St. Clair County Missouri
Biographies

Y
 

YANCE, Joseph
 Joseph Yance, a member of the well known establishment of Stout & Co., was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, November 11, 1842. His parents were among the first settlers of Taber Township. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm and obtained his education in the common schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Colonel Shelby's battalion, serving until paroled at Fort Scott, Kansas, in June, 1865. He then farmed in Vernon County, Missouri, for eight months, and later went to Platte County, Missouri. In the fall of 1866 he returned to St. Clair County and lived here until 1873, when he took a trip to California. After one year he came back here and farmed until 1881 Then he became identified with the firm of Stout & Co. Mr. Yance was married November 19, 1868, to Miss Mary Ketcham, of Indiana. They have four children: Bertha B., Nona K. L., Tamer B. and Louis A. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

YOAST, Francis
 Francis Yoast, farmer and stock dealer, section 16, is the son of John Yoast, who was born in Germany in 1794, emigrating to the United States in 1808 with his father - a cooper by trade, he having come to this country to follow that occupation. He first located in Virginia, and after living there one year went to Ohio, and in 1810 emigrated to Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1812 John Yoast was married to Miss Elizabeth Ware, of Blount County, Tennessee. From this marriage there was born on the 23d day of December, 1814, a son, Francis. The senior Yoast, together with his family, came to Missouri in 1836, locating in Collins Township, of this county, and our subject has done much toward its improvement since his residence here. At that time this county was known as Rives, and he has often visited Osceola when it contained but one store. In 1838 one of the first, if not the first marriage ceremonies, was solemnized in Collins Township. During the late war Mr. Yoast was actively engaged in the cause of the union. He is a member of the Methodist Church and politically a Greenbacker, though formerly a Republican. He owns 265 acres of land. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

YONCE, Andrew
 Andrew Yonce, one of the pioneers of St. Clair County, who resides on section 12, of this township, is a son of John Yonce, a native of Virginia, and of German descent. Andrew was born in Wythe County, Virginia, April 3, 1810. He was there reared and educated in both English and German schools. November 10, 1830, he was married to Miss Esther Coulthard, and in 1838 they moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, locating on Big Monegaw, three miles northeast of where he now resides. He afterwards entered the land that comprises his present farm, which contains 160 acres, a portion of which is underlaid with a rich vein of coal. When he first settled in this vicinity his nearest neighbor was five miles distant and the Indians were more numerous than the white men. His trading points were Osceola and Harmony Mission, his post office being at the former place. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church and for some two years religious services were held at their residence. Mrs. Yonce was born in England, November 25, 1814. She was a daughter of Thomas and Ester (Craig) Coulthard, who crossed the sea with nine children in 1829, and located in Wythe County, Virginia. Mrs. Y. was educated in England. Their family have numbered twelve children, nine of whom are living. Joseph T., born November 11, 1842, and married November 16, 1868, Miss Mary E. Ketcham, of Indiana; Flarvious J., born May 4, 1844, married June 5, 1873, Miss Susanna Burke; William H., born July 4, 1846, married November 14, 1875, Miss Mary E. Campbell; John A., born September 10, 1849, and married July 19, 1875, Miss Rebecca Burke; Frances, born October 11, 1840, married February 22, 1866, A. C. Ditty; Maria L., born December 12, 1847, and married April 22, 1869, A. Landon; Henrietta E., born November 6, 1853, married March 13, 1873, John B. Ditty; Florence O., born August 31, 1856, married February 4, 1877, G. L. Woolsey; Adriana C., born June 21, 1858, married July 4, 1878, H. Landon. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

YOUNGER, Simpson
The following information on Simpson Younger comes from an interview with Younger in 1937 as part of a W.P.A. Collection Project. Source: Western Historical Manuscripts Collection, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
"My father was Charles Younger, the originator of the Younger family in Missouri, and grandfather of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger. My father was my mother's master. She was a Simpson. I knew Cole Younger well." The Younger brothers, Cole, Bob and Jim, were notorious outlaws. It is recorded that Sim's father was the Younger who operated a canoe ferry across the Missouri at Chouteau's Landing. "My father died when I was five years old, and left Mother a farm on which my brothers and sisters are still living. Father arranged for my education and, by the terms of his will, I was sent to Oberlin, Ohio, where I was reared by Delia Sheppard, in whose care I was placed." Sim Younger attended Oberlin College, graduated in 1870. He did not see his mother from the time he was five until he was the age of twenty-one. "I was born in slavery and I enlisted in the Union Army January 1, 1864, at Oberlin, Ohio, and, according to the National Tribune, I was one of the youngest soldiers in the ranks." "I was present at the battle of Petersburg, Va., July, 1864, one of the disasters to the Northern forces of the War; and present on June 15, 1864, at the initiatory battle of Deep Bottom and also at Cold Harbor." "I was in the Ninth Army Corps, under Burnside, and was transferred around in front of Richmond, Va." "General Butler went down to Fort Fisher and failed, which was the last open port of the Confederacy. Another expedition was organized and General Terry given command. We embarked on the night of 31-Dec.-1864, landed the morning of 13-Jan.-1865, on the peninsula. On the night of 15-Jan.-1865, we captured Fort Fisher." "We had a terrible, terrible time landing! There was an awful storm! I was told to jump overboard and oh my! I swallowed a good deal of the Atlantic!" "I want to tell you of one of the tragic things that happened during the war, I was there and saw it." "It was at the Southside Railroad at Petersburg, on 27-Sept.-1865. I was put on picket duty. The "Rebs" had built a fire and the wind was driving it toward us. They began to holler and cheer, very happy over the fact." "All at once we could hear someone coming toward us. The pickets opened fire on what they thought were "Rebs" and found out, to their distress, that it was a bunch of recruits from our own lines. Many were killed." "If I could choose my weapons for the next war, I would choose doughnuts, to be thrown at each other across the Atlantic!" At the time of this interview, Sim Younger was living in a modest two-story frame home, located at 400 North Moniteau St., Sedalia, Missouri. There was a quiet soldierly dignity about the old Negro that was striking and impressive. At 87 years of age, his keen eyes needed no glasses. The impress of his college education and soldierly training were evident in his bearing and conservation. (The History of St. Clair Co., Mo, Volume 1, St. Clair County, Missouri Historical Society)

Graphics by