Bio: |
Yankee, Henry (History - 1844) |
Contact: |
Janet Schwarze |
Email: |
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org |
Surnames: |
YANKEE WEDGE WILLIAMS O'NEILL HEWETT KNOOP RIEDEL |
----Source: 1918 History
of Clark County, Wisconsin, page 483.
Henry Yankee, an elderly resident of Lynn
Township, of which he was a pioneer settler, and where he is
universally known and respected, was born in Canada, Dec. 26, 1844,
son of Frederick and Frederica Yankee. The parents had then resided
in Canada for about six years, and in the year of his birth, or
soon after, they came to Washington County, Wis., where they
resided for ten years, and where his education was begun in a
German school. The family then removed to Clark County, arriving
here just two weeks after the arrival of the Wedge and Williams
families, and locating on land in Lynn Township that has since
remained the family homestead. Here Henry attened the Mapleworks
school for a while, and when a little older gave his full time to
industrial occupations, being employed at logging in the winter and
on the drive in spring, working for Mr. Hewett on O'Neill Creek. He
also did some harvesting in Minnesota. While the mail members of
the family were thus working, the mother spun wool and flax and
attended to the household affairs. Henry often walked to and from
Neillsville, there being no better method of locomotion in early
days.
On Feb. 28, 1875, he was married to Amelia Knoop, who was born in Germany, Oct. 8, 1854, her father, Paul Knoop, being a shoemaker in Stolp. He died in Germany, and she came to the United States alone at the age of 17 years, having a brother in Neillsville. Her mother followed her a year later. After his marriage, Henry Yankee settled with his wife on the home place. He cradled grain for a time and broke his own oxen, his first wagon being built for him by George Riedel. The Indians often camped near his house, occasionally performing one of their ceremonial dances. Mr. Yankee's original tract contained eighty-six acres, improving it as the years went by, and erecting good buildings. Here he has since spent his life and has attained comfortable circumstances.
At times he has served in public office as a member of the side board and as road boss.
He and his wife had a family of ten children, four of whom, Alfred, Leo, Martha and Ida, died of diphtheria. The survivors are Ernest, a farmer in Fremont County, and Arthur, Martin, Lily, Violet and Rosa, residing at home. The mother of these children, Mrs. Amelia Yankee, died Dec. 7, 1908.
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