Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus
Berkeley County, Virginia was created from the northern third of Frederick County, Virginia in 1772. Jefferson County was formed from the county's eastern section. In 1863 Berkeley County became part of the new state of West Virginia.
Rebecca Yerkes Lenon was born on July 10, 1823 in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Her parents were Josiah Yerkes and Sarah Lupton.
She married John D. Lenon on November 3, 1841 in Carroll County, Indiana. John was born on August 1, 1821 in Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Lenon and Elizabeth Fox.
Rebecca and John's children included:
William H. Lenon (1844, married Polly Harter),
Margaret A. Lenon McCain (1851, married James Voorhis McCain), and
Martha Minerva Lenon 1856, married Francis (Frank) M. Roblyer).
They remained in Carroll County during the Civil War. The household appeared there in the 1870 census. They were living in Deer Creek Township. The household consisted of Clara Varnes age 18, John Lenon age 48 who was a farmer, Rebecca Lennon age 46, Margaret Lennon age 19, Martha Lenon age 14, and David Yerkes age 49.
FLORA BANK ROBBERY
Recalled by a Report of the Insanity ot John Lenon. ,
Two years ago the Farmers' bank of Flora was cracked by robbers, who secured $15,000, the cashier, W. H. Lenon, being wounded in a running fight with the robbers.
The event has so preyed on the mind of John Lenon, father of the cashier, that he has been become violently insane. In His dementia he has the delusion that the burglars are trying to break into the bank, and steal his money, aNd at times is uncontrollable. (from the Elwood Daily Record, June 8, 1901)
John Lenon of Sound Mind.
Special to The Indianapolis Star
DELPHI, Ind., June 5 1905
There is no truth in the report sent out from Flora that John Lenon. of that place is insane. Mr. Lenon recently suffered a severe fall, by which two ribs were fractured, and from which he has suffered greatly, but mentally he is not impaired, and he is unusually bright and active for his years, which number seventy - five.
John died on July 24, 1905. Rebecca died on August 27, 1907. They are buried in Paint Creek Cemetery.
The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.
Indiana became a state in 1819. The north was settled by people from New England and New York, the center by people from the Mid-Atlantic states and Ohio, and the south by people from Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.
