He was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and graduated from West Point in 1832. Yoakum served in the Tennessee Senate from 1839 to 1845 and strongly advocated for the annexation of Texas.
He hailed from Claiborne County, Tennessee, graduated from West Point in 1832, served in the Tennessee Senate from 1839 to 1845, and strongly advocated for the annexation of Texas.