JOHN A. YAGER.  this representative citizen and gallant ex-soldier is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in the old historic county of Lancaster on Mar. 31, 1831.  His paternal grandfather came from Germany a number of years ago and settled in Lancaster county, where descendant of the family still reside.  George W. Yager, father of the subject, was born in the above county and state and, being left an orphan at an early age, was obliged to struggle fora livelihood against many opposing circumstances and hardships.  Shortly after attaining his majority he married Barbara Carpenter, whose ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of Lancaster county, and subsequently moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and still later changed his residence to the county of Shelby, in the latter state, where he spent the remainder of his days.  George W. and Barbara Yager were the parents of ten children, six of whom are still living, three of the sons having served with distinction in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion.
    John A. Yager was reared in his native state until his eighteenth year and at intervals the meanwhile attended, as opportunities afforded, the common schools of the various localities in which he lived.  At the age noted he accompanied his parents to Indiana, and until the breaking out of the Civil war assisted his father in cultivating the home farm in Shelby county, his out-of-door life, in close touch with nature, being the means of developing the strong and vigorous constitution which enabled him to encounter so many hardships and perform so much manual labor in subsequent years.
     When President Lincoln issued the call for volunteers in 1861 Mr. Yager was among the first of Shelby county's patriotic young men to respond, and on October 17th of that year enlisted in Company K, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, which experienced its first active service in the campaign against Forts Henry and Donelson, under the leadership of General  Grant.  Later the regiment was brigaded with the Seventh Army Corps and took part in the operations along the Mississippi river to Island No. 10, and later participated in a number of campaigns and hard-fought battles, in all of which the subject shared with his comrades their varied fortunes and vicissitudes, performing the part of a brave soldier whose record from this enlistment until mustered out of the service, on the 18th of October, 1864, is without a stain.  Retiring to Indiana after leaving the army, Mr. Yager spent one year at the town of Rockville and in 1865 disposed of his interests there and came to Butler county, Ohio, locating at Seven Mile.  On October 26th of the latter year he entered the marriage relations with Miss Mary E. Cornthwait, who was born in Butler county Mar. 11, 1837, and whose parents moved  to this part of the state from Maryland in an early day.  For a number of years Mr. Yager devoted his attention to the carpenter's trade and in  due time became a prominent contractor and builder, many of the better class of private dwellings, as well as a number of public buildings and other edifices in various parts of this county, bearing testimony to his skill and efficiency as a mechanic.  By diligently prosecuting hiss chosen calling and exercising the thrift for which he has long been noted, he succeeded in accumulating a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to retire from active life, since which time he has resided at Seven Mile, where he owns a beautiful and comfortable home and where he is also genuine personal worth.
     Mr. Yager has been interested in politics since old enough to cast a ballot, and his loyalty to the Republican party has made him one of its able leaders and trusted advisers in the town and township in which he lives.  He has served as councilman every since the incorporation of Seven Mile, was mayor of the town one term of two and a half years besides serving two terms as a member of the school board, in all of which capacities his services were greatly appreciated by the public.  Mr. Yager has been alive to the best interests of his town, has done much to promote its development and his activity and leadership in all worthy enterprises have won for him a conspicuous place in the confidence and affections of his fellow citizens.  His ideas are always been to benefit those with whom he came in contact, and every movement having for its object the moral advancement of the community is sure to enlist his hearty co-operation.  In and as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church his influence has tended greatly to the spiritual good of his fellow men, his daily life being in harmony with the faith which he has so long professed.  Since becoming a resident of Seven Mile he has been a leading worker in the Congregation worshiping at the town and for several years past he has held the office of trustee in the church, besides contributing liberally of his means to its material support, also to the furthering of all good works under its auspices.  Mr. Yager is deeply  interested in the welfare of the old soldiers and none appreciate more fully than he the deep debt of gratitude the country owes the remaining veterans who during the dark days of the Rebellion made such costly sacrifices to preserve the Union from dissolution.  He was long a leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 97, at Hamilton, but of late does not attend its sessions very regularly, his age and infirmities naturally incident thereto preventing him from meeting with his old comrades of the iron days and recalling the scenes of their struggles, suffering and triumphs in the Southland.
     Mr. and Mrs Yager have had three children, the oldest of whom, a son by the name of Walter M., was born Sept. 26, 1866, and departed this life on the 2d day of April, 1900; he was a married man and for a number of years served as freight agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad at Cincinnati; Luvernia, the second of the family, was born Mar. 7, 1869, and is now the wife of Harry Snively, a well-known business man of Seven Mile; Oren C., the youngest, whose birth occurred on Mar. 15, 1872, is single and lives under the parental roof.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 468

SAMUEL YOUNG was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Oct. 9, 1792.  About 1800 he moved with his father's family to Ohio, and settled in Warren county.  In 1804 he came to Butler county, where he spent the remainder of his days.  In 1819 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Riarson Baker, who lived but a few years.  In 1823 he was again married, this time to Miss Ruhamma McCain, who died June 15, 1861.  To them were born eight children.
     Mr. Young was intimately connected with the early history of Butler county and took a deep interest in everything that tended to promote its prosperity.  When a young man he became a member of the Presbyterian church of Seven-Mile.  In 1824 he was ordained to the office of ruling elder.  This profession he adorned and this office he honorably filled until his death, which occurred at his old home near Somerville on June 1, 1875, in the eighty-third year of his age.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 949