Deep within a tranquil, wooded area in Wyndmoor, lies Yeakel Cemetery. It’s a place where history sleeps, a silent testament to lives lived and battles fought. Yeakel Cemetery isn’t just a graveyard. It’s a portal to the past, nestled a quarter-mile from the bustling Philadelphia line, just north of Chestnut Hill. Once owned by the prominent Mack family of Germantown, Yeakel Cemetery served as a burial ground even before 1753. Here lie some of the earliest settlers of Chestnut Hill and Springfield Township. The cemetery whispers stories of these pioneers.
Yeakel Cemetery is tucked away about 200 yards from Stenton Avenue, behind a rehabilitation center. A stone wall encloses this sacred ground, approximately an eighth of an acre. This wall, built sometime before 1882, has seen centuries pass. It originally had a shingle cap. Now, a cast concrete cap, stamped with “1927”, crowns the wall. Wrought iron gates, adorned with small lion’s head medallions, guard the entrance.
Within these walls, 86 headstones and footstones stand sentinel, some dating back to the 1700s. The oldest, made of marble, bear fading inscriptions, while the later granite stones remain sharp. About two dozen unmarked fieldstones stand upright, hinting at additional graves. A striking polished granite monument dominates the landscape. Erected in 1931 by the Schwenkfelder Church, it commemorates the 200th anniversary of their migration. This monument lists the names of those buried not only in Yeakel Cemetery, but also in Hood and Pilgrim cemeteries.
Tombstone research reveals at least 53 burials in Yeakel Cemetery. The earliest marked grave belongs to Maria Yeakel, who died in 1752. The latest belongs to Matilda Heydrick, who died in 1902. Other families represented here include the Dowers, Heebners, Neffs, Schuberts, Schultzes, and Schumans. Unmarked graves may hold members of the Eshamann, Kriebel, and Mack families. Local lore suggests that soldiers who fell during the Revolutionary War are interred here. This remains unverified, but a skirmish did occur on this very hillside. On December 6, 1777, 600 Pennsylvania Militia, led by General William Irvine, clashed with British troops. The battle was brief but fierce, lasting only 20 minutes. General Irvine was wounded and captured, and 30 to 40 casualties resulted. Four patriots known to be buried in Yeakel Cemetery served in the militia during the Revolutionary War: Christopher Yeakle, Abraham Yeakle, Abraham Heydrick, and Jacob Neff.
In 1802, Christopher Yeakle, his sons Christopher Jr. and Abraham, and his son-in-law Abraham Heydrick, officially purchased the burial ground. Additional land purchases followed in 1838 and 1847, each adding new names to the growing list of owners. By 1847, seven individuals held equal ownership of the property. Eventually, the Schwenkfelder Church assumed stewardship of Yeakel Cemetery. This hallowed ground stands as a quiet tribute to the rich history of the area. It’s a place where stories linger in the rustling leaves and the weathered stones.