John W Yerks

Thanks to research done by David Yerks (a descendant of John W Yerks) of California, we have pretty much solidified this branch of the family tree.  There are not too many mysteries left here. We even recently found his gravestone in Pleasantville.

Ezra Yerks

According to Census records, Ezra Yerks is the brother of William Townsend Yerks, John F. Yerks and Armenia Yerks.  The 1880 Census indicate that there were two Ezra Yerks that inhabited New Castle in 1880.  One was listed as single (b. 1837) and living with the Wright family as a servant on a farm in Chappaqua. The other Ezra Yerks (b. 1830), was listed as married at the time, but his wife was not listed in the Census with him. So that may be a mistake.   Living with the second Ezra was his brother Joseph, father John and mother Fanny.  I found a gravestone in Palmer Cemetery in Pleasantville that shows a 62 year old Ezra Yerks who died in 1890, so I decided to do some research on him.

First, someone had already added him to Find-A-Grave
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21078161

His obit (below) offers little help except that he managed Mr. Cowdins Farm in Chappaqua.

There is another article that mentions how a box with lots of money and valuables was found under his bed when he died.

This articles indicates that this Ezra Yerks was a bachelor, “so of course the money would go to his bother and sister”.  So, at age 62, that would most likely make him the second Ezra Yerks from above. But if Ezra was indeed a bachelor, than maybe he was Ezra Yerks, the brother of William Townsend.  I did contact the poster of the Find-A-Grave memorial to see what she knows.  Right now, I guess I would have to say that the Ezra Yerks who died in 1890 is NOT the brother of William Townsend Yerks, but maybe time will tell otherwise.

Armenia Yerks

Armenia Yerks is the daughter of Maria and William Yerks, born around 1835.  The 1880 Census shows Armenia Yerks (b. 1830) to be living with Charles Carpenter.  It indicates that Armenia is the Aunt of the head of household. This would mean that Charles Carpenter would have to be the son of  one of Armenia’s sisters.  The problem is that as far as I knew, Armenia was the only daughter of Maria and William Yerks.    I am sure there is a connection here, I just have to figure it out..

Then the 1900 Census shows Armenia to be in an “Almshouse” with lots of other woman. From Wikipedia: “Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people (typically elderly people who can no longer work to earn enough to pay rent) to live in a particular community”. Also: “A building of residence for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish. Originally founded by the Church. Usually a charity relying on donations for funding”.

Ira F. Yerks

Here is another mystery.  Who is the Ira F Yerks that appears in the 1870 Census with William and Maria?  Maria would have to have been 59 when she delivered him, if she was his mother.  It would seem more likely that he would be the son of Ezra or Armenia, but as far as we know, neither had children.  There are two Ira Yerks living in the area in 1900.  The first (b. 1864) is listed as a boarder with the Birdsall family in Bedford.  The second (b. May 1863) is living with a Jared and Julia Dann in Pound Ridge.  He is listed as a son-in-law, making him the sister of Julia.

To make things more confusing, I found two newspaper articles that mention the name Ira Yerks.

• A Mr. and Mrs. Ira Yerks of Mount Kisco “Spent Sunday with their Aunt, Mrs. Hannah Lawrence” according to an 1888 Newspaper article.

• A September 1887 newspaper article states that a Ira Yerks “went to Newark last Monday to begin work”

Summary….

You would think that with all the information out there about the Yerks Families in Westchester, it would be easier finding information on this branch of the family tree.  It’s not.  Chances are that they were poor and did not appear as much in the public eye as other branches of the Yerks family tree have because of that.  The only grave I have found so far is that of John W Yerks.  He is in the same cemetery as the Ezra Yerks above.

James L Yerks Sr (b. 21 May 1912 in Goldens Bridge, NY; d. 1 Oct 2007 in Cos Cob, CT)
James L Yerks Jr (b. 5 Nov 1892 in Mt. Kisco, NY; d. 20 Apr 20, 1973 in Cos Cob, CT)
James L Yerks III (Living)
James L Yerks IV (Living)

He has lived in Bayville for the last 46 years, and retired from the Ciba-Geigy Corp. of Toms River in 1984 after working there 20 years.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Force as a staff sergeant.

Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Minabell a son and daughter-in-law, Donald W. and Ann Emily Yerks Jr., of Brielle a daughter and son-in-law, MaryAnn and Richard Sengstack of Whiting a brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Edna Yerks of Toms River and two grandchildren, Ashley and Sean Yerks.

Visiting will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28 at the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Silverton Cemetery, Hooper Avenue, Toms River.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Van Dyke Hospice, c/o Community Medical Center, 99 Route 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08755, or the American Cancer Society, 1035 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753.

Mr. Yerks was born in Goldens Bridge, N.Y., on May 21, 1912 to the late Catharine and James L. Yerks Sr. He had lived in Greenwich since 1919.

Mr. Yerks retired from Petro Oil. He was a member of the Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Company since 1933 and served as treasurer for many years. In addition, Mr. Yerks was a member of GREATS, Westchester Fairfield Horticultural Society, Kiwanis Club of Greenwich, Mianus River Boat and Yacht Club and Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Yerks was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor Hone Yerks, his second wife, Florence Baird Yerks, his brother Kenneth Yerks and his sister Mary Ferris.

He is survived by his sons, James L. Yerks III of Stratford and Raymond K. Yerks of Coral Springs, Fla.; his stepson, Edward Baird of Greenwich; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in Mr. Yerks’s memory may be made to the Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Department.

Mr. Yerks, a lifetime resident of Silverton, was a local mechanic and car repair expert for 70 years. He was the sole proprietor of Cy’s Garage on Brand Road, Silverton, for 45 years, previously owning garages on Church Road, Route 9 and Route 37 in Toms River. He began his career in 1935 as a mechanic working for Maimone Cadillac Dealership, Main Street, Toms River. He was an active member of the Osbornville Protestant Church, Laurelton, for more than 25 years; an avid car enthusiast and Barnegat Bay boater. Mr. Yerks’ family ancestors were among the early settlers in the area.

Mr. Yerks was predeceased by his first wife, Doris Yerks, in 1952; a daughter, Carol Atkinson; a son, Donald; and a brother, Donald. Surviving are his wife, Edna May Westervelt Yerks; a daughter, Nancy Hannah of Farmingdale; three sons, Gerald Yerks of Meridian, Miss., John A. Kolchin and his wife Gail Driscoll of Cranford, and Mark Kolchin and his wife Cynthia of Lanoka Harbor, Lacey; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Kedz Funeral Home, 1123 Hooper Ave., Toms River. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Internment will follow in Silverton Cemetery, Toms River. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Silverton First Aid Squad, Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753.

Take a look in the upper left had corner of the newspaper. Look for the article entitled “HER SON, THOUGHT DEAD, IS ALIVE IN A FRENCH HOSPITAL”.  The newspaper does incorrectly identify Williams mother as Mrs. James Yerks.  It should have read Mrs George Yerks.

• The Putnam County Courier (Friday, July 18, 1919)