"Richard S. Yunker, the eldest son and second child of Henry and Emily Yunker, was born near Choschocton(sic), Choschocton County, Ohio, May 15, 1839. He departed this life at the St. Anthony's Hospital, Effingham, Ill, Jan. 2, 1918, age 78 yrs. 7 mon. and 17 days.
His childhood was spent in Ohio; When a lad of fourteen, in company with his parents and their family he journeyed in covered wagons to the untilled, unsettled prairies, of Illinois. They were six weeks enroute, reaching here in the summer of 1853 - 65 years ago. They lived for a short time in a cabin about a mile and a half south-west of the present site of Moccasin. Later they built and moved into a cabin one-half mile east of Moccasin, which has been the family home of the Yunker's ever since.
No place could be home to Richard but the dear old home. He suffered and endured the privations and hardships attendant upon pioneer life.
When the country was in its primitive state, Richard Yunker endeared himself to the hearts of the early settlers, by his untiring, unceasing, care of the sick, and kindly ministrations to the dead and dying. Wherever there was sickness or death, there was Richard Yunker and his now deceased sister, Kizziah(sic), to nurse, to minister and to comfort. There was scarcely a family in the whole country side, but that had been the recipients of their benefaction. They were merely settled in their new home when death claimed their father. At the time Richard was a young man of seventeen, from that time on he was a helpmate to his widowed mother, and a father to his orphaned brothers and sisters.
He was a veteran of the Civil War; having seen active service at Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He entered the service Nov. 29, 1864 and was honorably discharged July 13, 1865. He was a good neighbor, honest and upright. He is survived by two brothers, John of Windsor, and George, of Moccasin.
Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist Church in Moccasin, by the pastor in charge, Rev. Anderson. Interment followed at Pleasant Grove Cemetery."
We have a copy of the above obituary, but don't know in what paper it appeared.
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