The York Family

Josiah Cowan York, Sr. was born October 15, 1799 in Washington County, Tennessee, the third son of William York, a Revolutionary War veteran. In Roane County, Tennessee on November 10, 1823 Josiah married Sarah Virginia Blake, the daughter of Thomas Early and Elizabeth Owen Blake. The young couple moved to Carroll County, Georgia in 1826 and resettled in Paulding County soon after its formation on December 3, 1832.

Josiah York was appointed Justice of the Peace for Paulding County in 1838, 1843, 1848, and 1876. He also served as Postmaster of Yorkville for a short time, being appointed on February 23, 1879, just before his death.

Josiah and Sarah's son Abraham Huddleston "Hud" York is sometimes considered the Founder of Yorkville. Abraham and his wife Laura donated one acre of land for the Yorkville Methodist Church. About one half of this acre forms part of the Historic Yorkville Cemetery today.

Late in life Josiah York was awarded land near Van Wert for his service in the Indian Wars and moved with his family there.

Sarah Blake York died in 1878 and Josiah York died in 1879 - they are among the earliest burials in the Historic Yorkville Cemetery.

Josiah and Sarah York have many descendants buried in the Historic Yorkville Cemetery, but few of them are named York. Their daughter Mary married James Bolton Dean; they are both buried in the Historic Yorkville Cemetery. Among their many descendants is the late Nathan Dean, Georgia State Senator for the area.