John Harrison Youngkin was born in Makanda, Illinois on April 4, 1875 to John R. Youngkin and Paralee York. By the 1880 federal census, the family was living in Grassy Township in Williamson County as farmers. In the census, John R. was 32 and Paralee was 24. Their children were Elmer A. 6, John H. 5 and Louella M. aged 3.
When the 1900 census was taken, John’s mother Paralee had passed away and the family was living in Marion. John’s widowed father was 52 and John H. was 25. John’s siblings at the time were Ella 23, Mary 19 and Stella aged 7. The family was renting their home and both John and his father were working local coal mines for income. Not long after the census was taken in 1900, John H. married Dottie Johnson in Marion on July 4, 1900. Dottie was the daughter of William Johnson and Bella Conley.
A 1907 Marion city directory located the couple living at 209 N. Hamlet Street in Marion and John was working as a coal miner. The 1910 census, found the couple living there which they owned mortgage free. Dottie indicated that they had born 2 children and both were living, they were Mamie 9 and Gladys aged 4.
In 1910 and 1911, John H. served as city alderman for Marion under Mayor J.H. Burnett. He served again as alderman in 1913 and 1914 under Mayor George B. Calhoun.
When John H. filled out his WWI draft card in 1917 he indicated that he was working as a coal miner at Gent Mine in Marion. He listed S. Midway Street in Marion as a residence but gave no house number. He was described as tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and light color hair.
In the 1920 census, John was a 34 year old coal miner and his wife was 38. They were listed as living on W. Burnett Street in Marion, possibly at 403 W. Burnett. They had two children in the home, Glenn 18 and Gladys aged 13. Also living in the home was John’s father John R., aged 72 who was working as a sewer inspector for the city of Marion and John’s nephew, John W. Cook, aged 8. They owned the home mortgage free.
A 1922 city directory found the couple living at 702 S. Bentley and John was working as a grocer. In December of 1926, an article appeared in the Marion Daily Republican that John R. Youngkin, father of John H., had passed away in his son’s home at 1001 S. Aikman Street.
In the 1930 federal census, John was 54 and Dottie was 49. John listed his occupation as a machine man in a coal mine. The only child living in the home was Glenn L. 28, working as an operator at a truck farm and his wife Edna aged 21. It was noted in the census that they owned a radio set and were living on S. Midway Street.
John tried once again to serve the city of Marion when he was elected city commissioner in 1931 to serve a term from 1931 to 1935 under Mayor Charles H. Whitcomb, however his death in 1932 forced the city to replace him with James S. Johnson as a replacement to fill out his term.
On April 16, 1932, John died at Carbondale, Illinois and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.
Dottie was found living in 1937 at 902 W. Boulevard St. with her son Glenn and his wife Edna. Dottie passed away in 1953 and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Mamie Youngkin, born 1901
Gladys Youngkin Byars, born April 17, 1906, married Walter S. Byars June 21, 1928, died May 1979 in Lawrenceville, Illinois, had a child named James Harrison Byars
Glenn L. Youngkin, born June 21, 1909, died June 4, 1945, buried at Rose Hill Cemetery
(Sources: Federal Census records, Williamson County Marriage Records, FindaGrave.com, Marion Street Directories, S.S. Death records, WWI Draft Card records, Marion City Cemetery records, Marion Daily Republican. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 3/15/2024)