Yocham Family

The Jake Yocham family was one of the pioneer families of Marion County. The family came from Tennessee and Mr. Yocham homesteaded and settled on White River in what soon came to be known as Yocham Bend. Jake was the father of five, perhaps more children. They were: George W., Jim, Sarah, Dode, and a daughter who married Bill Gregory and settled in Alberta, Canada. Mr. Yocham brought with him two Negro men slaves.

When the Civil War began, Mr. Yocham became a soldier in the Southern Army. During the war, he came home on furlough. The jayhawkers, learning that he was home, planned to murder him but he hid out and they were unable to find him. They took one of the slaves, put a rope around his neck and put a pistol barrel in his ear in an effort to make him tell where Mr. Yocham was hiding. He refused to tell. He was released and came home happy whistling a tune. At his death, he was buried in the Yocham Bend Cemetery with the Yocham family.

George Yocham, one of the sons of Jake Yocham, was born in the Yocham Bend, March 18, 1855. He married Plina B. Hammonds and homesteaded a farm near Pot Shoals in the upper end of the Yocham Bend. Later he bought additional land, part of it across the river from the mouth of Spring Creek and Little North Fork. About 1900, they bought forty acres near Oakland and two acres in Oakland on which there was a hotel. They ran the hotel for a number of years.

To the union of George W. and Plina B. Yocham, thirteen children were born. These were:

Jane married Henry Jones. Their four children were: Virginia, Fatha, Wallie and Ivan.

Minnie married Will Mathis. Their children were: Weltha, Juanita, Lester and Donald.

Jake married Nellie Bayless. Their children were: Lovell, Byron, Walcie, Bill, Jakie, Clifton, Genell, Paul, Geretta and Geraldine.

Cora married Jess Blankenship. Both Cora and Jess taught at Peel and at Oakland. After the death of Jess, Cora married Robert M. Lyles, an attorney in Cameron County, Texas. They had a son, Randolph.

Jim Dan married Bertha Lovelace. Their children were: Arnold, Georgia, Thelma, Marnie and a baby that died in infancy and is buried near Gainesville.

Marrie died when a young woman.

Duffie died in infancy.

Nellie died in infancy.

Wallis died in infancy.

Art first married Belah Rose. Their children were Carolmel and Neva. Belah died in 1924 and Art later married Melvina Fox. Their children were: Lavon, Doris, Gene, Wretha Faye, Joyce, Ira Dean, Charlotte and Nelta June.

Troy married Dorothy Weiher. Their children were: Elmer, Vera Wilma, Shelba, Darrell, Shirley, Lester, Garry and Marvin. One child died at birth. Troy was killed in an automobile accident in Tulsa in 1974.

Leonard married Eula Gilbert. Their children were: Harold and Zelma Jean. Leonard died in 1957.

George W. married Etta C. Mears in September, 1921. After their marriage, they lived in the Yocham Bend where they reared their nine children. These children were:

Ila Dean married Verdon W. Payne. Ila Dean attended the University of Arkansas for three years and taught for several years. Verdon earned his Master's Degree from the University of Missouri. They are the parents of three daughters:

Blanche Vyolette married Buford Graddy and they have two sons. Blanche has a B. S. Degree from Arkansas State Teachers and a master's degree from Drury College of Springfield, Missouri.

Bobbie Jean married Archie C. Williams. Their children were: Cynthia Ann, Douglas, and Cathy Elizabeth. Bobby Jean was graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College. She taught in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Puerto Rico.

Sue Ida married Herman Leon Dunn. One daughter, Debbie Sue, was born to them. They adopted a son, David, in 1960. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College and is now a supervisor at Bell Telephone Company.

Betty Jo married Joseph D. Therman. They have two children, Terry Jo and Shelia. Betty Jo attended Southwest Baptist College, does substitute teaching and is secretary of the Wheatland School.

Etta Catherine married Norman Earl Lile. They have a daughter, Brenda Lynn, and a son. Leslie. Etta Catherine was graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a B. S. Degree. She has been teaching in Springfield for the past thirteen years.

Murphy Luther married Judy Vaughn in 1970. They had one daughter, Jenifer Susan. Murphy had received his master's and Specialist's Degree from North West University of Warrenburg, Missouri and lacked only one semester of having his doctorate in business administration at the time of his death in 1973, due to an automobile accident.

Doyle Lynn died at the age of 19 as the result of a motorcycle accident in California.

George Washington III died before reaching the age of one year.

George and Etta have always been active in all community, civic and church activities and leaders in the educational programs of their area. On the 26th of September, 1971, George and Etta observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary with all of their living children and grandchildren present. Over 200 relatives and friends from Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Oklahoma were present. One hundred twenty-eight people were served full meals on this occasion. George and Etta are retired and live near Wheatland, Missouri.