Emma Yocum ^{1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

   Another name for Emma was Anna Yocum.³

   FamilySearch ID: KZ4X-JD6.

  Christening Notes:

Baptismal sponsor was Catharina Yocum.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1870 in S. Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. ³ Two Beecher households are found on as neighbors in the 1870 Census in South Heidelberg Township in Berks County. The post office is Wernersville.

William Beecher, age 52, blacksmith, is living with wife Sarah, 52; Levi, 21; and Levi's wife Ellen, 16. With them is a Sarah Strunk, age 4, and Harrison Beecher, 37, no occupation listed. William's real estate is valued at $1,800 and his possessions worth $400.

Reuben Beecher, 30, farm laborer, is living with wife Emma, 26, and George L., 7 months old, born in Oct. 1869. He has no real estate and $400 of possessions. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1880 in Sinking Spring, Berks, PA. ¹² The 1880 census recorded George Yocum, 76, living with his daughters, Amanda, 46, and Emma, 36, widowed, and Emma's son William Beecher, 4. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

3. Census in 1900 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. ¹ George L. Beecher, age 30, farm laborer, born Nov. 1869, is living with wife Emma, 32, born Jan. 1868. They had been married 8 years and had one child who was no longer living. Also with them is his mother, Emma, born Sep. 1843. She was married 21 years and had 3 children, 2 still living. She could not read or write. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

4. Newspaper: Evening Report: "There are now four cases of smallpox in the house of Levi Beecher, near Wernersville: Mr. And Mrs. Levi Beecher, their daughter, Kate, and Mr. Beecher's sister-in-law, Mrs. Emma Beecher. They are getting along as well as can be expected.", 27 Nov 1901, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹³ There are now four cases of smallpox in the house of Levi Beecher, near Wernersville: Mr. and Mrs. Levi Beecher, their daughter, Kate, and Mr. Beecher's sister-in-law, Mrs. Emma Beecher. They are getting along as well as can be expected.

5. She signed a will The will of Emma Beecher written 15 Apr 1905 and registered on 31 May 1912 is online at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29151-3001-14?cc=1999196&wc=9P97-829:268499201,283517502 on 15 Apr 1905 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁴ I Emma Beecher of Millmont in Cumru Township in the County of Berks and State of Penna. a widow being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
And first I direct that my body be decently interred in the Sinking Springs Cemetery, in the County of Berks and State of Penna. according to the rites and ceremonies of the Lutheran church of Sinking Springs, and that my funeral be conducted in manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life, and I direct that all of my just debts funeral expenses and a Tomb Stone, to be paid and satisfied by my Executrix hereafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my deceased.
As to such estate as it hath pleased God to intrust me with, I dispose of the same as follows.
I give an bequeath to my son William B. Beecher the sum of $10.00 in money.
Now all the rest and residue of my estate, real, personal or mixed at the time of my death, I give and bequeath to my daughter-in-law Emma Beecher to her own use and benefit absolutely.
And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said daughter-in-law, Emma Beecher sole Executrix of this my last will and testament.
In Witness whereof, I, Emma Beecher, the testator, have to this, my Will, written on one sheet of paper, set my hand and seal this 15^th day of April A.D. One thousand Nine Hundred and Five - 1905.
Emma Beecher (SEAL)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Emma Beecher, as and for her last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Charles E. Stout
Daniel McHain.

6. Book: Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County Pennsylvania, 1909. ¹⁵

The name Yocum is quite common in the lower end of Berks county. Late in the seventeenth century a colony of Swedes settled at Wissahickon, near Philadelphia. In 1701 a number of these Swedes, including three Yocum brothers, located along the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, near Douglassville, Berks county. Surveys of land were made for these settlers Oct. 21, 1701, and patents issued between 1704 and 1705. The name is variously spelled in the early records, being Jocum, Yocomb, Yokham, Yocom and Yocum.

Nicholas Yocum (Yocom), the founder of the Cumru branch of the family, was born in Oley township, Sept. 3, 1776. As a young man he went to Lancaster county, and learned to make gun-barrels. When ready to begin for himself, he chose Cumru township, Berks county, as this location, bought the old Seidel forge, and there prepared his own iron for the manufacture of his gun-barrels.

He followed this calling many years with great profit, but he was of so generous and sympathetic a disposition that he was remembered for his benefactions rather than his wealth, and many were the men in financial straits whom he helped. In person he was tall, powerful and of commanding presence. He died April 23, 1857, aged eighty years, seven months, twenty days. His wife, Catherine (Lorah) Yocum, whom he married March 14, 1801, was born Oct. 3, 1783, and she died Feb. 13, 1851.

They had four children: George, born 1803; Daniel, 1805, who married Miss Catharine Thompson, and died in 1864; Moses; and Samuel, who married a Miss Spohn, and settled in Sinking Spring.

George Yocum, son of Nicholas, was born in Cumru township Oct. 3, 1803. He was an iron worker by trade, and he and his father bought the old Spohn estate in Lower Heidelberg township, consisting of 101 acres of the best land in the county. Here he engaged in farming until his son Benjamin took charge and he then retired to Sinking Spring, where he died Aug. 17, 1881. He is buried in the cemetery at Sinking Spring.

He married Catharine Hemmig, who was born Dec. 23, 1805, daughter of John and Susanna Hemmig. She died April 21, 1874. Their children were: William, a farmer near Stouchsburg, is now deceased; Aaron, a flour merchant in Reading, m. (first) Hannah and (second) Kate Heffer; Sarah m. Frederick Graeff; Amanda died unmarried; Amos, a shoemaker and farmer, m. Isabella Miller (1843-1885); Benjamin, born Nov. 7, 1836, now lives retired at Sinking Spring; Lizzie m. Aaron Fox, a butcher at Sinking Spring; Anna m. Reuben Beecher, formerly of Wernersville.

7. Census in 1910 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁶ The 1910 census recorded George Beecher, laborer odd jobs, 39, living with wife Emma, 40; and his mother Emma, widow, 68. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

8. Cause of Death: apoplexy, 31 May 1912, Millmont, Berks, PA. ¹⁰

9. Newspaper: Reading Times: funeral of Mrs. Emma Beecher, 6 Jun 1912, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹¹ The remains of Mrs. Emma Beecher, of Cumru township were interred in the Sinking Spring Cemetery at 1 o'clock p.m. The Rev. W. O. Laub officiated. The body was attired in a cream shroud and lay in a solid oak casket. Untertaker, Seidel.

Emma married Reuben Reifsnyder Beecher, son of William Beecher and Sarah Anna Reifsnyder, on 27 Aug 1864 in Reading, Berks, PA.^{1 2} (Reuben Reifsnyder Beecher was born on 27 Feb 1839 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA ^{3 8 17 18 19 20}, christened on 21 Apr 1839 in Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA,¹⁸ died on 26 Dec 1878 in Wernersville, Berks, PA ^{8 20 21} and was buried on 1 Jan 1879 in Sinking Spring: Sinking Spring Cemetery, Berks, PA ^{20 22}.)