b. March 19, 1832; Fox township, Carroll County, Ohio
d. June 22 1898, Fox township, Carroll County, Ohio
buried at Corinth-Presbyterian Church
Mary CLARK
b. May 21, 1832; Carroll County, Ohio
d. March 18, 183; Fox township, Carroll County, Ohio
buried at Corinth-Presbyterian Church
James Longacre Yoder was born in 1832 to William and Mary (LONGACRE) Yoder. He married Mary Clark, daughter of Daniel and Isabella (Calhoun) Clark on March 22, 1855 in Carroll County.
When James' father died (William Yoder) there was no will, so the court appointed James and Joseph to handle the estate. This lead to a dispute and James L. Yoder filed a suit in Appeals court, Carroll County, Ohio, Book D-F, p. 11; against his brother Joseph and the other heirs of his parents. Sheriff was ordered to sell the property to settle the claim by James against it. James ended up paying his brother Joseph over $5000 so that he could retain the family farm.
James and his wife Mary joined the Corinth Presbyterian Church in Mechanicstown, Ohio on January 12, 1872. Both are buried there.
In my mother's records as I reviewed the file I made several discoveries. One is that she tried for years to obtain a picture of Mary CLARK, by working with other YODER ancestors. Unfortunately, this was never accomplished, and so she is one of the few that we have no likeness of.
In addition, I discovered this beautiful saying - copied with the date of April 28, 1858. No name is offered as to who wrote this piece.
"Friendship is the golden choice
That binds are hearts together
Oh!may it not break on earth
But keep us friends forever"
James and Mary YODER had seven children together. They were:
l. John Clark YODER (1856-1884) married Madie MANFULL.
2. Anna B. Yoder (1860-1898) married Frank D. WHITE, parents of 5 children
3. Harvey Longacre YODER (1863-1948) married Olive CARR, parents of 1 child
4. Frances E. YODER (1866-1888) married William T. DENNIS, she supposedly married and died the same die, based on information from a family bible.
5. Daniel Oscar YODER (1868 - 1892)
6. Howard Harrison YODER, described in detail below
7. Elizabeth Emma YODER (1874-1895) married Milo Shaw, had 1 daughter and died when she was 2 years old
Citations:
1870, 1880 Federal Census Index, retrieved from http://ancestry.com; Fox Township, Carroll County, Ohio
Appeals Court, Carroll County, Ohio, Book D-F, p. 11; in personal files
Personal papers in Possession
JOHN GARDNER SLACK
b. February 15, 1828; Stark County, Ohio
d. February 27, 1908; Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio
Buried: Liberty Cemetery, Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio
ELIZABETH WICKARD HAHN
b. June 11, 1832; Stark County, Ohio
d. August 26, 1910; Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio
Buried: Liberty Cemetery, Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio
John Gardner SLACK was born in 1828, the son of Henry and Catherine GARDNER SLACK. John married Elizabeth Wickard HAHN, the daughter of Jacob and Mary WICKARD HAHN, on December 22, 1853 in Stark County, Ohio. The dates come from their tombstones, and a family bible in the possession of another relative. John and Elizabeth were farmers in Paris Township. Together they had 11 children.
The children were:
l. Wilmina Florrissa WILMA (1854-1943) married George W. Robbins, and they had 2 children
2. Son - unnamed - died at birth in 1855
3. Adella Alphensine DELLA (1856-1940) married twice: John A. Clark (1 child) and Lewis Iddings (5 children)
4. Allen Tobias (1858-1901) married Laura Fishel (3 children)
5. Milton Jesse (1860 - 1949) married Carrie CROWL (4 children) - pictured below
6. Myra Celesta (1862-1896) married Abram Watson (2 children)
7. Frank Logan (1865-1910) married Maggie Marteney (3 children)
8. Luella Drucilla (1868-1894) married Howard Harrison Yoder (discussed below)
9. Wilson Lee (1872-1887)
10. Infant son born in 1875
11. John Edgar (1876-1917) married Bessie Grass Shiltz
Citations:
1870, 1880 Federal Census Index; retrieved from http://ancestry.com; Brown Township, Carroll County, Ohio
Information from SLACK family bible, in possession of Harold Crowl relatives
Will of Henry Slack, Filed June 4 1874, Stark County Probate Court
HOWARD HARRISON YODER
b. August 21, 1871; Fox Township, Carroll County, Ohio
d. October 7, 1934; Minerva, Carroll County, Ohio
LUELLA DRUCILLA SLACK
b . March 15, 1868; Robertsville, Stark County, Ohio
d. November 26, 1958; Minerva, Carroll County, Ohio
Howard YODER was born and raised on a farm in Fox Township, Carroll County, Ohio. He first appears in the 1880 census, at the age of 9 with his brothers and sisters (John Clark, Anna B, Harvey L., Frances E., Daniel Oscar and Elizabeth Emma). He ran a meat market in Minerva, and often helped his brother Harvey butcher cattle. He was registered as a Presbyterian.
He married Luella Drucilla SLACK on March 28, 1894 in Carroll County. They had three children:
Earl Vern (1895 - 1975) - he married Fern Daisy FOX in 1919.
Mary Elizabeth (1900-1972) - she married Robert TANNEHILL in 1919.
Leah Fay (1907 to 1990) - she married John DAY in 1930.
My mother notes that on Howard's birth record, his birth date is given by the tax assessor as October 20, 1871. However, the family always celebrated his birthday on August 21, 1871.
Luella Drucilla SLACK lived to the age of 90. She was living with her daughter Leah and her husband, John DAY in Canton Ohio. She was originally a school teacher, and supposedly taught Howard before marrying him. Luella was known as "Lulu" - and I'm proud to carry that as my middle name.
Citations:
1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 Federal Census Index, retrieved from http://ancestry.com; Fox, Carroll County, Ohio and Brown, Carroll County, Ohio
Ohio Death Index
Personal papers in Possession
EARL YODER
b. February 13, 1895; Carroll County, Ohio
d. October 7, 1975; Minerva, Stark County, Ohio
For me, opening one of the boxes left by my mother resulted in finding another, a small linen box that revealed over 30 letters written by my mother’s father (Earl YODER) during World War I while he was stationed in France. The letters were originals, complete with blackened sentences where the censors had made decisions about what stories would come back to the United States. In addition to these letters, I discovered eight pages of notes my grandfather had handwritten upon his release from the war about what really happened in France on the Hindenburg Line during 1917, as well as pictures purchased after the war, produced by the United States as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. The letters, pictures, and his notes have been transcribed and shared with my brother and sister, and they are my legacy for future descendants. Here is my introduction to his story.
All of this (letters, photos, and handwritten notes) told a story of a young man sent to war, leaving behind his family, his sisters and his future wife, and entering an unknown land and life. The writing depicts a man who deeply cared about his family, and didn’t hesitate to disagree with the actions of others. What amazed
me as I read and transcribed these letters was this man was unlike the grandfather I remember. Instead, I think of a man of few words, who rarely talked about himself or his life. I was surprised and thrilled to find a certain elegance in his words. What I was not surprised about was his absolute love and care for his family and his future wife. I hope that you enjoy this small story of a farmer.
One letter, his 13th home, was written on October 1, 1918.
Dear Folks at Home,
Received several letters and my third Minerva News today, I am very glad to hear the heat wave has lifted its self and you are having some fine rains.
Oct. 4 – we moved for a short rest so I will continue, we surely would appreciate some of that heat over here as it is not as warm as in our own country. But the first frost we had was a few mornings ago, but there is a heavy wind from the ocean most all the time keeping a fellows coat on his back most of the time.
We have just come from one of the biggest battles probably ever fought, but the good “lord” was surely with us and the boys all realize it too. My pal and I are sleeping in a German dug-out but it s so warm, I think we shall move into our little tents; we are used to the cold I fear we will not care to sleep in your fine bedrooms.
I was over to an air dorme some time ago and saw the Allies planes, they sure are interesting to study; theses were one-passenger planes. I saw the instruments, the RPM (Engines Revolutions per Minute). Air speed in miles, compasses; two chine guns, one shoots thru the propeller blades, the other over them; a lever between the operators legs controls the entire movement, it is much like the gear-shift lever on Ted, controlling the planes, rudder, and clutch. I saw them rise and return, turn over and over and do all manner of stunts in practice fighting and firing.
We often see as high as twelve and fourteen, the most I ever counted was twenty-one, going over the lines to give Jerry some iron-rations and according to the German prisoners they haven’t been able to sleep for the past three months as a count of the Allies planes dropping bombs.
A German Lieutenant captured by our boys said there is nothing that will bring ruin to an army so quickly as for it to know it is losing and we know we have lost.
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are out of it according to the papers and their peace terms have been signed. With Austria-Hungry begging for peace and the cavalry after Jerry, I begin to think that General Pershing will make good his vow. We surely hope so, for as the English put it, “We are bloody well fed up with this war.”
Our hoping for the best
I remain, Your Boy,
Earl
This letter was written during the battle at the entrance to the Hindenburg Tunnel, south of Bellicout, Aisne, France. When he arrived home he said "we went on and on, relieving and being relieved, took so many prisoners, they cut down our rations to two meals a day, giving the other meal to the prisoners. On October 12th, we were relieved at Premont, and a call came for candidates for Infantry Officers. I decided to go. Here we stayed in the old historic French artillery barracks and trained on the campus until Nov. 11, 1918 when the Armistice was signed. Then they asked whether we wanted to stay and finish our course or go home. I wanted to go quick."
Unfortunately, quick did not happen. He finally got to board a ship on March 9, 1919, arriving in Newport News, VA on March 23, 1919. His Honorable Discharge came on April 12, 1919.
Earl came home and married his sweetheart - Fern FOX on June 12, 1919.
Citations:
1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 Federal Census Index, retrieved from http://ancestry.com Brown, Carroll County, Ohio, and Minerva, Stark County, Ohio
World War I Papers in possession
World War I letters in possession
