An American Family History

Josiah Yerkes and Sarah Lupton

Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio
Washington Township, Carroll County, Indiana

The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.

Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus

West Virginia is located in the Appalachians and was originally part of Virginia. The capital and largest city is Charleston. It became a state during the Civil War and was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863.

Butler County, Ohio was established in 1803 from Hamilton and Ross Counties.

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.

Josiah Yerkes married Sarah Lupton on December 12, 1805. They were married by the Reverend C. Collins in Jefferson County, Virginia, which is now West Virginia. All the children, except Henry, were born in Jefferson County.

Eliza Yerkes Fox was born on January 12, 1809 and William B. Yerkes was born on May 25, 1810.

The family (Josiah Yerkis) appeared in the 1810 census of Jefferson County, Virginia.

1810 Yerkes Household
a man between 26 and 44 (Josiah)
a woman between sixteen and 25 (Sarah)
a boy and a girl, both under ten (Eliza and William

Mary B. Yerkes was born on January 28, 1812, Josiah Yerkes, Jr. was born on May 10, 1815 and Sarah Ann Yerkes Hinkle was born on March 26, 1817. Mary died when she was only six years old on March 26, 1818. Catherine Yerkes Cline was born on March 4, 1819. David Henry Yerkes was born on May 1, 1821, and Rebecca Yerkes Lenon was born on July 10, 1823. Henry Clay Yerkes was born on June 28, 1826.

They moved to Ohio before the 1830 census. They probably took the National Road.

The family (Joshua Yerkus) appeared in the 1830 census of Hamilton Township, Butler County, Ohio.

1830 Yerkes Household
one man between 40 and 49 (Josiah age 53
one woman between 40 and 49 (Sarah age 53)
two men between twenty and thirty (William and ?)
one girl between fifteen and 19 (Eliza age 21)
one boy between 15 and 19 (Josiah, Jr. age 15)
one girl between ten and 14 (Sarah age 13)
one girl between five and nine (Catherine age 11)
one boy between ten and fourteen (David age 9)
one girl under five (Rebecca age 7)
one boy under five (Henry age 4)

On February 17, 1831 Eliza married Levi Fox and William died in 1833 in Butler County.

On March 20, 1837 Josiah, Sr. purchased 160 acres of land in Carroll County Section 8, Township 25 North Range One East. Later that year on June 10, 1837 Josiah and Sarah deeded 40 acres of their land to Josiah, Jr. for 100 dollars.

By 1840 the family was living in Washington Township, Carroll County Indiana. Eliza was married and William had died.

The 1840 Yerkes Household
a man between 60 and 69 (Josiah age 63)
a woman between 50 and 59 (Sarah)
a boy between 20 and 29 (Josiah Jr. age 25)
two women between 20 and 29 (Sarah age 23 and Catherine age 21)
a boy between 15 and 19 (David age 19)
a girl between 15 and 19 (Rebecca age 17)
a boy between 10 and 14 (Henry age 14)

In 1841 Sarah died in Carroll County. Catherine and Rebecca both married in 1841, Josiah Jr. in 1845, and Sarah Ann in 1846. Eliza died in 1850 in Butler County, Ohio.

Josiah appeared in the 1850 census of Carroll County, Indiana. At that time Josiah, Sr. was living with Josiah, Jr. and his family. Josiah, Sr. died in 1852. Josiah Jr., Sarah Ann, David, Rebecca, and Henry remained in Carroll County and died there. Catherine moved to Iowa.

Berkeley County 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.

The National Road (Cumberland Road) was built by the federal government and connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers. Construction began in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland. The road crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania and reached Wheeling, West Virginia in 1818. It then crossed Ohio and Indiana and stopped at Vandalia, Illinois.

28 Dec 1937 Logansport, Indiana

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©Roberta Tuller 2026
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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