James Yeomans, Jr.: Illinois Settler by Oxcart

1817-1876

Ox-cart example; 

      James Yeomans was born in Delhi, in Delaware County, New York, on March 14, 1817, the son of James Yeoman and either Jane Stout or Jane Munger. (An 's' was later added to the surname.) He was one of 10 children, his siblings being Ellen, George S., Jane, Francis, Harriet, Margaret, Elizabeth, David Galacia, and Peter. Not much is known about his siblings, although at least one sister moved to Philadelphia, which is where his father, James Yeoman, Sr., died. We actually have a photo of his father and know that James Yeoman Sr. served as Justice of the Peace. His grandfather, Francis Yeoman, was born in Berwick-on-Tweed, on the border between Scotland and England, and subsequently served in the Revolutionary War as a sergeant. Francis Yeoman is our earliest known Yeoman ancestor and is our 4-great-grandfather.
   
      James Yeomans Jr. grew up on a farm in Delaware County, New York. On October 12, 1843, he married Sarah Haines Redfield in Delhi. The minister was Theophilus Redfield, no doubt a relative of the bride. Their first 4 children were all born in New York: Albert Redfield (1845), Charles Howard (1846), Meroa Louisa (1848) and Edwin James (1850).

      In the fall of 1851, James moved his family to Illinois by oxcart and boat and settled in Squaw Grove (Hinckley today), about 60 miles west of Chicago. The first post office wasn't established until 1853. In 1854, his youngest child, Frederick Wright, was born. In 1855, his eldest child, Albert, died. A few years later, the family moved to Sugar Grove, about 10 miles to the east.  In 1861, they moved to Peotone, about 75 miles to the southeast, and in 1866, they moved to Onarga, where they made their home. In 1868, James bought both farm land and a cemetery plot. At the time of the 1870 census, his real estate was valued at $13,000. James' primary occupation was farmer, but in those days they often had multiple ways of earning a living.
   
      On January 16, 1876, the youngest child of James and Sarah, Frederick Wright, died at 21 years of age. About 2 months later, on March 9, James himself died, at the age of 58. Cause of death is not known, but James and Frederick may have died from the same infectious disease. At the time of his death, James owned 9 pieces of land and a Norman colt. In addition, he was owed money by several individuals, including his son Edwin.

      James and Sarah raised fairly successful children, no doubt aided by Sarah's teaching skills! Their eldest child, Charles, worked as a lawyer and was the executor of James' estate. Their daughter Meroa was a college graduate and taught school prior to her marriage. Their youngest surviving child, Edwin James, worked both as a carpenter and as a farmer.