Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
YOAKAM, George Perry
Mt. Pleasant Township - George Perry Yoakam, farmer and stock dealer, is the son
of George and Sally Yoakam nee Wilson, the former of Virginia and the latter of
Pennsylvania, and was born in Knox County, Ohio, June 25, 1827. While yet a boy
he enlisted with an elder brother, and went into the Mexican War, serving under
General Scott. He participated in all the battles from Vera Cruz to the storming
of the defenses of the City of Mexico, and returned at the close of the war and
received an honorable discharge in St. Louis. Obtaining a land warrant he
located his land in Johnson County, Iowa. In 1850, he went to Iowa and improved
a farm, but soon sold it and moved to Tama County, and located a second farm.
This he improved in excellent condition. Disposing of it in 1866, he came to
Butler, Missouri, when there were but three families within the corporation, and
bought 150 acres of land of Uncle Jacob Wright, the depot grounds being a part
of the purchase. He also bought 1070 acres in the western part of the county,
near the Kansas line. He fenced both farms, and in 1870, erected a residence on
the west place and lived there until 1877, when he spent the summer in Colorado.
Returning in the fall he again came to Butler, where he has since lived. He
bought and raised fine stock, which he sold in Colorado for several years, and
as a stockman has been very successful. He built the grain elevator at the depot
and the year following bought wheat. Mr. Y. was married in Iowa City to Miss
Emily Ruth Humphrey, January 1, 1851. Her father, Lemuel Humphrey, of Delaware
County, Ohio, married Betsey Pinney, of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Y. have eight
children living: George Eugene, Marian Arthur, Ada Adelia, Ernest Lemuel, Luella
Elizabeth, Jesse Fremont, Frank Arleigh and Earle Leopold. He is a Republican in
politics and religiously a Congregationalist. Mrs. Yoakam enjoyed excellent
advantages for acquiring an education in youth, and became a thorough scholar.
She devoted several years to teaching and was celebrated in her calling. Her
mother and several of the family were also teachers. She is a most enterprising,
intelligent and capable woman. Mr. Yoakam is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)