California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


GEORGE W. YOAKUM. Living retired in Merced, Cal., George W. Yoakum is enjoying 
a well-earned rest from an active business career of forty years. He was born in Ray county, Mo., 
May 17, 1842. In 1852 the family came to California, where the father sought to better his con- 
dition. For one year he conducted a hotel in Gold Hill, Placer county. In 1853 the family 
moved to Alameda county and there George W. grew to manhood on his father's ranch. In 1862 
lie left home and went to Contra Costa county, where he attended school for a time, and then 
returned home and assisted his father for one year. Returning to Contra Costa county in 1863 
he was married, October 26, to Rebecca A. Johnston. Immediately after his marriage he 
, returned to his father's ranch in Alameda county and worked it on shares for a year, and for the 
same length of time farmed in Pacheco valley, Contra Costa county. From there he went to 
Green valley, Solano county, and carried on farm pursuits for one year. Returning once more to 
Contra Costa county he made his first purchase of land and remained there two years, after 
which he moved to East Oakland, purchasing a home there, and for four years carried on a 
butcher business. In 1871 he removed to his ranch and conducted a butcher business in Wal- 
nut Creek. In the fall of 1883 he removed his family to Mariposa county, where he had been 
interested in the stock business since 1880. While still Continuing his business in the latter county, 
he had, in 1884, started a meat market in Merced, to which city his family came in 1885, he himself 
coming in 1887. The year following he sold his market. Having been elected to the office of 
city marshal, he served in this capacity for two years and as constable for four years, but since 
retiring from office has lived practically retired. 

Mrs. Yoakum was born in Green county, Mo., February 6, 1845, a daughter of Thomas M. 
Johnston, who was a native of Kentucky and an early settler of Missouri. Mr. Johnston brought 
his family to California in 1859, living first in Sonoma, and later in Contra Costa county, in 
time settling in Stockton, but a few months later he moved to Napa, where his death occurred 
July 22, 1877. His wife, Eleanor (Steele) Johnston, was born in Tennessee and died in Napa. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Yoakum six children have been born, of whom Emma E. is the wife of E. C. 
Cribb, of Los Angeles ; Ann Jeanette is the wife of Thomas Mack, of Merced ; Mary C. is the 
wife of Charles M. French ; and the others are : George Franklin ; Alvis Thomas ; and Nellie C, 
the wife of F. V. Routt, of San Jose. Fraternally Mr. Yoakum is a Mason, and in politics is a 
Democrat.