Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus
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.
In the Civil War (1861 to 1865) eleven Southern states seceded from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America.
Henry Clay Yerkes was born on June 28, 1826 in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He was the youngest son of Josiah Yerkes and Sarah Lupton.
In 1850 he was living with his sister, Catherine Cline, and her family in Jackson Township, Carroll County, Indiana.
When he was 25, Henry married Mary Ellen Woodward of Camden, Carroll County, Indiana on February 20, 1851. Mary Ellen was born on June 26, 1833. Her parents were James Woodward and Malinda Goodwin.
Their children were: Malinda Catherine Yerkes Appleton (about 1852, married Wilson Appleton),
Sarah Margaret Yerkes (about 1854),
David Newton Yerkes (April 29, 1857, married Mary Frances Lenon),
James Levington Yerkes (1860, married Gertrude Studebaker),
John Lenon Yerkes (1862, married Myrtle L. Houser),
William Henry Yerkes (July 9, 1865, married Elizabeth J. Lenon),
Clara Belle Yerkes (1868),
Girelda Yerkes Downham (1869, married Harry B. Downham),
Anna Elizabeth Yerkes (1873), and
Charlotte Yerkes Shanks (May 28, 1876, married James Oliver Shanks).
Malinda and Wilson Appleton
photo courtesy of Lee Appleton
The family appeared in the 1860 census in Washington Township. The household consisted of Henry age 31 who was a farmer, Mary E. age 25, Malinda age 8, Sarah M. age 6, David M. age 3 and an unnamed infant. David age 35 was living with the family at that time.
The family was still in Washington Township in 1870. The household consisted of Harry Georkis age 43, Mary age 37, Malinda age 18, Sarah age 15, David age 13, James age 10, John age 8, William age 5, Clarra age 3, and Gesilda age 1. Henry was a farmer and Malinda was a teacher.
In 1880 the household consisted of Henry Yerkes, Mary E. Yerkes, Newton Yerkes (1857), James Yerkes (1860), John Yerkes (1862), William Yerkes (1865), Clara Yerkes (1868), Relda (Girelda) Yerkes (1869), Anna Yerkes (1873), and Charlotte Yerkes (1874). In 1880 Henry was a stage coach station operator.
Henry died when he was 55 years old on April 29, 1882 and Mary Ellen died on April 2, 1894. They are buried together at Paint Creek Cemetery.
Berkeley Countywas 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.
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.
