Youker Family History

Youker. Pronounced like the Midwestern card game, Euchre: Yuu-ker. My earliest known Youker ancestor is 6th great-grandfather, Rudolph Jucker/Youker, born about 1730 in what some think was western Germany but perhaps (and research is proving very likely) German speaking Switzerland where the Juker/Jucker surname is extremely common. We know that he was living in the Mohawk Valley, New York where many German speaking people had settled: western Germans, Alsatians, Austrians, and Swiss. All germanic peoples with dialects of the same language, and most of these people belonged to the Reformed Church founded by Protestant Reformer, John Calvin in 16th century Switzerland, later spreading to Germany, The Netherlands, France and England. More info. on these people and the importance of their religion can be found by clicking here: Reformed Church in Mohawk Valley and Faiths of Our Fathers. Some of these people (a minority) were members of the Lutheran Church, but this did not include the Youkers.

Rudolph and Anna (Windler) Youker lived in Canajoharie, NY and had many children. Three of their sons were Revolutionary War Patriots: John, Johann "George" (my 5th great-grandfather), and Jacob (who was a prisoner of war, taken into Canada, and later escaped). Almost all Michigan Youkers are descendats of Johann George and his wife, Elizabeth Schall. Schall family of German Palatine origin. These early Youkers were baptized, married, buried, and worshipping in Stone Arabia Reformed Church, which happens to still be standing. Pictures below. History of Church: Stone Arabia Reformed Church

Johann George, had a son, Johann "George" Jr. or "Second George" (my 4th great grandfather) who married the lovely, Catherine Burkdorf. Catherine was the daughter of Henry (Hendrick) Burkdorf, a Hessian soldier. I have the following information on him:

Hessian Soldier

Henry Burkdorff by Nancy Cioch found at website: http://nancyscorner.net/nancorhessian.htm

Henry Burkdorff was another Hessian who came to America with Gen Burgoyne. Hendrick Burkdorf, Sr. was born in Germany 1736 and died July 12, 1824 in the Town of Oppenheim, NY. He was 87 years 6 months old and was buried on the Burkdorf farm cemetery. He married Nancy ---- b Feb. 14, 1747/48 in Germany (?). She died Oct 6, 1814 in the Town of Oppenheim and buried on the Burkdorf farm cemetery. She was 66 years, 7 months, 27 days old. He was captured at Saratoga and spent time in prison camps before being released. 

Johann George Youker II buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Interlochen, MI

Stone has fallen and since cracked, but at time of photo was still legible.

"George" and Catherine Youker left the Mohawk Valley and were living for a time in Harrison, Potter Co., Pennsylvania before relocating to Jackson County, Michigan (where Catherine passed away and is buried) and then later, further north into Grand Traverse County, MI.

Jonas Youker, son of George Youker (above) my 3rd great-grandfather, stayed behind in Harrison, PA while the rest of his family relocated to Michigan. He had a young wife, Sally and children at home. Sally became ill with small pox, and after her death, Jonas and children relocated to Michigan. He did remarry to my 3rd great-grandmother, Eliza Carr (although not sure if they married in PA and then came to MI or if they met and married in MI at this point!). It's within this time that the family line is no longer strictly Germanic, Carr is a Scottish surname! Jonas and Eliza have two more children: John Henry (My 2nd great-grandfather) and Clarence (who dies in infancy). Eliza took in and nursed her stepdaughter, Sarah Youker Hessem who had come down with Tuberculosis. Eliza and infant son, Clarence catch the disease and all pass away shortly after each other. Very little is known about poor Eliza, and I very much would like to be able to trace her family someday. I saw one picture of Jonas in which he was an old man with a long white beard. Jonas and family are buried in Downes Cemtery, in southern Grand Traverse County. 

You're probably getting sick of seeing gravestones, aren't you? We're now getting to the point where I can fix that. John Henry Youker, son of Jonas, was my second great-grandfather. He married Generie Genevieve Felt (of British ancestry) and the couple lived and raised their family on a farm on Silver Lake, Traverse City, Michigan. They were members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUBC) in Travers City. 11 children total, 7 of which survived into adulthood, including my great-grandfather, Elmer Youker. 

John and Generie Youker

Family Picture Below

Seated L to R: David, Generie, Charlie, John H., Frank

Standing L to R: Frank, John, Edna, and Elmer.

Youker farm on Silver Lake, Traverse City.

My Great-Grandfather, Elmer was born in December of 1890 at the farm pictured above and married my great grandmother, Frances Williams on Christmas Eve 1917 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Traverse City. He made a living primarily out of farming, Frances being a school teacher. The family did relocate to Manton, Michigan for about ten years during the Great Depression where Elmer did take a Government job. Elmer died tragically of a tractor accident while helping my grandfather, Jim bail hay in May of 1950. He had a very nice singing voice and was quite often called upon to sing at social gatherings. 

Elmer and Frances.

...and now we get into current day. My Grandfather, James Youker was born on June 21, 1921 which was, according to his mother, "the longest and hottest" day of the year. Grandpa had two sisters, Zelma and Mavis.My Grandfather, married Rita Louise Kreiser at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hannah, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1947. He became a Catholic just prior to marrying my Grandmother. Grandpa passed away in 2007 and Grandma more recently in 2017. That pretty much covers, in a nutshell, about 300 years of Youker family history in the USA! Thanks for reading. 

Grandpa and Grandma Youker

Wedding Day 1947

St. Mary's Church, Hannah, MI

(Hannah is where my Grandmother was born and raised).

For anyone looking for some great information and wants to get a picture of what life was like for the early Youkers and other German speaking pioneers of the Mohawk Valley, I would highly recommend the novel, Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmonds. This was later created into a movie in 1939, which is also worth watching! 

My lineage from Rudolph:

Rudolph and Anna (Windler) Jucker/Youker 

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Johann "George" and Elizabeth (Schall) Youker

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Johann "George" Jr. and Catherine (Burkdorf) Youker

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Jonas and Eliza (Carr) Youker

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John H. and Generie (Felt) Youker

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Elmer and Frances (Williams) Youker

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James and Rita (Kreiser) Youker

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Bradley and Julie (Pearson) Youker

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Adam Youker 

Fances Williams Youker

Been awhile since I've written anything. So, decided I would pick up and introduce you to my great-grandmother, Frances Ida Williams-Youker. A very interesting woman. A woman descended from Shakers, Mayflower Pilgrim William Bradford, and Swiss immigrant pastor, Rev. John Henry Goetchius, a founder of Queen's College, now Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Frances, as a girl.

Frances Williams Youker

Frances was born in Stroud, Oklahoma on April 19, 1894 to James (my Grandpa Jim's namesake) and Caroline (Taylor) Williams. Her father, James was a civil war veteran, who fought in both battles of Bull Run and was injured during the second battle, and lay wounded on battle field for over 24 hrs. before receiving medical attention. He was not discharged from the hospital for 6 months. He ended up meeting Caroline (Carrie) during the Oklahoma Land Rush. Carrie was the daughter of former Shakers. Most people think of the Shakers as similar to the Amish, which in a way is true. They are/were plain people. Shakers also remained celibate similar to Catholic priests and nuns. Carrie's parents met, fell in love, and left the community. Shakers have always interested me, and as of today, there are only 3 Shakers left living in Maine. During the Civil War era there were close to 6,000 Shakers.

Caroline ("Carrie") Williams. Mother of Frances.

Carrie was an accomplished seamstress, milliner, dressmaker and passed this onto her daughter, Frances. James passed away in December of 1899, and Carrie and children relocated to Grawn, Michigan. Carrie herself being born in Coldwater, Michigan.
Frances graduated from Traverse City High School in 1912, graduated from Mt. Pleasant County Normal in 1915, and taught in many one room school houses in Grand Traverse County. In fact, she even taught my maternal grandmother, Alva Lou Harkins, at Canada school house in Grant Twp..
Frances met Elmer Youker and they were married on Christmas Eve 1917 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Traverse City. Elmer grew up on Silver Lake in Traverse City and after marriage, the couple settled in on a farm a mile south of Monroe Center, now occupied by Jay and Donna Weber. Three children were born to them: Zelma, James (my Grandfather), and Mavis. During the Great Depression, the family relocated to Manton, Wexford Co., MI where Elmer took a job working for the County for about ten years. Frances was very social, very active in her community. She thought nothing of getting into the car and travelling across the state to visit family and friends.

Frances kneeling in back holding up bouquet with her County Normal classmates.

Canada School House. Grant Twp. Grand Traverse Co., MI

Frances also was a church organist, 4H leader, and wrote a small column in local newspaper. It was through 4H that my Grandparents, Jim and Rita Youker met. 4H meetings were held in the basement of the Monroe Center Methodist Church for the area children.
Frances was very eager to see Gone With The Wind when it opened in Traverse City in 1939. I believe this is probably because her father fought and was wounded in Civil War. She paid $4.00 for her ticket ($64.00 today!!)! Let's hope she enjoyed every minute of it for that price.

Elmer and Frances

Passing away of a heart attack in 1946, my grandfather, came home from his time in the Army, to the news that his mother had been dead six months already. News had been sent via letter but mail never caught up with him. I'm sure that was very difficult news to receive.