My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH L. YOTER, one of the well-known citizens of West Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, was born in that township in 1846, a son of Hezekiah and Catherine (Bear) Yoter, and a grandson of John Yoter.

John Yoter came from Taneytown, Md., to Cumberland county, in 1802, settling on the Alexander farm in North Middleton township, very close to the noted cave which is a historical landmark. Later he bought a farm near Shippensburg, where he died, leaving three sons: Josiah, who died in the West; John G., who died at Shippensburg; and Hezekiah. The latter was born in Maryland and was twelve years of age when he came to this county. He finished his education in Cumberland county and then settled down to farming in the vicinity of Carlisle. He married Catherine Bear, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Bear, formerly of Lebanon county, but later of Cumberland county, and then bought a farm of 223 acres in North Middleton township which he operated from 1861 until his death, which occurred in February, 1870. His children were: Maria, a resident of West Pernsboro township; John C., who died in North Middleton township; Hezekiah, who died in Plainfield; Fannie, who died in South Middleton township; Samuel B., who died in North Middleton township; Joseph L., of this sketch; Charlotte C., deceased in North Middleton township; David W., a resident of Chambersburg, Pa., and Benjamin, died in infancy.

Joseph L. Yoter was reared and educated in West Pennsboro and North Middleton townships, and in young manhood learned the blacksmith’s trade’ in North Middleton township, and then became interested in farming. In 1869 he married Caroline Waggoner, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Waggoner, of Frankford township. They lived on the old homestead farm for two years and then moved to Dickinson township, where they lived two years more, and where Mrs. Yoter died in December, 1873. Mr. Yoter, in 1874, came to Plainfield and lived with his mother until her death, in 1895. For twelve years he followed threshing and worked by the day, making a very good income.

In 1896 Mr. Yoter married (second) Anna M. Finkenbinder, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy Finkenbinder, and removed to his ten-acre farm in Plainfield. The two children born to his first marriage were: Elizabeth C., who married Joseph Barrick, died at Greason, this county, aged thirty years; John H., of Plainfield, married Mina
Stickle.

In politics Mr. Yoter has always been a Democrat, and he has served as supervisor and as a member of the election board in his township. He is a man very highly respected, at home, in his church, in business, and as a citizen. He and his family belong to the Plainfield Lutheran Church, where he is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and he is a liberal supporter of all its charities and missions.