  WHITMORE - YORDY Carroll Co IL
The Christopher Rohrer Whitmore family originated in President Twp. Venango County PA and moved to Cherry Grove Illinois in 1866. Like many people who made the western migration Christopher Whitmore was looking for more land to farm and support his ever growing family (by the 1870 census he had 11 children). Christopher remarried after the untimely death of his first wife Mary Kieler. Christopher Whitmore was born in Venango County PA about 09 March 1817, making him at the time of his arrival in Cherry Grove about 48 years old. By the 1870 Census, Christopher Whitmore had a prosperous farm in Cherry Grove Township worth $16,000.00 and a large family consisting of his new spouse Caroline (Keener) Whitmore born in 1830 and their eleven living children.
Christopher married 1st Mary Keiler about 1838. Mary was born about 1820, died about 1857 Children with Mary Keiler were: Simon Whitmore 16 Apr 1839 d. 03 May 1841
His 2nd marriage to Charlotte Keener was 18 January 1858. She was born 2 March 1830 - died 25 March 1907.
Children with Charlotte Keener were:
The Whitmore’s arrival in Cherry Grove was soon followed by a wedding and a funeral. The Whitmore’s and their near neighbors the Yordy’s rapidly became close friends. Both families were farmers and both came from Pennsylvania. Soon they were related through marriage as well. The Illinois State Archives lists returning Civil War veteran Christian Yordy Jr.,as married to Francis Whitmore on October 16, 1866. Francis and Christian Yordy had two children by their marriage: Minnie L.Yordy born 1867
Their wedding was followed closely by the tragic death of Francis older brother Thomas Jefferson Whitmore. Thomas Jefferson, though only 24 years old at the time of his death, had led a life filled with excitement and danger. “TJ” as he was known, had survived the Civil War and over three years of hard fighting. One of the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers; he joined the 83rd PA Infantry in August 1861. As private with the 83rd PA Infantry and later served with the 6th Veterans Reserve Corps marched and fought over most of the eastern theater of war. Thomas Jefferson’s regiment the 83rd Regiment was one of the most famous regiments in the war. The 83rd’s claim to fame can be stated very simply. In the bloodiest conflict in American history it lost more people killed in action and from disease then any other regiment but one. The 5th New Hampshire lost 295 while the 83rd lost 282 in combat. As a member of the 83rd he saw savage fighting at Malvern Hill and Gains Mill, TJ was badly wounded at the Battle of 2nd Manassas where he received a gun shot wound in the left leg; a wound which appears never to have healed correctly. He later rejoined his old regiment and marched to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where he participated in the critical defense of Little Round Top. After the Gettysburg battle he was assigned on account of his inability to walk to the 6th VRC. The VRC (Veterans Reserve Corps) were normally composed of men who could not participate on active service because of wounds but were still capable of doing light duty. In 1864 the sudden attack of Confederate General Jubal Early on Washington, D.C. required the Union government to order the 6th VRC to defend the capital. TJ saw battle as the 6th and other rapidly thrown together groups won the day at Monocracy, Maryland. In all, TJ was in 15 major battles and many skirmishes. By the time of his discharge on September 10, 1864 Thomas Jefferson Whitmore was ill and still recovering from a festering wound. He returned to the family home in PA just in time to join them on their journey to Illinois. Arriving there some time in 1866, he was taken ill and died July 14, 1867. He was buried by his grieving family at Shannon’s Shelley Cemetery.
George and Barbara Whitmore had four living children: Anna Ruth Feb 24, 1871 d. Mar 14, 1901
John Franklin Whitmore ( 7/12/1872-1/14/1910)
The Yordy Family originated in Switzerland (original spelling Jorde). The Yordy’s were Mennonites, who sought a place to practice their pacifist religion freely and the opportunity for a better life. They immigrated to the then new frontier of Lancaster County, PA in 1717.
Over the next century the Yordy family grew and their farms prospered.
Most of the Yordy’s remained close to the soil as farmers. During the 1830’s, Christian Yordy and his brother Benjamin broke with the family’s agrarian tradition and took up weaving. Christian and Benjamin are both listed in the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as “Coverlet Maker”s. The brothers used jacquard looms to weave coverlets for over two decades throughout Lancaster County. They gained reputations for crafting colorful and dramatic woven coverlets and as a consequence both brothers developed thriving businesses. (Today signed coverlets by Benjamin and Christian are highly prized and sought after by collectors.
Beginning in the late 1840’s and the early 1850’s the brief era of prosperity enjoyed by Pennsylvania journeymen weavers ended. What killed the jacquard loom business for the weavers so rapidly, were changes in home fashion and the commercial transformation of the American textile industry. These two developments effectively put an end to Christian and Benjamin’s jacquard loom based weaving business. This, in addition to a shrinking pool of arable farmland, convinced three of Daniel Yordy’s (1772-1849) four children to seek new opportunities in Illinois.
Christian and Benjamin’s response was to go back to the only other craft they knew; farming. Like many others they joined the great westward migration, and with their sister Susannah, they headed for Illinois sometime around 1858. The three were: Christian Yordy (b. March 30, 1811 – d. May 6, 1889), Benjamin Yordy (b. July 14, 1820 – d. September 3, 1900) and Susannah Yordy (b. Dec 23,1808 – d.Sept.23,1890).
In Illinois the two brothers took up farming and bought land in Carroll and Ogle Counties. Their change in occupation is reflected on the 1860 Illinois census, here both Christian and Benjamin are now listed as “Farmers”.
Christian Yordy and his wife, Susan (Sowders)(b. May 8, 1818 – d. March 16, 1878) had a large family with a total of fourteen children; twelve born in Pennsylvania and the last two were born in Illinois.
Elizabeth Ann Yordy Dec 27, 1836
Christian Yordy was married the 2nd time to
Susan Kauffman 10 Mar 1881 she was born Apr 1842 d. Aft 1920
Children with Susan Kauffman
Both Christian Jr. and John Yordy fought at many of the battles in the western theater of operations including Vicksburg.
Christian was badly wounded at Altoona, Georgia, however, both he and his brother John survived the war.
On the left is Christian Yordy Jr.
The uniform he is wearing is of the 93rd Illinois Infantry. Chistian was in Company B. We found in his military file at the National
Archives a letter from him to his Commanding Officer requesting a light
duty assignment (he had just been wounded at the Battle of Altoona, GA ).
In his request, Christian Jr., stated that he had fought in 26 major engagements.
Fortunately he got his assignment and survived the war. He died March 27, 1911, in Beloit Wisconsin.
Edward Adlum Straub, who chronicled early Carroll County life also moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois after the Civil War, and he knew the Yordy’s. In his book Life and Civil War Services of Edward A. Straub, Pub. 1909, Edward wrote a brief account of meeting Christian and Benjamin Yordy when the brothers were living in Spring Valley, Ogle County, Illinois around 1867-1868. “While living in Ogle County, we were blessed with splendid good neighbors; their names were Benjamin and Christian Yordy, formerly of Lancaster County, PA. Christian had two gallant sons in the Union Army during the great Civil War. John was a member of Company B, 26th Illinois Infantry and Christian was a member of the 93rd Illinois Infantry.” “Both the Yordy families were kind and excellent neighbors.” John Yordy married Elizabeth Wareham Mar 14, 1865 They had six children: Laura Mar 29, 1866
Christian Yordy Sr. remained in Carroll County until his death in 1884. His brother Benjamin Yordy, along with other members of his family, moved to Nebraska to homestead near Rising City, Nebraska. There Benjamin farmed until his death on September 3, 1900. The Benjamin Yordy homestead, according to Nebraska records, was located as follows: Reading Twp, Butler County Nebraska, 27 NW ¼ NW ¼ Benjamin Yordy 17 559 He is buried at Circle Mount Cemetery Rising City Nebraska. The Rising City Independent, for September 6, 1900 (page 1 column 4) has his obituary. Benjamin Yordy married Susanna Conrad. Susanna Conrad was born in Lancaster County PA March 17, 1821. She died September 16, 1905 and is buried in Circle Mound Cemetery Rising City Nebraska. (Suanna Conrad’s obituary was published in the Rising City Independent September 28, 1905 page 8 column 4.) They had three children; Daniel, Mary Ann and John. Sources: 1860 Census for Illinois and Pennsylvania
Military Service Records from the National Archives and Records Administration: Christian Yordy, 93rd Illinois Infantry Company D John Yordy 26th Illinois Infantry Company B&D and Thomas Jefferson Whitmore 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Company G and 6th Reserve Corps Company E file under Thomas J. “Whitmer”. Pension Folders: Christian Yordy VA File # XC 2-655-186 and John Yordy VA Cert # 750141 and Elizabeth Yordy VA Cert # 588983NARA Yordy and Whitmore Family Bibles in possession of Ms. Gene Sharp Photographs of Yordy and Whitmore Family: from the collection of Ms. Gene Sharp
NOTES AND SOURCES:
First our brief Whitmore/Yordy family chronicle is dedicated with love to the memory of Lucile Marie Whitmore (1909 -2000), granddaughter of George W. Whitmore and Barbara Ann Yordy. For many years Lucile carefully preserved the Whitmore and Yordy family bibles and passed on to us three dozen carte de visite’s and three tintypes. Her love of history and her strong desire to preserve the family legacy for future generations was our inspiration.
C. Elizabeth Davidson, San Diego CA for photos and information on Christopher and Charlotte Whitmore and their daughters Anzonetta and Carrie Whitmore.
Nancy Hartman, Bellwood, NE., for her information and photos of Benjamin Yordy & Susan Conrad and their family.
Dr. Trish Herr, Lancaster County PA., for information on coverlet makers in general and details of Christian and Benjamin Yordy's career.
Roy W. Johnston, Central City NE, for his photos and information on the headstones of Christopher R. Whitmore and Charlotte Whitmore at Central City Cemetery, Central City Nebraska.
Kim Kerr for valuable information and advice on the Whitmore and Yordy family.
Diane Long, Santa Barbara CA and Steven Brenner, St Louis MO. for their photos and information regarding Adam Brenner and Susannah Yordy Brenner and their family.
Sharon Olsen, Huffman Tx., for information on the Whitmores and Yordy's in Shannon Illinois and her photos of Thomas Jefferson Whitmore George W. Whitmore and Barbara Ann Yordy grave stones.
Karen Stafford, Grand Island NE., for her information, thoughts and analysis of the lives and travels of the Whitmore and Yordy families and photos of Warren Chesterfield Whitmore.
Joann Teagarden, Anamosa IA., for her photos and information regarding Benjamin Franklin Whitmore and his family
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Two of Christian’s sons, Christian and John, served in the Civil War.
Barbara Anne Yordy was married to George Whitmore. This article published 17 May 1905. Source unknown.
Christian and Benjamin Yordy are both listed in the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as Coverlet Makers. The Yordy brothers used jacquard looms to weave coverlets for over two decades throughout Lancaster County. They gained reputations for crafting colorful and dramatic woven coverlets and as a consequence both brothers developed thriving.
businesses. By the late 1840's and the early 1850's the brief era of prosperity enjoyed by Pennsylvania journeymen jacquard weavers ended. What killed the jacquard loom business for the weavers so rapidly, were changes in home fashion and the commercial transformation of the American textile industry. These two developments effectively put an end to Christian and Benjamin's jacquard loom based weaving business. This, in addition to a shrinking pool of arable farmland, convinced the brothers and their families to seek new opportunities in Illinois.
This is an example of Christian Yordy's work.
This large coverlet was completed by Christian Yordy while he was living in Lampeter PA in 1838 for Barbara Landis (his cousin). We were fortunate to purchase it some years ago and today it has an honored place in our home.
