Irvin Clay Yocum and Lula Belle Smith were married in Lincoln County, Kentucky 20 April 1899. Their marriage bond states that Irvin was 26 and Lula Belle was 21. Irvin's occupation was listed as railroader. They were married at James Crim Smith's home, in the presence of C. Lay and Mama Walls. Irvin Clay was from McKinney and Lula Belle was from Kings Mountain. Sometime around 1908 or 1909, Irvin and Lula Belle moved to Vinton, LA with the railroad company Irvin worked for. By this time they had four children 1. J.C., 2. Effie Lou, 3. Deila Clay, 4. Stella Ora. Three more children were born from 1910 to 1917 they were 5. Charles Lastie. 6. Marjorie Violet 7. Genevie.
Although Irvin moved his family to Vinton, LA because of his work with the railroad, Lula Belle never wanted to move away from Kentucky and always longed for the day that she could return.
In the Calcasieu Parish Census for 1920 it list the Yocums still living in Vinton and Irvin was working as a town electrician by then. He also worked as a night Marshall for the town later on.
Lula Belle never got her wish to return to Kentucky, in 1936 she died, she was only 57 years old. Irvin died the next year.
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SEMI-WEEKLY INTERIOR JOURNAL, STANFORD, KY.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1898
Page 3
Two Injured - Mr. E. W. Creighton sends us the following: Quite a serious accident occured this morning in the Kings Mountain Tunnel. Mr. Irvin Yocum, who has charge of the electric signal at Kingsville, while coming from McKinney on a velocipede, collided with the section crew at this place. Mr. Dan Gooch was seriously injured and Mr. Hayden Sims slightly injured. Dr. J. B. Robards, of McKinney, was summoned as Dr. Thompson was absent from home.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1899
Page 3
Irvin Yocum and Miss Lula Smith, both of the McKinney section, were married at J. C. Smith's yesterday.
(Kentuckiana Digital Library)