My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH B. YERKES, Jr., justice of the peace and general business agent at Willow Grove, is a native of Warminster township, Bucks county. He was born March 8, 1846. He is the son of Harman and Rebecca (Valentine) Yerkes. Harman Yerkes (father) was the son of Harman and Margaretta (Long) Yerkes, both natives of Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

Joseph B. Yerkes was educated in the public schools of Warminster township at the Loller Academy in Hatboro; at the Tennent School, at Hartsville, Pennsylvania; and at Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Massachusetts. After completing his studies at school he followed the occupation of teaching school for one year, and then became deputy treasurer of Bucks county, holding that position for four years. He also studied law for a year or more. He served as clerk for the Pennsylvania Mining Company on Lake Superior for a year and a half. He was justice of the peace at Hatboro for five years, and for the past two years has held the same position at Willow Grove. He is a Democrat in politics, and while he was a resident of Bucks county was an active worker in that party.

Mr. Yerkes married, at Hatboro, February 24, 1869, Mary E. Boucher, the daughter of Professor H. H. Boucher, of Kinderhook, New York. Their children were: 1. Henry Ross, married Estella Miller, of Camden, New Jersey, and they have three children, Earle, John and Yerkes. 2. John, who died in childhood. 3. Joseph, died in childhood. 4. Maud, who married Earnest A. Lau; they have four children; Earnest, Lillie, Rebecca and John. 5. Rupert A. 6. Rebecca. Mary E. (Boucher) Yerkes died in March, 1892. The Yerkes family made their appearance in Bucks county, settling in Warminster more than a century and three-quarters ago. Harman Yerkes purchased about that time one hundred and eighty-one acres of land on the Street Road, in Warminster township. The first settlers were probably of Dutch (Holland) origin. The name was spelled in various ways at first, but has finally settled into its present form.