

Son Harold Younkin (1886- ? ) was born in Sept. 1886 and adopted by the Younkins. He grew up in Summit, Jackson County, MI.

Son Charles Raymond Younkin (1892-1975) was born on the Fourth of July 1892 and adopted by the Younkins. His youth was spent in Summit, Jackson County, MI, and he worked as an automobile repair manager in young manhood. On March 11, 1919, when he was 26 years of age, he tied the marital cord with 25-year-old Cecile Henrietta Wood (1894-1933), daughter of Lewis F. and Ida (Cronkhite) Wood. Rev. C.H. Berry officiated. News of their engagement was published in the Jackson Evening News. On the marriage license, Charles' surname was spelled "Youngkin." Together, they became the parents of Robert "Raymond" Younkin (1921-2002), William Henry Younkin Sr. (1922-2016) and Alberta Jean Younkin (1925-2008) plus an unnamed infant son who died on Jan. 17, 1920. Tragically, Cecile was diagnosed in her 30s with a brain tumor known as "astrocytoma." She underwent surgery in University Hospital in Ann Arbor, but two days later died at the age of 39 on March 17, 1933. Her remains were laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery. The widowed Charles wed again -- six months later -- to Frances L. Miles (1895-1986). Their wedding was conducted in Indiana. Charles died on March 23, 1975.

~ Son Andrew J. Younkin ~

Son Andrew J. Younkin (1851-1942) was born in 1851. 

He and his brother William both worked as railroad firemen in 1870 in Jackson. 

In about 1880, at the age of 29, he tied the knot with Frances Fenton (1848-1924), who was three years older than he, and the daughter of Mary E. Fenton. She had been married before and may have brought four stepchildren into the second union. 

The couple produced at least two daughters of their own -- Melinda M. Younkin and Frances F. Younkin. 

Andrew made a living as a railroad engineer in 1880, and at that time he and Frances shared a home with his widowed mother and siblings. 

In 1910, he was an equipment operator, with Frances' widowed mother in the 1013 Chittock Avenue household. For decades, his brother George and wife Harriet were next-door neighbors in town. 

Sadly, Frances died in Jackson at the age of 76 on Sept. 13, 1924. Burial was in her in-laws' plot in Jackson, where her mother Mary Fenton also is believed to sleep. 

He was afflicted with heart disease and senility and passed away at the age of 91 on Oct. 16, 1942. Interment was in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.

Daughter Melinda M. Younkin (1880-1961) was born on June 2, 1880 in Jackson. She was single as of 1910 and dwelled at home. She died at the age of 80, in Leoni, MI, on March 14, 1961. Her remains lie in eternal repose in Mount Evergreen Cemetery in Jackson.

Daughter Frances F. Younkin (1885- ? ) was born in about 1885 in Jackson. As of 1910-1920, she was unmarried and resided in Jackson with her parents. 

~ Son Ornie Younkin ~

Son Ornie Younkin (1855-1901) -- also spelled "Orrin" and "Orney" -- was born on Aug. 12, 1855 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI. 

In 1880, in Jackson at age 25, he was a railroad engineer. 

Ornie's obituary in German
Nebraska Staats-Anzeiger/Library of Congress
On June 6, 1883, in nuptials held in North Des Moines, Polk County, he married Laura Rimby ( ? -1939). Officiating their nuptials was town mayor S.A. Kelsey. 

By 1893, the Younkins migrated to Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha, where he had obtained work as an engineer with the Wisconsin Central Railroad. In October 1893, he made news when he and friends A.E. Estberg and J.B. Wyland shot six deer on a 16-day hunting trip in the northern part of the estate. Said the Waukesha Daily Freeman, "It understands itself, as the Germans say, that they had a great time. Their arrest on the charge of violating the game laws only added spice to the occasion... The arrest was made on the Penokee range a few miles out of Ashland/" Apparently some locals had complained of the hunting party but no evidence could be procured, and they were released. 

Sadly, Ornie was mortally injured at work one day in Waukesha. Said the Burlington (WI) Free Press, he "was out on the side of his moving locomotive attending to some portion of the machinery and his head came in contact with a bridge and his skull was fractured. He fell from his position into the water from which he was rescued as quickly as possibly by the train hands and taken to the hospital, where he died on Thursday," July 25, 1901. The remains were shipped to Jackson for burial in the family plot in Mount Evergreen. The account of his death also was published in the German language newspapers Vorwa¨rts of Milwaukee and Nebraska Staats-Anzeiger und Herold of Grand Island, NE. 

Laura survived for a number of years and in 1904 resided on Lincoln Avenue in Waukesha. That year, she and 25 other property owners sued the Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction Company on the grounds that its interurban trains and cars created an "additional burden" on the value of their properties and requested compensation. The Supreme Court of Milwaukee agreed in their favor. 

She wed again to David N. Hughes, Waukesha County Clerk, and they remained together until her death on March 13, 1939. 

When David passed in 1954, the Waukesha Daily Freeman said he was the "son of one of the first Welsh settlers in Waukesha county [and] finished his education at St. John's Military academy, and taught school one or two terms...After retiring as county clerk, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was connected with a real estate agency. Following his return to Waukesha, in 1917 he became an employe of the Waukesha National Bank, serving there until his retirement about 10 years ago." His remains were cremated. His will left $31,000 in cash and real estate to the First Presbyterian Church of Waukesha with the income to be used to meet the congregation's general expenses.

~ Son Alfred "Fred" Younkin ~

Son Alfred "Fred" Younkin (1859-1947) was born on May 5, 1859 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, a twin with his brother Albert. 

In young manhood he went to work as a railroad fireman. 

Alfred was united in holy matrimony with Estella J. "Stella" Teachout (June 1862-1943), daughter of Ed and Mary Jane Teachout. 

They settled in Jackson. While they did not reproduce, the pair adopted a son, Ralph Edward Younkin. 

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1900, Alfred earned a living as a locomotive engineer and continued this work for decades with the Michigan Central Railroad. Their home in 1930 was on Oak Street, Jackson. 

Stricken with cancer of the bowels, Estella died in Jackson on July 14, 1943. 

Alfred outlived her by four years and passed away in Jackson on Sept. 9, 1947.  

Son Ralph Edward Younkin (1888- ? ) was born in March 1888 in Minnesota, to Canadian parents, and was adopted by the Younkins. Ralph spent his childhood in Jackson, MI and joined the Congregational Church. On March 10, 1909, he entered into marriage with 17-year-old Elizabeth Vassel (July 4, 1892- ? ), the daughter of German immigrants Louis and Margaret (Hill) Vassel. She was Roman Catholic, and the pair eloped to Sandwich, Essex County, Ontario, Canada, with D.H. Hind officiating. The newlyweds first dwelled with his parents in 1910, and at that time he was an apprentice machinist in Jackson. The arrangement must have been satisfactory, as Ralph and Elizabeth remained in the parents' household as of 1920, at which time Ralph was employed as a machinist in a factory. He continued his laborts as a machinist for many years. Then at the age of 49, living at 426 Oak Street, Jackson, he tied the knot a second time on June 6, 2936 with 55-year-old Myrtie (Bullard) Narrow ( ? - ? ), daughter of Alman and Margaret (Walls) Bullard and originally from Indiana. 

~ Son Albert "Bert" Younkin ~

Son Albert "Bert" Younkin (1859-1949) was born on May 5, 1859 in Jackson, Jackson County, MI, a twin with his brother Alfred. 

When he was 21 years of age, he was employed in Jackson as a "confectioner," selling candy and sweet treats. He went on to make a living as a baker an migrated to the West Coast, where in 1900 he lived in El Monte, Los Angeles County. 

As of 1900, he shared a home with his aunt Lucy Slayton and an adopted son, Charles Hudson. 

He moved to Arizona and in 1910 earned a living as a cook in a boarding house in Yavapai County, AZ. During the 1910s, he was on the move again and migrated back to California, putting down stakes in Ontario, San Bernardino County. 

Bert had no occupation in 1920 but lived with his 64-year-old "partner" Ida V. Ross -- a private duty nurse -- and two roomers. His next move during the 1920s was to Pasadena, Los Angeles County. 

There, in 1930, he was a cook for Dr. George Dock and his wife Miriam. He appears to have made his way back to Michigan by the 1940s. 

At the age of 89, he died in Flint, MI on St. Patrick's Day 1949.

Son Charles Hudson (1886- ? ) was born in June 1886 in Mississippi and adopted by Bert Younkin sometime before 1900. Charles and Bert shared a home in El Monte, Los Angeles County, CA as of 1900. Nothing more about Charles is known.

~ Daughter Mary Alice (Younkin) Edwards ~

Daughter Mary Alice Younkin (1861-1951) was born on Oct. 23, 1861, a little under three months after her father had died. 

She grew to womanhood in Jackson, MI. 

On Aug. 9, 1884, in the town of her birth, the 22-year-old Mary Alice was joined in wedlock with 25-year-old William E. Edwards (1860-1926), a resident of Battle Creek and a native of Brookville, Canada, Rev. George R. Holt presided. At the time, William earned a living as a railroader. 

A trio of daughters of this union were Malinda Annabelle "Linnie" Edwards, Fern Elizabeth Edwards and Ruth L. Edwards. 

Sadly, William died in Flint, MI at the age of 66 on Oct. 2, 1926. Burial was in Flint's Gracelawn Cemetery. 

The widowed Mary Alice survived for another 24 years. She passed away at the age of 89, in Flint, on Jan. 23, 1951. 

Daughter Malinda Annabelle "Linnie" Edwards (1886-1976) was born in 1886 in Jackson, MI. She migrated with her parents to the Flint area at the age of 10, in 1896. In 1908, she entered into marriage with Benjamin Hugan (April 6, 1877-1938), an immigrant from Ontario, Canada, and the son of Robert and Isabelle (Ball) Hugan. Their six children were Joseph "Courtland" Hugan, Robert "George" Hugan, Slayton Hugan, Benjamin E. Hugan and Mary Margaret Reed plus one who died young. The Hugans were longtime farmers. In her free time Malinda liked to crochet doilies, vests, purses and slippers and to bake pies and cookies. Their home in the 1930s was at 1320 Reid Road in Mundy Township near Flint. On the fateful Christmas Day 1938, a scaffold on which he apparently was standing collapsed. His vertebrae were fractured and his right lung was ruptured. He was rushed to Hurley Hospital where he died two minutes after midnight. The remains were lowered under the sod of grace Lawn Cemetery. Malinda outlived her spouse by more than 35 years. With several of her children having relocated to New York State, she made many trips there over time. At her 87th birthday, now living with her daughter on Beechwood Avenue in Flint, she was pictured in a related story in the Flint Journal, which said she had 16 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

  • Grandson Joseph "Courtland" Hugan ( ? -1977) was born on (?). He was joined in wedlock with Dorothy ( ? -1997). Three offspring of their union were Charles C. Hugan, Barbara Newcomb and Virginia Spencer.  Courtland resided for many years in Kenmore, NY, where he was employed in an executive position with Chevrolet Company for 38 years in Tonawanda. There, he was a member of the Nocturnal lodge of the Masons and Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests and Good Shepherd Lodge. He also served a term as master of the Tonawanda Commandery of the Royal Arch Masons. Then in about 1973 they moved to Stuart, FL, making their homeplace in the Conquistador Condominiums. He then helped found the Amara Shrine Temple of Lake Worth and joined the First United Methodist Church. The angel of death cleaved him away at age 67, at Stuart Convalescent Center, on Feb. 9, 1977. The Stuart News printed an obituary. Rev. Dr. H. Jackson Downey officiated the funeral rites in the family church. Dorothy lived on for another two decades and moved from Stuart to Gowanda, NY. There, at age 88, she died on Dec. 27, 1997.

    Great-grandson Charles C. Hugan resided in Tonawanda, NY in 1977.

    Great-granddaughter Barbara Hugan (1936-2020) was born on Nov. 18, 1936 in Flint, MI. At the age of about 19, she was united in matrimony with Daniel L. Newcomb ( ? -2018). She obtained a teaching degree from Kent State University in the late 1970s and went on to a career as an educator. The Newcombs eventually migrated to New York State and settled in Orchard Park, NY. Together, they produced a brood of children -- Scott D. Newcomb, Robert Newcomb, Jacque Fahrion, Suzanne Rowland and Donna Schumacher. Said the Buffalo News, Barbara "was very active with St. James UCC of Hamburg and actively involved within the United Church of Christ. Serving her church as a conference leader and delegate at the local, state and national office levels. Barbara loved being with others and sharing her grace, wisdom and warm heart with others, particularly with her grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and the youth of the church. Barbara cherished the times when she opened up her home and homestead for the youth of the church to have retreats, camp outs, or just a day in the country, enjoying the nature that she so deeply appreciated." Sadly, Daniel died on Feb. 16, 2018. Barbara survived for another two years and made her final home at Fox Run of Orchard Park. She passed away on or about June 7, 2020.

    Great-granddaughter Virginia Hugan married (?) Spencer. Her homeplace in 1977 was in Bergen, OH. 

  • Grandson Robert "George" Hugan relocated to Lewiston, NY. 
  • Grandson Slayton Hugan ( - 1973) migrated to Williamsville, NY. He married Nellie ( ? - ? ). They became the parents of Janice Ahrens and Marilyn Norman. Slayton held memberships in the Swhartz Creek Lodge of the Masons, Buffalo Consistory, Ismalia Temple of the AAOMMS and Kenmore Shrine Club, and was a chief with the Brighton Volunteer Fire Company. Sadness cascaded over the family when Slayton died on Nov. 29, 1973. His obituary was published in the Buffalo News,in which the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the Heart Association of Western New York.
  • Grandson Benjamin E. Hugan dwelled on Reid Road in Flint in 1973. 
  • Granddaughter Mary Margaret Hugan (1912-1995) was born on Christmas Day 1912 in Genesee, MI. She was twice-wed. Her first spouse, in 1931, was Howard Earl Pangborn (1909-1950), son of Edith Pangborn. The five daughters they bore together were Carolyn A. Persails, Leota R. Gibbs, Dorothy Marie Hohner, Joyce Elaine Whitt and Linda Mae Brabbs. Sadly, Howard passed away in Flint at age 40 on June 4, 1950. Later, she married Clarion Reed ( ? - ? ). He appears to have brought three stepdaughters into the second union -- Geraldine Jacob, Dolores Wood and Janice Duren. The Reeds' address in the early 1970s was on Beechwood Avenue in Flint. She died in Flint at age 82 on Nov. 1, 1995. Her remains sleep for all time in Flint's Sunset Hills Cemetery.

    Great-granddaughter Carolyn A. Pangborn (1931-2014) married (?) Persails. In the early 1960s, they dwelled at Grand Blanc, MI.

    Great-granddaughter Leota R. Pangborn (1933-2011) wed (?) Gibbs. They were in Flint in 1962.

    Great-granddaughter Dorothy Marie Pangborn (1935-2021) was joined in wedlock with (?) Hohner. They put down roots in Flint.

    Great-granddaughter Joyce Elaine Pangborn (1936-2005) was born in 1936. She first entered into marriage with (?) Dean. The couple lived at Grand Blanc, MI in 1962. Later, she wed (?) Whitt. 

    Great-granddaughter Linda Mae Pangborn (1943-1962) was born on May 24, 1943 in Flint. As a teen, she tied the knot with Stanley Brabbs ( ? - ? ). Their address was at G-6199 Bermuda Lane in Mount Morris near Flint. Tragically, at the age of just 19, she died in Flint's St. Joseph Hospital on Dec. 3, 1962. An obituary was printed in the Flint Journal. Rev. Wendell Wellman presided over the funeral rites, with burial following in Sunset Hills Cemetery.

Daughter Fern Elizabeth Edwards (1889-1971) was born on May 12, 1889. She wed William Park (1888-1965). The pair's known offspring were Bonnie Jean Park, Jack Park, Mary Ellen Johnson and Patricia Harmon. William surrendered to the angel of death in 1965. Death swept her away at age 82 on Oct. 6, 1971. Burial was in Flint's Gracelawn Cemetery.

  • Granddaughter Bonnie Jean Park (1930-2007) was born on Oct. 22, 1930 in Genesee County, MI. Said the Flint Journal, "Bonnie owned and operated Millard-Daly Insurance Agency since 1948 and then merged with Stewart and Associates Agency in Davison." Bonnie passed away just three days shy of her 77th birthday on Oct. 19, 2007. She sleeps for the ages in Flint's Gracelawn Cemetery.
  • Grandson Jack Park married Ardelle. They resided in Flint in 2007.
  • Granddaughter Mary Ellen Park was joined in wedlock with (?) Johnson. She settled in Caro, MI.
  • Granddaughter Patricia Park tied the knot with Richard Harmon. As of 2007, they were in Flint.  

Daughter Ruth L. Edwards (1893-1980) was born on Oct. 14, 1893. On June 15, 1912, at age 19, she married 34-year-old Thomas Carl Millard ( ? - ? ) of Flint, the son of Orson and Sarah (Gardner) Millard. Rev. W. Dudley Powers, rector of St. Paul's Church, officiated. The couple did not reproduce. Thomas was employed as manager and proprietor of a medicinal business at the time of marriage. She is believed to have spent some of her adult years in Fort Lauderdale. Later in life she was back in Flint. There, in Flint Osteopathic Hospital, she died at age 86 on Feb. 20, 1980. An obituary appeared in the Flint Journal and the Fort Lauderdale News. She sleeps for all time in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Flint.

Copyright © 2023-2024 Mark A. Miner

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