My Genealogy Hound

Lyman A. Yerkes, one of the prominent, substantial and representative farmer citizens of Oakland County, residing on his fine farm of 160 acres in section 30, Farmington township, belongs to one of the very early pioneer families of Michigan. His birth took place, February 9, 1838, in Northville township, Wayne County, Michigan, and he is a son of John and Sarah (Thornton) Yerkes, natives of Seneca County, New York.

Joseph Yerkes, the grandfather of our subject, was married in 1793 to Mary Purdy, whose grandfather, John Purdy, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, immigrated to this county in 1742. Joseph Yerkes removed from Pennsylvania with his wife and two children to Seneca County, New York. In 1825 his son William, in company with Thomas Pinkerton, came to Michigan and located land in the vicinity of Northville. The two prospectors and investors came on foot from Niagara Falls to Detroit, and in the following year brought their families, driving from Detroit with ox teams, cutting the brush as they passed to make a road.

John Yerkes, the father of our subject, was born in 1799 in Seneca County, New York, and accompanied the other members of the family when they removed to Michigan in 1826. He took up 160 acres of government land in Wayne County and lived there until his death which occurred in February, 1877. His widow survived until March 15, 1896.

The children of John and Sarah (Thornton) Yerkes were six in number. Ann, who was born in 1832, married S. Voorhees and they lived in White Lake township, Oakland County, where both died leaving one son, Carl. Fanny was born September 25, 1833 and married Dexter White, who is now deceased; she resides at Northville. William was born December 20, 1835, and now resides on the homestead farm. His first wife was Rebecca Rodgers, and his second, Alice Dunlap. Lyman A., of this sketch, was the fourth member of the family. Elizabeth, now residing in Cleveland, Ohio, was born February 14, 1840, and is the widow of Newton Blackwood; they had three children: Nellie, who married William H. Yerkes; Grace (Allen), deceased; and John, who resides with his mother. Harmon was born August 29, 1842, and died at the age of 14 years, November 25, 1856.

Lyman A. Yerkes obtained his education in the district schools in Novi township and then spent five years in farm work, purchasing then an interest in the River and Lake Shore line of steamers. He entered upon his new career with Capt. E. B. Ward, in 1867, and followed steamboating until 1892. In the following year he purchased his present fine farm which is located in section 30, Farmington township, and consists of 160 acres, most beautifully situated. Here Mr. Yerkes has an ideal country home, handsome modern buildings, beautiful lawn and most attractive surroundings.

In December, 1859, Mr. Yerkes was married to Marie A. Gardner, who is a daughter of Capt. Solomon and Catherine (McQueen) Gardner, the former of whom was a native of Vermont and the latter of the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner reared two children: Mrs. Yerkes and Helen C., who is the wife of C. C. Blodgett of Detroit. Two children were born to our subject and wife, — Harriet L. and S. Gardner. The former was born in 1862 and is the widow of Dr. John M. Mackenzie, who died in 1896 at Fall River, Massachusetts, where he practiced, leaving one child, Marion Yerkes Mackenzie, born in December, 1894. S. Gardner was born in 1868 and was married to Helen Bainbridge, of Portland, Oregon. He received his education in the local schools and at the age of 20 years started out for himself, entering into the steamboat business at Puget Sound, where he remained four years as passenger and ticket agent for the Great Northern Railroad. Recently he has accepted the position of general advertising agent for that road, with headquarters at St. Paul, Minnesota. There are few better known railroad men on the coast than Gardner Yerkes, because he was identified for 14 years with the transportation lines out of Puget Sound and occupied various positions of trust and importance. His position as advertising agent amounts to the same as assistant passenger agents, a position he is eminently qualified to fill.

Capt. Solomon Gardner, the maternal grandfather of S. Gardner Yerkes, was long concerned with transportation business. He came to Michigan in 1833 and located first at Port Huron, where he was employed two years and then removed to Marine City and engaged in a tanning business, with only moderate success. Between him and Samuel Ward and his nephew, the late Eber B. Ward, sprung up a warm friendship which resulted in Captain Gardner taking from them a contract for the building of a side-wheel steamer which, when completed, was christened the “Ocean.” Captain Gardner owned an interest in the vessel and from that time for 20 years he was associated with the Wards in the steamboat business. With Capt. E. B. Ward he owned the magnificent line of steamers which ran between Buffalo and Detroit, in connection with the New York Central and Michigan Central railroads, before there was any railroad connection between the two cities. In this enterprise, both owners amassed fortunes.

Captain Gardner became interested in a large number of other boats and at one time owned, independently, no less than seven fine steamboats, operating all these until 1872, when the weight of years caused him to close out his interests and retire from active life. His death took place December 20, 1878, at his beautiful home at No. 396 Jefferson avenue, Detroit. This property is a part of the inheritance of Mrs. Yerkes.

Mr. Yerkes has taken no very active part in politics, but is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In religious views he is a Presbyterian. His portrait accompanies this sketch.