First Generation  

1. Frederick YANKLE was born in 1829 in Germany, died on 8 Jul 1892 in New Haven Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan, at age 63, and was buried in West Haven Cemetery, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

There is a record from the early Wayne Co. Marriages, Vol. 5, listing a marriage between Frederick JENKEL, 24, and Jette BANTHIEN, 20, both of Springwells, on March 24, 1857, in Detroit, Michigan. (Springwells later became part of Dearborn) The marriage was performed by H. MUELLER, minister of the Gospel. The witnesses were John JENKEL and William HAUSER. I believe this is their marriage record. Henry was born in Dearborn in 1858. Most of the records show Frederick's and Henrietta's ages to be four years apart; Henrietta's death record indicates she was born in 1836. There are many variations of the spelling of the last name BANTHIEN, with no way to verify what the correct spelling was. However, there are many family trees with individuals of that surname.

The 1850 census notes a Frederick JENKEL, age 28, living in Dearborn Village with wife Judith and son Henry age 11/2. It also lists a John JENKEL, age 32, with wife Hannah, daughters Sophie, age 11/2, and Mary, age 1/12. Even though there are some inconsistencies, I believe Frederick and John to be brothers, as John JENKEL ** (see note) was the witness in the above mentioned marriage record. Henry J. W. YANKLE was born in Dearborn in 1858.

There is a Wayne Co. record of a land purchase, Vol. 50-51, 1833-1869, Vol. 100, pg. 130, for a purchase made by Frederick. It notes: YANKLE, Frederick of Dearborn Township, pur. fr. Robert INKSTER and w. Cordelia of Dearborn Township, July 24, 1863, the W. part of fract'l. lot 19 in Dearborn Village. Witnesses: Hiram WIGHTMAN and Charles HULL. Reg: E. N. Lacroix. Rec. Aug. 4, 1863.

In the 1870 census, Fred YINKEL, age 39, is listed in New Haven Township, Shiawassee Co., Michigan, with wife Esther, age 33, son Henry, age 12, Ettie, age 9, Julie, age 6, Lydia, age 3, and Henry BONTINE, who is Henrietta's father.

The 1880 census lists Frederick YANKLE, age 48; is listed with wife Henrietta and family in New Haven Township, Shiawassee Co., Michigan.

The 1900 and 1910 censuses lists Henry YANKLE in Flint, Michigan with his family and John E. YANKLE and his family in Ward 5 of Owosso, Michigan.

** While I have yet to definitely prove this point, I belive John JENKEL is Frederick's brother. He and his family moved to Ecorse, Wayne Co., Michigan and then to Dearborn, where some descendants live today under the spelling YENKEL. There seems to be a shift from John to Carl, which may be a middle name. It has been noted to me, frequently in the old world people had a given name and then a Christian name, which the family addressed the person by. I have attempted to work with these people to prove (or disprove) a connection, with no success. The evidence is highly circumstantial, but, generally consistent in the dates. - David Yankle **


From the Yankle Chronicle, August 2003:

Frederick Yankle is our foundation, the oldest relative for which we have any record, and the rock from which all succeeding generations would come. He was born in Prussia (Germany) in the year 1829. We don’t know where he was born, or what his childhood was like, but at some point he made the long and arduous journey across the Atlantic ocean.

Likewise, Henrietta (Banthien) Yankle’s birthplace was Prussia (Germany) too. Her father was Henry Banthien, who is buried in the West Haven Cemetery in Owosso, MI.. Born in 1836, she would later join the myriad of other German immigrants coming to seek a better life in America.

Although their point of entry into the country could have been either New York or Baltimore, or possibly through Canada, they moved farther west, finally settling in the Detroit area.

Whether they knew one another before coming to America we can only speculate, but on March 24, 1857 Frederick & Henrietta were married by H. Mueller, a minister of the gospel.

They were to move to Dearborn and within a year they had their first child, Henry J. W. Yankle. Little Henry was only three when his sister Henrietta was born, and two years later a second daughter, Julia joined the family in 1863. That was the year Frederick was finally able to purchase a plot of land in Dearborn. They resettled onto a farm in New Haven Township, (near Owosso), Shiawassee Co. Michigan between 1863 and 1867.

The family continued to grow, and in 1867 Lydia was born, followed by Frederick 5 years later. The baby, John Yankle, was finally born in 1876.

Frederick married Henrietta BONTEIN , daughter of Unknown and Unknown , on 24 Mar 1857 in Springwells (Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan. Henrietta was born in Oct 1836 in Germany, died on 9 Dec 1887 in New Haven Township, Michigan, at age 51, and was buried in West Haven Cemetery, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 M    i. Henry J. W. YANKLE was born on 8 Oct 1858 in Dearborn, Michigan, died on 8 Apr 1937 in Flint, Michigan, at age 78, and was buried in West Haven Cemetery, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

+ 3 F    ii. Henrietta YANKLE was born on 20 Sep 1861, died on 21 May 1936 in New Haven Township, Michigan, at age 74, and was buried in West Haven Cemetery, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

+ 4 F    iii. Julia YANKLE was born in Jun 1863 in Dearborn, Michigan, died on 19 Oct 1941 in Shiawassee County, Michigan, at age 78, and was buried in West Haven Cemetery, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

+ 5 F    iv. Lydia Bertha YANKLE was born on 8 May 1867 in New Haven Township, Michigan, died on 17 Jul 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at age 75, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Antwerp Township, Van Buren Co., Mich.

   6 M    v. Frederick E. YANKLE was born in 1872 in New Haven Township, Michigan and died on 11 Jun 1887 in New Haven Township, Michigan, at age 15.

Young Frederick drowned in Shiawassee River, attempting to bring back his dog from the opposite river bank. The accident occurred at the Five Points behind the Goss School. He was laid to rest at the West Haven Cemetery, Section 3, Row 11.

+ 7 M    vi. John Ezra YANKLE ¹ was born on 9 Feb 1876 in New Haven Township, Michigan, died on 11 Apr 1958 in Owosso, Michigan, at age 82, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Owosso, Michigan.

Frederick next married Catherine CONKLIN on 19 Apr 1889. Catherine was born in 1846 in New York.

These notes were compiled by David Scott Yankle in his genealogical research of the Yankle family.

Notes on Catherine "Katie" (CONKLIN, HENNION) YANKLE

Catherine CONKLIN was b. 1846, place of birth listed as New York. Her father is listed as John CONKLIN. She married Frederick YANKLE on April 19, 1889; it was witnessed by Hiram and Elizabeth RUSSEL. She was married previously to Thomas HENNION and was the mother of Edwin HENNION, who married Lydia YANKLE. At the time of the marriage, it was noted that she was married twice and he was married once, previously. Her occupation was listed as "Housekeeping" and his as "Farmer". In 1892, the family farm on Riley Rd. was transferred from Frederick to Catherine, and in 1893, it was transferred to John E. YANKLE. She also tranferred additional property to John in 1897. Alvin HENNION was the Best Man at the wedding of John E. YANKLE in 1897. The 1900 census lists Catherine A. YANKLE and Alvin H. YANKLE, b. July, 1871, living on Lingle St. in Owosso, Michigan. She was noted in the 1905 R. L. Polk directory as living with her son, Alvin, (who was Alvin HENNION) in Owosso. The 1907 R. L. Polk directory notes that Catherine and Alvin had moved to Kalamazoo. The 1908 Polk directory for Kalamazoo notes her boarding at 843 Hayes Park Court and Alvin with a wife, Lulu.