Jacob James Yocum (abt. 1773 - abt. 1845)

Born about 1773 in Bedford, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Yocum — married 1795 in Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died about 1845 at about age 72 in Taney, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gayle Foster [send private message]

Biography

DISCUSSION OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIONSHIPS -The writings of Turnbo listed FOUR brothers in the White River area, Solomon, Mike, Jesse, and Jacob. According to Artie Ayers' book "Traces of Silver" there were THREE Yocum brothers, James, Solomon, and Jacob that came to the White River area of Missouri. Ayers book is interesting and worth reading, but should NOT be depended upon for accurate family names and relationships. The Orcutt research included in Becker's book states TWO brothers, Solomon and Jacob came to the area, with James and Jacob being the same person.

Most current day researchers believe that Jacob Yocum and James Yocum were the same person, and that James/Jacob had only one wife, Sarah, whom he married in Tennessee, and was the mother of ALL the children.

Based on records found, it seems that Jacob and Sarah had one son named Levi and one named Jacob, not a son named Jacob Levi. If the story of the marriage to Winona is true it is likely that Jacob Jr., son of Jacob and Sarah married Winona, the Delaware woman.

GERMAN DESCENT - Jacob Yocum was of German descent, although some references say that he was of French origin, a misinterpretation based on his association with the French area of Missouri and his close association with Joseph Philabert, a French Indian Trader.

TENNESSEE -

Jacob married Sarah, a Cherokee woman, about 1795 in Tennessee, but no marriage record has been found.

Jacob Yocum was listed in 1799 in the Knox County Tennessee Tax List.

In 1804 he was listed and lived on the Clinch River in Tennessee. He was registered in the Brand Book of Knox County, Tennessee.

in 1810, a lawsuit was brought again Jacob Yocum in Knox County (Estate Book I, p295, 1792-1811).

About 1811 Jacob and family moved westward to Overton County, Tennessee. One reason for their move west may have been the tension along the French Broad River with the Cherokee. An early survey boundary (1794-1800) in Overton County was Yoecum's (Yowcum's) Creek. Possibly the Yocums has established a hunter's cabin in that area previous to their move.

ILLINOIS AND CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI - Jacob was involved with hunting and trapping and may have traveled to the French Mississippi river settlements of St. Claire, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri for this purpose. The Delaware Indians resided in Cape Girardeau County until about 1815-1818.

INDIAN RELOCATION - Did Jacob Yocum help to move the Delaware Indians to southwest Missouri? A family legend was passed down to descendants of Elizabeth Yocum Schell that the Yocums helped move the Indians, and were granted land for these efforts. In 1987, family researcher, Gayle Foster talked with Jacob Leroy Armstrong, a descendant of the Schell-Yocum family, and he recalled hearing this legend also. Becker's book cites "History of Stone County, Missouri, page 687, Governor of North Carolina commissions Jacob Yoakum, a white Chief to accompany a group of Indians to the area now known as Stone Co., Mo........Received a Grant of 300 acres, perhaps as early as 1793."

WHITE RIVER IN MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS TERRITORY - Jacob Yocum and family were early settlers on the White River in southwest Missouri and Arkansas Territory. It seems Jacob resided in both Missouri and Arkansas Territory along the White River or at least traveled up and down the river. Possibly he had cabins at more than one location. The History of Stone County claims James/Jacob Yocum as their first settler "who about 1790 located at the junction of James and White rivers. He carried on trading with the Indians and the white settlers who had furs and pelts to sell or to barter in exchange for such necessities as coffee, salt, blankets, cloth, shoes, rifles, bullets, pots, knives, hatchets, axes and other articles of primary importance to the settler's manner of life. At that time bear, deer, buffalo, elk, beaver, raccoon and other wild life were abundant." The Encyclopedia of The History of Missouri, states "The first settler was one Yocum, of French origin, who located in 1790 at the junction of James and White Rivers, and carried on trading, using a keel boat to travel from point to point." Jacob is mention in Marion County Arkansas history "Yochem lived in the vicinity of what was later Talburt's Ferry on the White River in Arkansas Territory". In Jan. 1819, J. Yoachum (Yochem) served as Schoolcraft's guide as he passed through what was later Marion County, Arkansas and he feasted on roast beaver tail cooked by Yoachum. Schoolcraft kept a detailed journal and has very interesting descriptions of life along the White River. Jacob and Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth, was reported to have been born in 1819 in "Bates County, Arkansas" in her death notice published in 1900. This was probably a reference to Batesville in current day Independence County Arkansas.

The early community of Jamestown, Missouri (near current day Galena in Stone County) was originally settled in the 1830s and some believe it was named after James/Jacob Yocum. In early days, the Wilderness Road, a north-south Indian and pioneer trail crossed through the area. The Delaware Indians had a treaty with the U.S. Government that gave them a reservation on the James Fork of the White River in Missouri and the tribe resided there beginning about 1815. For a number of years, Jacob Yocum paid the Indians an annual rental of thirty bushels of corn for the privilege of living among them. Jacob kept a small farm, and hunted and trapped during the fur season. The Yocum brothers participated in other activities as well that included manufacturing and selling liquor to the Indians and minting the Yocum Silver Dollars which were used as local currency. A recorded complaint by a U.S. Indian agent stated the Yocums made and sold peach brandy to the Indians, an illegal activity. This relationship with the Delaware Indians ended when the Delaware Indians signed a new treaty in 1829, and gave up these lands for a new reservation in Kansas. By 1832 most of the Delaware Indians had moved away from Missouri.

1820 CENSUS - Several Yocum families were listed in the 1820 census of the area (then in Taney County). It is believed that they are all of the same extended family. This census was reconstructed from several sources and is available on Rootsweb.

1820 CENSUS - STONE COUNTY (then TANEY COUNTY)

Yoachum James 298 PIERCE

Yocum D. L. 39 GALENA VILLAGE

Yocum Delia M. 41 GALENA VILLAGE

Yocum Jacob 32 PINE

Yocum Jess M. 30 PINE

Yocum Thomas L. 105 WASHINGTON

Yokum Joseph 305 JAMES

Youcum Charley W. 102 WHITE RIVER

SURVEY - 1838 - The federal government did not complete the survey of the areas around Finley Creek and James River until 1838. This may explain why the above Landowner's surveys were not completed earlier. It wasn't possible for them to get legal possession of the land from the federal government until the federal survey was completed.

ITEMS FROM LANDOWNERS SURVEY OF STONE COUNTY MISSOURI IN 1848-1849 --from WHITE RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Copied by Edna Hazel McCullough Lowery, 209 Noland Street, Falls Church, Va. 22046 September 1973, from originals; listings only of surnames found on plats. Originals owned by Mrs. W. T. McCullough, R.F. D.1, Box 142; Berryville, Arkansas

• Twp. 26, Range 22W. 5 P.M., 26 June 1838: James Fork of White River on Road from St. Louis, Missouri to main White River Arkansas Territory. On Finley Creek is Yocum's Distillery, Mill and School House. Surveyed by AF. Ginn. SW: of SE¼ of Sec 9; SE¼ of Sec. 8. This is a large holding and seems to be earliest in these plats. Road mentioned above is marked. (Note: this is probably Solomon Yocum)
• Twp. 22 N; Range 23W of 5 P.M. 29 Sept. 1849: James Fork of White River, Sec. 7, SW1/4, S. Philabert's 39.84 A., apparently Sec. 18 also NW1/4 & SE1/4 to White River.

OTHER YOCUMS IN THE AREA: Michael Yocum was listed on the 1834 Carroll County Arkansas Territorial Tax List. It is believed that he was the son of Jacob and Sarah Yocum. John Yocum, of the same family, settled on the creek in 1833 in Carroll County Arkansas that now bears his name (Yocum Creek). Yocum, who was a blacksmith by trade was credited by Goodspeed with having built a mill on Yocum Creek in Carroll County Arkansas after his arrival. On 1850 Census, James township, a J Yochum (22 years old, born 1828) was in the household with Philabert family. P. Philabert was Peninah Yocum Philabert.

CATTLE HERD - By 1835, Jacob owned one of the largest cattle herds in Southwest Missouri.

1840 CENSUS RECORDS: James Township, Taney County, MO - Joseph Philibert, Jacob Yoakum and Levi Yokum were listed in three consecutive households. Henry Yokum and Henry Shell (Schell) nearby. This census record listed Jacob Yocum born about 1775. Henry Shell (Schell), husband of Elizabeth Yocum Schell, was on listed on same page of census.

1840 Census - Jacob Yocum was 60-70 years, wife was 60-70 years old, and one younger male (son) 15-20 years old. Census showed they owned five slaves.

1840 Census - Levi Yocum was 20-30 years old, wife was 30 to 40 years, and two males under 5 and two females under 5.

1840 Census - Henry Yocum was 30-40, wife was 20-30, 2 males under 5.

1840 Census- Henry Shell (Schell) was in nearby household. Census shows he was married with wife and several young children. He was husband to Elizabeth Yocum Schell.

DEATH NOTICE - Jacob died in 1845. Becker's book (Orcutt's research) included an estate notice that was printed in the Springfield Advertiser on Nov. 15th 1845 for Jacob Yoachum, Sr. of Taney County. It gave notice of his death and allowed twelve months for any debts to be presented to the estate.

Names of Jacob and Sarah Yocum are inscribed on the base of gravestone of their daughter, Elizabeth Yocum Schell. Please see photo of her gravestone on find-a-grave memorial.

YOCUM SILVER DOLLARS AND THE LEGEND OF THE SILVER MINE - The Legend of the Yocum Silver Mine and Yocum Silver Dollars was passed down to family members and several articles have been published through the years. Not all versions of the legend agree on every detail, but there is enough similarity in the tales to be certain that there is some truth in it. All versions describe the silver mine that the Yocums owned in Missouri, and the Yocum silver dollars that they made and traded. However, elements of the story and the names of Yocum family members and their relationships vary from one family legend to another.

ALTERNATIVE THEORY FOR SOURCE OF THE SILVER - Some current day historians have a theory regarding the source of the Yocum Silver Dollars. They don't believe the silver came from a mine. It is known that the Yocums had distilleries and were manufacturing alcohol and selling to the Indians. The Indians received silver specie from the federal government as part of their treaty to leave their previous lands, and used this silver to pay the Yocums for the alcohol, and the Yocums, in order to hide the source of their silver, melted it down and formed it into Yocum Dollars. They believe that the silver mine story was invented by the Yocums to hide the illegal activity. Lynn Morrow wrote a paper on this. This paper is available online.

SILVER DOLLAR CITY - In the 1960s an amusement theme park was built in Stone County Missouri, and named Silver Dollar City, in memory of the Yocum silver dollars. The park had markers that told the story of the Yocum Silver Dollars and included rides and local crafters such as blacksmiths, basket weavers, storytellers, etc.

SPRINGFIELD NEWS & LEADER - Monday, May 7, 1923, Springfield, Missouri. RECALLS DAYS WHEN YOACHUM MADE HIS OWN - COUNTERFEIT COINS ONCE WERE "GOOD" IN OZARK COUNTRY - Notch, Missouri - There was a time when counterfeit money was as acceptable in the White River hills of Missouri as recognized government minted coin. Any of the few remaining pioneer residents of Taney and Stone counties can recall when the "Yoachum Dollar" was a common medium of exchange. The worth or value of this coin never was questioned and it had a large circulation throughout the Ozark country. Memories of the day when the "Yoachum Dollar" was in circulation were recalled recently when an old log cabin, formerly a bunk house of a sawmill crew, was razed and a "Yoachum Dollar" found buried beneath heaps of trash under the floor. The cabin stood on the banks of Indian Creek about three miles from Notch Missouri. Stone County: even the early settlers in this section cannot remember when it was built, but it has been repaired from time to time and was used about twenty-five years ago as a bunk house for a sawmill crew which was working in that vicinity. For a number of years prior to the establishing of the sawmill on Indian Creek the cabin had been unoccupied except for an occasional hunter or herdsman who tarried there for the night or a traveler who sought it's shelter during a winter blizzard or spring downpour. Where did he get silver ? There are many stories regarding the "Yoachum Dollar" and from have risen numerous tales of lost silver mines and buried treasure in the Ozark region. The "Yoachum Dollar" really contained a certain amount of silver although this amount was far below the proportion carried by the regular coin of the realm. The mystery was, and probably always will be, centered around the silver. No one seems to know where Jim Yoachum obtained the metal which he used in the coins and this has given birth to the numerous buried treasure stories. Jim Yoachum was one of the pioneer residents of Stone County. He came into the hill country before the departure of the Delaware Indians from southwest Missouri and settled not far from Reed Springs now stands. The Indians were friendly, and "Yoachum" after his marriage to one of the Delaware maidens, was adopted by them. He heard the stories of explorations by the Spaniards when a band of De Soto's men searched the hills of the white river country for gold and silver. The Indians showed him the sites of several mines which were worked by the Spaniards, who for some time held members of the Delaware tribe in virtual slavery. At least one of these mines, according to the folklore of the hills, carried a rich deposit of silver. Later when the Delawares left the country Yoachum and his wife were supposed to be the only persons who knew the location of the Spanish mine. Within a few years after the departure of her tribe Yoachum's Indian wife died and he alone was in possession of the secret. By this time there were numerous white men in Ozark country and villages has begun to make their appearance. Yoachum made frequent and prolonged trips back into the hills and when he returned he always a new supply of silver coins. Most of these coins were cast to resemble the ordinary silver dollar, but they became known throughout the hill country as the "Yoachum Dollar" and were readily accepted by traders throughout this section of southwest Missouri. Yoachum did not attempt to conceal the fact that he was making the money himself, but he never divulged the location of the mine even to his closest friends. Several men who were familiar with Yoachum's habit of making long trips back into the hills once made an effort to follow him to the mine. They followed him two days and then lost the trail. About two weeks later, he returned to his cabin and within a few days a new supply of "Yoachum Dollars" were circulating. This, so far as is known, was the only attempt ever made by neighbors to follow Yoachum to the mine. Yoachum never was arrested for counterfeiting and after his death his coins soon passed out of circulation. A few years ago, a book giving the proportions of metal used in making money was found lying on a ledge in an unfrequented passage of Marvel Cave, located a short distance from Notch. This gave rise to the theory that Yoachum"s mine was located in Marvel cave, where traces of Spanish exploration may yet be seen. The cave was explored several times by treasure hunters, but no mine was ever found. However, there are many passages of the cave which have not been explored and the theory is that the mine is located in the cave, is still advanced by many of the natives in this section of the Ozarks. Another story has the mine on the crest of Bread Tray Mountain, about twelve miles southeast of here, while still another legend fixes its location as Wild Cat Cave, about six miles from Reed Springs. The natives believe Yoachum followed a long, winding, out-of-the-way route to the mine for the purpose of losing anyone who happened to attempt to follow him. It is generally believed that the mine, if it ever existed, is located in Stone County and not far distant from the site of the old Yoachum cabin near Reed Springs, Missouri. NOTE: This transcription was obtained from the book Pendergraft-Schell Family by Mary Pendergraft Southards, published in 1995. The original newspaper clipping should be reviewed, in order to verify the accuracy of the transcription and see if there were photos included.

SOURCES

• Research of Jacob & Sarah Yocum by Gayle Schell Foster;
• SCHELL FAMILY - Pioneers of Missouri, by Gayle Foster, 2015, Amazon.com;
• "THE LIVES AND LEGENDS OF THE OZARK YOAKUMS, Westward Migration from Pennsylvania to the Ozarks and Beyond" by Audrey Lee Clouston-Becker, Author and Marilyn Jean Jackson-Pfitzner, Editor, pub. 2008 by Arkansas Research, Inc. Conway, AR;.
• 1819 Schoolcraft Scenes and Adventures in the Semi-Alpine Region of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas, by Henry R. Schoolcraft;
• 1820 Missouri Census;
• 1838 Landowners Survey in Stone County;
• 1840 U.S. Census;
• Illustrated History of McDonald County MO, by J. A. Sturges, Pineville, MO., 1897;
• Yocum-Schell Connection, 1989, History of Stone County, by J. Leroy Armstrong;
• Yoachum Family History, 1989, History of Stone County, by Sims Family;
• "Traces of Silver" by Artie Ayers, 1982, Ozark Mountain Country Historical Preservation Society, Reed Springs, MO.;
• The Yocum Silver Dollar by Lynn Morrow and Dan Saults;
• "True West Magazine, 1964, article by Artie Ayers on silver mine & Yocums;
• "Goodspeed's History of Carroll County Arkansas;
• "Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, V6, p98, by Howard L. Conard, pub. 1901, NY- accessed on google books, April 2014;
• "White River Chronicles of S. C Turnbo;
• Early History of Stone County Missouri by Charles L. Hensen published by White River Valley Historical Quarterly - 1964;
• White River, Gateway to Marion County (Arkansas) accessed Apr. 2014, http://www.ozarkhistory.com/whiteriver.htm;
• History of Stone County, accessed online Apr 2014 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mostone/misc/history.html;
• Dictionary of Missouri Biography, by Lawrence O. Christian;
• Finding of Yoachum Dollar Recalls Days when Yoachum Made His Own, article, May 7, 1923, Springfield Daily Leader;
• Ozar'kin Magazine, Vol. XII, Spring, 1990, pg 19, Yocum Silver Dollar;
• Find-a-grave Memorial of daughter Elizabeth - see inscription of parents names- Find A Grave: Memorial #6192186
• JACOB YOAKUM Patriarch of the Ozark Yochum, Yocham, Yocum, and Yokum families, by Joel Thomas Orcutt, 2022, available on Amazon.com;

• David Armstrong, Notes on the German Yokum & See Families of the South Branch WV & KY, Based on research as of 18 Dec 2009, Hardy County was created from Hampshire County in 1786.