DANIEL YODER, M. D., President of the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, and a successful physician of Catasauqua, was born in Maxatawney Township, Berks County, Pa., September 30, 1833.  His paternal ancestors were Huguenots, who, emigrating from France to America, settled in Oley Township, Berks County, Pa., in 1717.  Both his father, David Yoder, and his grandfather were natives of the Keystone State, and followed agricultural pursuits.  The former removed in 1834 to Whitehall (now Mickleys) Township, Lehigh County, where he engaged in farming.  In 1847 he went to Northampton County, and settled on a farm near Bath, where his death occurred four years later.  In religious belief he was a member of the Reformed Church, while his political affiliations were with the Whigs.

            The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Levan, and was born in Maxatawney Township, Berks County.  Her father, William, was a native of the same place, and was a farmer by occupation.  The Levan family traces its ancestry to three brothers of that name who came to this country from France, having left their native land on account of the persecution of the Huguenots, to which class they belonged.  Mrs. Mary Yoder died at Catasauqua in 1873, after having had eleven children.  Five of the number are now living, and of these the Doctor is the eldest.

            Brought to Lehigh County when an infant, the subject of this sketch passed the days of childhood in Mickleys Township.  In 1847 he accompanied the family to Bath, and was educated in Bethlehem, and in the Vanderveer Academy at Easton.  At the age of twenty he commenced to teach, and for a time had charge of the Levan school.  In 1855 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Walter F. Martin, of Weaversville, and the following year entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he took a course of lectures.  Later he conducted his studies in the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1858.

            Opening an office at Catasauqua, Dr. Yoder has since engaged in practice here, and is, in point of time, the oldest homeopathic physician in the valley.  In 1873 he built an elegant residence at the corner of Third and Bridge Streets, where he also has his office.  He has been interested in the improvement of the city, and has laid out eight acres in town lots.  Socially he is a Mason, and has been Treasurer of his lodge for thirty years.  He has attained the Knight-Templar degree, and is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  In political views he is a firm Republican, ever loyal to party principles.  He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, having been President of the last-named organization for three years.  Dr. Yoder is an enthusiastic and very successful collector of English pottery, including the historical blue plates of American designs.

            March 19, 1861, in Catasauqua, occurred the marriage of Dr. Yoder and Miss Amanda E. Glace.  Mrs. Yoder is the daughter of Samuel Glace, who was born in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pa., October 12, 1805, and accompanied his father, Peter Glace, to the Conyngham Valley, in Luzerne County, where he engaged in farming.  In 1828 he came to the Lehigh Valley, and in 1843 entered the employ of the Crane Iron Company.  Later he had charge of the canal between the Slate and Allentown dams, working for the same company.  For thirty years he remained with that firm, a fact which proved his ability and trustworthiness.  During that time he saw the iron industry in the United States increase from fifteen hundred tons per annum to eight million tons in 1891.  Other changes he also witnessed, including the introduction of the locomotive, the hot-air blast, the telegraph and telephone, and those marvels of the nineteenth century, the daily papers.  He was a man of firm religious belief, and was an Elder in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

            February 9, 1836, Samuel Glace was united in marriage by Rev. J. Yeager, with Miss Isabella Swartz, who passed away May 6, 1880.  She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Mickley) Swartz, who at that time lived on the river road between Catasauqua and Northampton.  When he died, January 3, 1892, his loss was mourned by his hosts of warm personal friends, who realized that there had passed away one of the most prominent, as well as one of the most upright, men of the Lehigh Valley.

Submitted by Shirley Reese Siltala