McGovney–Yunker Farmstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McGovney–Yunker Farmstead
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The gable bank barn on the farmstead
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10824 LaPorte Road Mokena, Will County, Illinois, U.S. |
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| NRHP reference No. | 06000448 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 2006 |
The McGovney–Yunker Farmstead is a historic farm in Mokena, Illinois. It's a great example of how farms in Illinois grew and changed over many years. This special place helps us understand the history of farming and the families who lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: The Farm's Story
The McGovney Family: Early Settlers
The story of the farm begins with John McGovney. He was one of the first people to settle in Frankfort Township. John officially bought the land in 1841.
Later, his son Elijah McGovney took over the farm in the 1850s. Elijah started to make the farm bigger in 1857. Both John and Elijah mainly grew crops like corn and oats.
A big change happened in 1854. The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was finished. This made it much easier for the McGovney family to transport their crops to sell.
In the early 1860s, Elijah built a farmhouse and a barn on the property. As the years passed, Elijah added more buildings. These included a chicken coop, a well house, and a building used as both a smokehouse and a wood shed. He also built a second barn or shed. With these new structures, the family could start focusing on selling milk.
After Elijah passed away in 1921, his son L. Edward McGovney became the owner. He updated the farmhouse to look more modern for the early 1900s.
New Owners: The Yunker Family
L. Edward McGovney only owned the farm for three years. In 1924, Fred and Carrie Yunker, who were also heirs, took ownership. The Yunkers added their own improvements to the farm in the 1940s and 1950s.
These additions included a hog house for pigs, a cattle shed for cows, and a corn crib for storing corn. They also added open-wire bins for corn. In the 1960s, they built two doghouses, a garage and workshop, and a tool shed. A metal shed was added in the 1970s.
Preserving History for Everyone
Edwin Yunker, the son of Fred and Carrie, had a special goal. He wanted to make sure the farm would be used to teach local children about the history of Mokena.
Edwin Yunker helped create the Mokena Community Park District in 1958. In the 1990s, he sold the farm to this new organization. This made sure the farm would be protected and used for education.
The McGovney–Yunker Farmstead was officially recognized as a historic place on May 31, 2006. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of history that should be preserved.
