Michael Harness Yoakam, II

Michael Yoakam Jr. was born in Virginia in 1803. He was a young man when he came to Ohio with his parents, reached his majority among the pioneers, and there married Sarah Bird, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 28, 1809, to which union were born the following children: Jacob, Michael J., Sarah, Whitefield, Allen, Charles, and Millie. After marriage Mr. Yoakam lived on his farm of forty acres, in Knox County, for a few years, and then in 1839, came to Allen County, Ohio and settled in Jackson township, then a land of forests and swamps, filled with deer, turkeys and a few bears. He entered a tract of 326 acres, and eventually became a leading farmer and an influential citizen. He lost his wife in 1881; she died a member of the Methodisy church, a truly Christian and noble woman, who endeavored to rear her children to become an honor to the family name; the death of Mr. Yoakam took place in 1887, a self-made man and honored and venerabled gentleman.

Allen County, Ohio Biographical History