William H Yenser
| Birth: | 06 | Aug | 1846 | Lenhartsville, Berks, PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage: | 18 | Apr | 1870 | |
| Death: | 29 | Jul | 1917 | Lincoln, KS |
| Burial: | 1917 | Rosette Cemetery, Lincoln, KS | ||
| Spouse: | Sarah Elizabeth Sassaman | |||
| Father: | Unknown | |||
| Mother: | Unknown | |||
Biographical Information:
William H1 Yenser was born in Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania on August 6th, 1846. Married Sarah Elizabeth Sassaman on April 18th, 18702. Moved with his family from Pennsylvania to Iowa in 1879 and didn't leave until 1885, at that point coming to Kansas, locating on a farm north of Sylvan Grove (Sylvan Grove is about 50-60 miles west and north of Salina, KS now). Afterwards they moved to Lincoln and were there 23 years.
A quiet man with a cheerful disposition, he was well and favorably known. He was devoted to his family, a loyal true citizen of his country and highly respected by all who knew him. In his religious life he was passionately fond of the church services and in his more active days did readily his part of the work of the church. He was confirmed in the Lutheran Church when he was 18 years of age and on coming west he did not find his home church so he joined in the most convenient place of worship and identified himself with God's people and took up his part of the church work.
North of Sylvan Grove he organized a Sunday school and superintended it for a number of years, it became the nucleus around which, in later years, a prosperous church was organized and is now maintained. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lincoln June 19, 1897, and in this communion he remained a faithful man of God until his death. He was for a number of years a Superintendent of a Sunday school at Lost Creek schoolhouse and after attending Sunday School and church in Lincoln in the morning would walk to Lost Creek school in the afternoon returning home for services in the evening.
William and Sarah had seven children:
- Ellen Lenora Yenser - 1871 to 1939
- George W Yenser - 1872 to 1930
- Irwin3 Wilson Yenser - 1874 to sometime after 1930
- Harvey Edgar Yenser - 1877 to sometime after 1930
- Mary E Yenser - 1883 to unknown
- Guy Herbert Yenser - 1887 to 1957
- Stella Claire Yenser - 1894 to 1965
About 4 years prior to his death he suffered a stroke of paralysis which he never fully recovered from. William passed away peacefully in his sleep4 in his home in Lincoln, Kansas in the evening, Sunday July 29th, 1917 just a few days shy of his 71st birthday. He was buried in Rosette Cemetary in Lincoln County, Kansas. All of his children attended his funeral except his son Guy. At the time of his death, his living relatives were his wife, seven children, seventeen grandchildren, and a sister5.
Notes:
- I have his middle name listed as "Henry" but no real solid source confirming that is accurate.
- Taken from his obituary in the Lincoln Sentinel, August 9th, 1917.
- Irwin's name is sometimes listed as Irvin, I'm using Irwin here which is what is listed in William's obituary as well as Irwin's World War I draft card.
- Taken from his obituary in the Lincoln Sentinel, August 9th, 1917.
- Ibid.