My Genealogy Hound

H. H. YELLIS, a leading business man and contractor and builder of Gratersford, was born in Montgomery county on January 17, 1853. He is the son of Henry D. and Mary M. (Hunsicker) Yellis.

Henry D. Yellis (father) was born and reared in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of miller, and after his marriage followed his trade for one year in Germantown. He then purchased the mill at Franktoning, where he was very successful, but was prevented from acquiring a very large estate by his early death, in 1856. He had always devoted all his attention to milling, and was an industrious and highly respected man. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Reformed church. At the time of his death his oldest child was but three years old, and both he and his younger brother were reared by relatives. The widow of Henry D. Yellis, Mary M. (Hunsicker) Yellis, married (second husband) William Koter, a carpenter and a skilled mechanic, who lived in Bucks county, where he died. His widow still survives, and resides with one of her children in Collegeville, Montgomery county. She was born in 1833. The children of William and Mary Koter: Elizabeth (Mrs. Klausfelder); James, a hatter residing in New Jersey, and Harvey, an employee of the trolley company.

The father of Henry D. Yellis settled in Bucks county, where he died. Little is known of his history. He had the following children: Peter, a miller by trade, who settled in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania; Henry D. (father); Catharine, married Joseph Mann; Elizabeth, died unmarried; Mary, Mrs. Isenhart. The parents were members of the Reformed church, and he was a Democrat in politics.

Mary M. (Hunsicker) Yellis, the wife of Henry D. Yellis, is the daughter of Henry C. and Lydia (Markley) Hunsicker. Henry C. Hunsicker was born in Perkiomen township, and was reared on a farm. He learned the trade of miller. In 1833 he removed to Franconia township where he was engaged as a farmer until 1850 when he returned to his native township and purchased the mill near Iron Bridge, which was built in 1747. He managed this mill until his retirement from business, a few years before his death, in 1871. He was a loyal man during the Rebellion, and in politics a Whig and a Republican. In 1833 Henry C. Hunsicker married Lydia, daughter of Philip Markley, of Perkiomen township, and their children were: Mary M. (Mrs. Yellis); Philip M., born November 18, 1836, married in 1858, Lizzie R. Tyson, was formerly engaged in the feed, coal and lumber business at Rahn Station; Charles M., a farmer; Daniel M., a miller at the old Hunsicker mill; Henry M., died; Henry M., the second; Anna M., married James Koons; Deborah, married H. T. Johnson; Lydia, married Benjamin F. Saylor; and Catharine M., never married. Henry C. Hunsicker married (second wife) Susan, daughter of David Rittenhouse, and widow of Mr. Bechtel. She was a descendant of William Rittenhouse, the first Mennonite bishop of America, and her father was a cousin of David Rittenhouse, the famous astronomer. The children of David Rittenhouse: Jacob, David, William, Martin, and Susan, married Mr. Hunsicker. There were no children of the second marriage of Henry Hunsicker. Henry Hunsicker was a Dunkard in early life, but later did not affiliate with any church.

Henry C. Hunsicker, father of Mrs. Yellis (now Mrs. Koter), was the son of Henry and Mary (Detwiler) Hunsicker. His mother was the daughter of John Detwiler. His brothers and sisters were: John D., Daniel D., William D., Elizabeth, Mary, Catharine and Susanna. Henry Hunsicker, grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, was the son of Valentine Hunsicker, who came from Switzerland to the United States in 1717, and about 1720 settled in Perkiomen township. Montgomery county. This Valentine Hunsicker was the ancestor of all the Hunsickers in this section of Pennsylvania.

The children of Henry D. and Mary Yellis were: H. H., the subject of this sketch; and William, a carpenter by trade who resides in the state of California. The mother is a member of the Reformed church of Collegeville.

H. H. Yellis was, as has been said, three years old at the time of his father’s death. He went to live with his grandfather, Henry C. Hunsicker, and was reared near Iron Bridge. He assisted his grandfather in the mill and on the farm, and attended the public schools. Later he was employed as a farm hand, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, which he followed for several years. He also learned and followed the trade of millwright. He built a shirt factory at Rahn Station, and engaged in business, but was not successful and lost all his money, besides being much in debt. He was not discouraged, however, but went to work at his trade of carpenter, and soon paid off all his debts. At the end of five years he married, and settled at Gratersford, where he built a large shop and became a contractor and builder, also furnishing all kinds of building supplies, including doors, frames, and slate for roofing. He does an extensive business, and has been very successful. The shirt factory he afterwards rented for other purposes, and it finally burned down, being a total loss in every way. When Mr. Yellis started in his present business he had very little capital, but has been rewarded for his hard work, and now regards with pride his struggle to gain a competency. He is still engaged in active business, and constructs all kinds of buildings, furnishing both material and labor. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Yellis married, in 1882, Francis, daughter of Garret and Catharine Kohl. She was born in Perkiomen township in 1859. Garret Kohl was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Ottinger) Kohl. Jacob Kohl was the son of Ichelberger Kohl, who emigrated to America and became a highly respected fanner. The children of Ichelberger Kohl: Joseph, Daniel, Jacob, Henry, John, Catharine, Mrs. Wagner; Abraham. All the family were members of the Lutheran denomination. Jacob Kohl, grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, was a farmer all his life. He lived at several different places, and finally settled at Providence Square, where he died. He and his family were members of the Reformed church. His children: Garret, father of Mrs. Yellis; Henry, Joseph, Nathan, Jacob, Barbara, never married; Sarah, Mrs. Wolf; Elizabeth, Mrs. Zimmerman; Lavina, married Thomas Miller.

Garret Kohl, father of Mrs. Yellis, was reared on his father’s farm, and assisted on that and the neighboring places until his marriage, in 1854. He then purchased the farm near Gratersford, which he still owns, and where he lived and worked until his retirement. He attended market in Norristown, and continued as an active and leading farmer until 1880, when he retired. He now resides near the homestead, which he rents to his son. Mr. Kohl was born in 1821, and both he and his wife are in good health. He married in 1854, Catharine, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Kulp) Gotwals, who was born in Perkiomen township, December 4, 1831, and is still living. She and her husband are members of Christ church. Their children: Garret, Jr., Lydia, Mrs. E. Tyson; Francis G., Mrs. Yellis; Jacob, still unmarried, a missionary for the Nazarene church in China.

Henry Gotwals, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, was the son of Abraham and Magdalena Gotwals. Abraham Gotwals’ father emigrated from Switzerland at an early date, and was a farmer. Abraham Gotwals, maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, owned and operated the mill at Iron Bridge. His children: John, Adam, Abraham, Henry (grandfather); Nancy, Mrs. Horning; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Bean; Fannie, Mrs. Dr. Hammer; Catharine, Mrs. Rittenhouse; Hannah, Mrs. Joseph Markley; Mary, Mrs. High. Henry Gotwals, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, was reared to farming and milling, and bought the mill between Schwenksville and Gratersford. There he not only ground flour and feed but also carded wool, doing an extensive business for many years. He sold the mill and bought a large farm on a portion of the land where the town of Gratersford now stands, and devoted his entire attention to farming. He died there August 9, 1854, at the age of fifty-three years. His wife was born in 1807, and died November 1, 1880. They were members of the old Mennonite church. Mrs. Henry Gotwals was the daughter of Henry Kulp, a farmer of Montgomery county. Henry Kulp was a Mennonite. His children: Catharine (Mrs. Gotwals), and Susan (Mrs. A. Wismer).

Henry Gotwals, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Yellis, and his wife Catharine (Kulp) Gotwals had the following children: Frances, Mrs. T. Price; Catharine (mother), married Garret Kohl. After the death of Henry Gotwals the family sold the land, and there Gratersford was afterwards plotted.

The children of H. H. and Francis G. Yellis: William K., born October 2, 1884, attended Schissler’s Business College at Norristown, and in October, 1904, left for California to follow his profession as a bookkeeper; Birdella, born June 2, 1889, resides with her parents; Alice M., born January 22, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Yellis are in religious faith, Mennonite Brethren in Christ.