Biographies

Source:
The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio
To Which is Added an Elaborate Compendium of National Biography
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
 

	GEORGE W. YAUGER.  The most enduring monument which can be erected to the memory of loved ones is not made of marble or granite, for time crumbles these away; and precious as are the cherished memories in the hearts of friends, within a few years these associates will be sleeping in the silent churchyard.  Naught endures save the written of the noble life, and kindly deeds -  these alone hand down to generations of the future the history of the past of the hardy pioneers whose brave patriotism and undaunted hearts and paved the way to prosperity and civilization.      One of the manly, respected citizens of Knox county was George W. Yauger, whose birth occurred in Morris co., New York, Oct. 23, 1832.  He was one of five children of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wolf) Yauger.  The father, who was of German descent, was a native of New Jersey, and came with his family to Ohio about 1839, living for one year on the old Delaware road, six miles from Mount Vernon.  Afterward they removed to Hilliar township, two miles north Centerburg.  The father was a carpenter by trade and spent much of his time engaged at that occupation, while his sons conducted the farm.  In 1850 the family removed to Clinton twp., purchasing thirty acres of the present homestead, two miles west of Mount Vernon, where both passed away in death.  After his parents' death our subject came into possession of this tract, while his brother, Garrison, inherited the farm in Hilliar township.  In subsequent years Mr. Yauger, of this review, became one of the well-known and leading men of Mount Vernon.  He increased his realty holdings to two hundred acres, and later in life he made a specialty of the raising of celery, finding a ready sale for his product at Mount Vernon.      On the 5th of February, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah T. Lhamon, of Pleasant twp., Knox county, and a daughter of William and Esther (Melker) Lhaman, who came from Virginia to the Buckeye state at a time when the country south of Mount Vernon was an unbroken wilderness.  On the 10th of July, 1879, the loving companion and helpmate was called to her final rest, leaving seven children:  Augustus W.; George E.; Samuel W.; Nora E., the wife of Norman C. Hookway; Sarah A., the wife of Fred Ball; Clara E., the wife of William S. Gaff; and Rev. Frank A., of the Congregational ministry.      In August, 1881, Mr. Yauger married Miss Lydia Lhamon, a sister of his former wife, who still survives him.  Mr. Yauger was a Democrat in his political views, and from early manhood was a member of the Baptist church.  On the 21st of April, 1900, he answered the summons to the better land.  His kindness of heart was shown not only by words of sympathy but by acts of unostentatious benevolence.  In business circles he was noted and respected for his great industry, energy, punctuality and his honorable and systematic methods - all of which contributed to a large success, which he richly deserved.      Jennie Bowden, now a young lady, has been a member of the Yauger family since a child of nine years coming to them at her mother's death.  Charles M. Porter has also for some years been an important factor in the operation of the home farm. Source: Biographical Record of Knox Co., Ohio - 1902 - Page 31
	WILLIAM H. YEARLEY.   The educator is as useful a man as there is or can be in any community and his work is more comprehensive and far reaching than any other man's, for it is as broad as humanity and its influence is endless.  There are in Knox county, Ohio, few educators better known or more highly esteemed than the subject of this brief notice, a native of Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, born Nov. 6, 1862, a son of Henry A. and Adeline (Evans) Yearley.      Professor Yearley's father, Henry A. Yearley, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and learned and worked at the cooper's trade.  He was married at Newark, Ohio, to Adeline Evans, of Welsh parentage, who was born and reared at Newark.  After their marriage they located at Zanesville, and they now live on the National road, west of that city.  They became the parents of three daughters and two sons, all of whom survive.  William H. Yearley, the eldest of these children, attended public school at Zanesville, and after preparing for college at Madison Academy entered Wooster University, in which institution he was graduated after a due course of study in 1886.  He located at Danville, Knox county, that year, and for five years thereafter filled one of the chairs in the central Ohio state normal school.  Later he was for four years principal of the Savannah Academy at Ashland, Ohio, and taught one year in Ashland College.  For the past six years he has ably filled the office of superintendent of the Danville and Buckeye City union school.      Professor Yearley was married, in July, 1886, to Miss Jennie Cain, a native of Kirkersville, Licking county, Ohio, who was educated at the Ohio state normal school at Ada and at Wooster University, and who was for some years a successful teacher.  Professor and Mrs. Yearley have three sons and three daughters, as follows: Arthur, George W., Bernard C, Mary, Adelia and Grace.      Politically Professor Yearley is a Republican, and that he is a man of influence in local affairs is attested by the fact that he has served his fellow citizens as councilman and township clerk and in other responsible official positions.  In religious views he is a Presbyterian, but at this time he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 ~ Page 90
	SILAS YOUNG.   The farming interests of Knox county are well represented by Silas Young, who owns a valuable and well cultivated place in Monroe township.  He was born in Middlefield, Geauga county, Ohio, October 19, 1821.  His father, Reese C. Young, claimed Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Washington county in 1799.  He subsequently removed to Geauga county, Ohio, where he was married, and in 1838 he took up his abode in Knox county, locating on a farm in Monroe township, where he spent the remainder of his days.  His political support was given the Democracy, and religiously he was a member of the Methodist Protestant church.  For his wife he chose Eliza Gates, who was born in the Empire state, and was a member of an old and prominent family, whose history is traced back through many generations to a passenger on the Mayflower.  The union of Mr. and Mrs. Young was blessed with fifteen children, nine of whom are now living, namely: Silas, the subject of this review; Elvira, the wife of Martin Robinson, of California; Mary A., the widow of William Downs and a resident of Mount Vernon; Carrie, wife of Stephen Craig, of Knox county; Emma, wife of Robert Coleman, of Mount Vernon; Eva, the widow of Thomas Williams, and she makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Craig; Jane, wife of Elias Leonard, of Missouri; Abigail, widow of Samuel Bartlett and a resident of Mount Vernon; and Susan, the wife of John M. Scott, of Knox county.      Silas Young remained under the parental roof until his fifteenth year, when he began the battle of life on his own account, and for the following twelve years he was engaged at various occupations, but his time was principally given to agricultural pursuits.  In the fall of 1839 he came to Knox county, Ohio, where he soon entered the employ of Mr. Jacob Davis, and on the 20th of August, 1848, he was united in marriage to his daughter Catherine.  Shortly after his marriage our subject rented the farm where his brother-in-law, James W. Davis, now resides, where he made his home for two years, on the expiration of which period he purchased a tract of sixty-six acres on the Wooster road, there making his home until 1870. For the following two years he rented a farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres of the Lefever heirs in Clinton township, and at the end of that period the residence there was burned and Mr. Young then moved to Mount Vernon.  After another year had passed by he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres in Monroe township, and on this place he has ever since made his home.  He has a. fine farm, a mile east of Mount Vernon, and thereon he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.      The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with ten children, six of whom survive,— Jacob R., who is engaged in business in Springfield, Illinois; Augusta, the wife of C. A. Lefever, of Clinton township; John Shannon, a resident of Tallula, Illinois; Mary, the wife of Walter S. Steele, who is engaged in the grocery business in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles, at home; and Catherine, the wife of Walter Spittle, of Washington, Indiana.  Mr. Young gives his political support to the Democratic party, and his religious views connect him with the Methodist Protestant church. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 ~ Page 78

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