Biography

 Josiah York

Family

Haralson County GAGenWeb

a proud part of

If you have additions or corrections, please let me know.


This file was contributed for use by:  Diane Sanfilippo (need updated email please)


"In 1827 the York and Philpot families, now numbering about fifty souls, traveled by ox-drawn wagons 150 miles to settle

on the border of the Creek and Cherokee Indian nations in Carroll County, Georgia. Today this land is near the town

 of Buchanan in Haralson County, but in the 1820's it was heavily forested wilderness. Wolves howled at night and

wildcats, bear, deer and turkey were found in abundance. From the original Carroll County, Paulding County was
annexed in 1832, Polk County in 1851 and Haralson County in 1856. Although white men were encouraged to homestead

by land lotteries, a gold rush, and military service awards, the Indians did not vacate the land peaceably.
William was still the patriarch of the York family until his death about 1840, but Josiah was becoming a
strong leader. For the next ten years, Josiah, as a member of the Georgia Mounted Militia fought the
Indians. Finally, in the winter of 1837, the Militia captured the last of the Cherokees and took them to
Gunter's Landing on the Tennessee River, the site of present-day Guntersville, Alabama. Here the captives
began the infamous Trail of Tears March to Oklahoma.

Josiah served as Constable of Carroll County, receiving appointment in 1827. His toughest job was to lead the
posse to clean up the Poney Gang, a group of white trash hoodlums who robbed, raped and murdered the other
white citizens. With peace established, Josiah became a successful farmer. Census records show that in 1850,
his land was worth $3,000.00, and in 1860, his combined real estate and personal property were worth $5,600.00.

In 1851 he received 80 acres of land at Van Wert, the county seat, as payment for fighting in the Seminole
Indian War. Gradually Van Wert was overtaken by Rockmart, a bustling town founded by Welsh miners.
Mrs. R.L. Campbell wrote an article called "Van Wert, Georgia: Pioneer Town has a Story" for the Atlanta
Journal in the January 5, 1967 issue. She stated that "the first settlers in this area - arriving while the
Indians were still extant - were Burton Crabb, Wiley Barber, Emory Kinsberry, J.C. York, and S.B. Pierce."


Maps (link no longer good) showing Van Wert (Paulding) and later Polk Josiah owned land southeast of Rockmart

and donated the land for a Methodist church and cemetery in the community that came to be know as Yorkville in his
honor.


Map of Yorkville - Paulding County (link no longer good) The York name is listed on deeds to the property near
Rockmart that became Judge Wiley Crawford's home in 1863. Josiah appointed William A. Love of Cave Springs
as his attorney to obtain more land as a Seminole War Veteran.  Between 1826 and 1848, Sarah bore eight children,
according to census records: Delilah, William Thomas, Larkin B., Jasper Newton, Mary, Josiah Jr., Abraham
Huddleston, and Sarah. Joel Goldin's records list four other children: Andrew, Elizabeth, Eleaner, and Frances.

Back to Bio page

 

Back to Home Page

This page was last updated on -04/01/2025

 

Copyright 1999-present The GAGenWeb Project Team