Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

YODER, FREDERICK F.

p.
1485

Surnames: YODER, FISHER, HILL, SHARTLE, DAVIS, PHILLIPS, LEIB,
KLINE, DIETRICH, WAGNER, BLATT, LESHER, KECK, ALTHOUSE, KALBACH,
GEHART, BOHN

Frederick F. Yoder, general farmer and dairyman, residing in Bern
township, was born Oct. 23, 1868 in Upper Bern Township, near
Shartlesville, son of Jacob S. and Anna Maria (Fisher) Yoder.

Frederick Yoder, grandfather if Frederick F.,
was a native of Berks county, born in Oley, and he died in Centre
township. From a tender age he was reared by his kinsman, Daniel
Yoder, of near Pleasantville. His mother’s name was Hill. Frederick
Yoder became the owner of a farm near Belleman’s Church, where he
is buried, and at one time owned three farms. He was very active in
church work and was a church official for many years. His wife was
a member of the old Shartle family, and they had the following
children: Amelia, who married Marcus Davis, both deceased; Alfred,
residing in Centre township; Mary, who married Reuben Phillips;
Jacob S.; Cyrus, residing in Ohio; Wellington, residing at Palmyra,
Lebanon Co., Pa.; and Valeria, who married Nathaniel Leib, of West
Reading.

Jacob S. Yoder, father of Frederick F., was born
on his father’s farm in Centre township, in 1841. He engaged in
farming in Upper Bern township, later in Centre township, and he
still retains two farms in the latter, one of seventy-five and the
other of fifteen acres. He became interested in a canning factory
at Shoemakersville, and at present is associated with James Wagner,
doing business under the name of the Mohrsville Knitting Mills. He
supports the Republican party, but has never been very active in
politics, consenting to serve in office only as school director. He
is a member of Salem United Brethren Church, of Tilden township, of
which he was an official.

Jacob S. Yoder married Anna Maria Fisher,
daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Kline) Fisher, residents of Bern
Station, and they have had the following children born to them: Ida
m. Levi H. Dietrich, of Centre township; Annie died young;
Frederick F.; Minnie m. Joseph Wagner, of Mohrsville; Calvin and
William both died of scarlet fever, one week apart; Amy m. Joseph
Blatt, of Mohrsville; Helen m. Berwin Lesher of Bern township;
Sarah is a trained nurse; Howard resides in Shoemakersville; Robert
resides in Penn township.

Frederick F. Yoder attended the schools of Upper
Bern, now Tilden township, and later took a course in the Lebanon
Valley College, at Annville. In 1886 he received a teacher’s
certificate from Prof. D. S. Keck, and for three years he taught
school in Centre township. In May 1890, he made a trip to the West
where he remained through one year, and then returned to Berks
county. He was a private in Troop K, 7th U. S. Calvary, and was
stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for a short time. From there
his troop was sent for a short time to Rosebud, N. Dak., and from
there to Fort Worth, Texas. A few days after the arrival the
cavalry was ordered to Fort Sill, Ind. Ty., and while there Mr.
Yoder witnessed a sun dance at El Mingo, participated in by 10,000
Indians. After considerable maneuvering in this section, the
cavalry was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, where it remained until
Nov. 27th, when it was ordered to Pine Ridge, S. Dak. There it had
a fight with the Big Foot Indians and Chief Big Foot was captured
by Col. Summer of the 8th Cavalry and taken to camp. Mr. Yoder
received a gun shot wound in the neck which put him into a hospital
for six months and caused his final discharge from the service on
account of disability. During the term of his service he was in the
midst of stirring events and his reminiscences of them are
exceedingly interesting.

After his return to Berks county in 1891, Mr.
Yoder worked on the farm of his father. In the spring of 1893 he
came to Bern township, where he purchased the old Althouse farm on
eight acres, which he has carefully cultivated ever since. In 1894
he entered into the milk business, purchasing from the surrounding
farmers and he has a daily route in Reading, handling 170 quarts a
day.

On Feb. 28, 1893, Mr. Yoder was married to Annie
Kalbach, daughter of Harrison and Sarah (Gehart) Kalbach, and
granddaughter of John and Elizabeth (Bohn) Kalbach, of Hamburg.
they have two children: La Rue and Wayne H.

YODER,
KENSIE N. (D. D. S.)

p. 995

Surnames: YODER, BROWN, KELCHNER, RUTH, ERNST, STRUNK, BOHN, LEIB,
LINSMAN, HAIN, WENRICH, HASSLER

Kensie N. Yoder, D. D. S., of Reading, was born Aug. 21, 1877, in
Wernersville, Berks county, son of Jacob S. Yoder. He is a grandson
of William Yoder, and great-grandson of Jacob Yoder.

Jacob Yoder was born June 27, 1792, in Oley
township, this county, and there passed his early life. When a
young man he learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed in
his native township until he was over thirty years old, when he
moved to Lower Heidelberg township and there became the owner of
thirteen acres of land. There he died Sept. 23, 1861, and he was
buried at the Hain’s Church, of which he was a Reformed member. He
married (first) Lydia Brown, of Rockland township, and they had
these children: Polly m. a Kelchner; Amos m. Elizabeth Ruth;
William is mentioned below; John, who lived at Wernersville, where
he followed the trade of wheelwright, was the father of Frank and
grandfather of Leonard G. Yoder, both of Wernersville; James, who
made his home at Adamstown, was a soldier in the Civil war and was
killed in battle. The father, Jacob Yoder, m. (second) Catherine
Ernst, born Dec. 8, 1800, died Jan. 11, 1875. By this union there
were five children: Sarah, Kate, Daniel, Hettie and
Benneville.

William Yoder, son of Jacob, lived in Heidelberg
township and is buried at Hain’s Church. He was a farmer, and owned
valuable land, Wernersville being located on what was formerly his
property. He married Susan Strunk, a sister of William Strunk, and
she lived until 1908, being over sixty at the time of her death.
Their children were as follows: Daniel; Lydia m. Darius Bohn; Kate,
deceased, m. Aaron Leib; Jacob S.; and Sarah m. William Linsman,
and died about a year later, leaving one daughter, who is now Mrs.
Kate Hain.

Jacob S. Yoder, son of William, was born Jan. 5,
1847, in Wernersville, was reared a farmer, and followed farming
for a number of years. Later he engaged in the timber business in
his section in which he was quite successful, and he then took up
lime burning at Wernersville, where he died March 29, 1909. He was
an active member of the fire company of the town, and a member of
Lodge no. 835, I. O. O. F., and Camp No. 99, P. O. S. of A., there.
He married Jemima M. Wenrich, daughter of Adam and Eliza Wenrich,
of Heidelberg, and they had two sons, Kensie N. and Frederick S.,
both dentists. Mr. Yoder was a member of Hain’s Reformed Church, as
is his son Dr. Kensie N., while his wife and Dr. Frederick S. are
Lutherans.

Kensie N. Yoder spent his boyhood days at
Wernersville, and there received his preparatory education in the
public schools, graduating from the high school in 1894. Later he
attended Palatinate College, at Myerstown, Pa., leaving in the
senior year of the course, however, to become a clerk and the
assistant postmaster at Wernersville, being employed in the general
store of E. S. Hassler, who was postmaster. There he remained four
years, at the end of which period he came to Reading and became
assistant manager of the Eagle Book Store. After a year there he
returned to his former employer, Mr. Hassler, at Wernersville. In
1900 he became a dental student in the Dental Department of the
University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1903, after which he
opened offices at his present location, No. 512 Penn Square,
Reading. He has built up a large practice and enjoys an enviable
reputation, being attentive to his work and successful in acquiring
and retaining patronage. He maintains a branch office at
Wernersville, and is assisted by is brother, Frederick S.

Dr. Yoder’s establishment is equipped with all
the latest appliances necessary for his work, and he has facilities
for administering all anesthetics.

Dr. Yoder is active in Masonic circles, being a
member of Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., of Womelsdorf;
Reading Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M.; and Reading Commandery, No. 42,
K. T. He also belongs to Camp No. 99, P. O. S. of A., of
Wernersville, of which he is a past officer, and to the
Wernersville Fire Company. He is a member of the Hain’s Reformed
Church, with which his ancestors back to his great-grandfather have
been identified and there many of the family lie buried.

Frederick S. Yoder, D. D. S., was born at
Wernersville March 17, 1885, and there he spent his boyhood and
obtained his early education. He graduated from the high school in
1903, and the following year registered as a student in the Dental
Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating there from
June 17, 1908. He has since been engaged in practice in partnership
with his brother, Dr. Kensie N. Yoder, looking after the office at
Wernersville, where both make their home. Dr. Yoder is a member of
Camp No. 99, P. O. S. A., and of the Citizens Hose Company.

YODER,
NATHAN R.

p. 1404

Surnames: YODER, ROHRBACH, YERGER, MOYER, RENNINGER, KEIM, BOWER,
WELLER, FRAIN, YORKEY, REIDER, LANDIS, GRIESEMER, WEIDNER, HARNER,
BROWN, GULDIN, ERMENTROUT, ALTHOUSE, STAUFFER, BECHTEL, DRUMHELLER

Nathan R. Yoder, of Pike township, Berks county, is a
representative of a family long prominent in this part of
Pennsylvania. He was born in the township in which he now lives May
3, 1848, son of Nathan Y. and Esther (Rohrbach) Yoder.

George Yoder, great-grandfather of Nathan B.,
was a native of Oley, where he died on his farm, which is now owned
by Catharine Schaeffer. He was buried in a private burial ground on
what is now the Schaeffer farm, and later was re-interred at the
Oley Churches. He was a farmer all his life. He had sons: William
and Abraham, and several daughters.

Abraham Yoder, son of George, was born in Oley
township, Oct. 12, 1785, and died in the same township April 5,
1860, and was buried beside his wife at Hill Church. In early life
he went to Mahantango Valley, in Schuylkill county, Pa. where he
bought a tract of 500 acres of land (of which but three acres had
been cleared), for $500. On this tract there was a log house, a log
barn, and a log gristmill. In time these buildings were all
replaced by Mr. Yoder, who operated the gristmill in addition to
clearing enough land for a large farm. Here he lived for a time,
and here some of his children were born. However, his
father-in-law, Solomon Yerger, of Pike township, asked him to move
upon his farm in Pike township. This Mr. Yoder did, and later
became the owner of this 181-acre farm, a tract which is still in
the Yoder name, and is now owned by Nathan R. Yoder, and is
cultivated by his son-in-law, Morris R. Moyer. The stone house was
built by Mr. Yerger in 1803.

On May 21, 1809, Mr. Yoder married Elizabeth
Yerger, born April 27, 1790, died Sept. 8, 1875, daughter of
Solomon and Susanna Yerger. To Mr. and Mrs. Yoder were born:
Susanna m. Charles Renninger; Maricha m. Benjamin Rohrbach; Nathan
Y.; Solomon, who lived in Pike township, m. Elizabeth Keim, and had
children: Franklin, Manias, William, Augustus, Irwin and Elmira;
Benneville, who lived in Pike township, m. Fianna Bower, and they
had one child who died young; George, who also lived in Pike
township, m. (first) Miss Weller, had two children—Adam and
Eve—m. (second) Emeline Frain, and had children—James, George,
Emma, and Amos; Abraham (1827-1895) m. Mary Yorkey, and is
mentioned further on; Eliza m. Jacob Reider, and lived in Pike
township; Sophia m. Nathan Landis, a merchant in Pike township;
Catharine was a dwarf; and a daughter died young.

Abraham Yoder, son of Abraham and Elizabeth, was
a prominent farmer of Pike township. The latter years of his life
he lived retired at Pikeville. He was active in local and county
politics, and was school director and auditor of his township many
years, and treasurer of Berks county from 1871-1873. In 1883 he
became one of the organizers of the Farmers National Bank,
Boyertown, and served it as a director until his death, being
succeeded on the board by his only son Ellis Y. By his wife Mary
Yorgey he had children: Fietta who died young; and Ellis Y., born
1858, a miller in Pike, who m. Kate Griesemer in 1883, and has
children—Amandus, Jacob, Charles, Deborah, and John.

Nathan Y. Yoder, son of Abraham and Elizabeth,
was born, it is supposed, in Mahantango township, Schuylkill
county, where his father owned and operated a grist mill, Jan. 1,
1816, and died Oct 2, 1892, and both he and his wife are buried at
St. Pauls Church, known locally as Lobachsville Church. Nathan
Yoder was a life long farmer and owned the 181-acre farm acquired
from his maternal grandfather. He retired to the tract of
twenty-five acres where his son Nathan R. now lives, and there he
died. He was a prominent man of Pike township and was influential
in public affairs. He married Esther Rohrbach, born June 10, 1815,
daughter of Daniel Rohrbach. She died July 21, 1901. Their children
were: Hannah, m. to Samuel Weidner; Emeline, m. to William Harner;
Mathias, who died young; Catharine, who died unmarried; Esther, m.
to Edwin Brown; Nathan R.; Rachel, who died young; Amelia, m. to
Jeremiah Guldin; and Ida, m. to Henry Yerger.

Nathan R. Yoder obtained his education in the
common schools and in Fairview Academy. at Boyertown. He was
licensed to teach by Prof. James N. Ermentrout, who was an
assistant to his brother then the county superintendent. He taught
his first term in 1868, in Pike township, then one term in
Washington township. He began farming in the spring of 1870, in
Pike township on the farm now operated by Morris R. Moyer, a
son-in-law. After living there thirty-one years, he came in 1901 to
his present place, a farm of twenty-five acres.

Mr. Yoder is a Democrat, and was a school
director and auditor for a number of years, and also served as
delegate to a number of county conventions. He and his family are
Lutherans, and belong to St. Pauls Union Church of Pike township.
He was deacon at Hill Church before he became identified with St.
Pauls.

On Feb. 1, 1867, Mr. Yoder married Emma A.
Guldin, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Althouse) Guldin, of
Maiden-creek township, but later of Oley. Their children were: (1)
Kate m. Milton Stauffer, and lives at Topton. (2) Guldin, a
graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, Class of 1898, taught
school seventeen terms, and now lives at Uwchland, Chester Co., Pa.
He m. Mary, daughter of James Bechtel, and has children—Webster,
Edna, Roger, and Lloyd. (3) Sallie m. Morris R. Moyer, the farmer
on the homestead in Pike township, and they have—Ivy, Norman,
Winnie, Minerva and Wayne. (4) Curvous G. m. Lizzie Drumheller, has
a son, Chauncey, and the live at Reading. (5) Rachel is single and
at home. (6) Daniel G. attended the township schools, graduated
from the Perkiomen Seminary the Class of 1902, and continued his
studies at Princeton University, later taking a business course at
Schisslers Business College, Norristown, graduating in 1905. He
taught at Mercersburg Academy one term, when he was elected the
head of the Commercial Department in the Irvington high school,
which position he has held since 1907. He began teaching in the
local schools when he was but seventeen years old, teaching there
successfully four terms. He is a member of Franklin Lodge No.10, F.
& A. M.

YODER,
S. HERBERT

p. 1063

Surnames: YODER, REED

S. Herbert Yoder, who is largely identified with the real estate
and building interests of Reading, was born in this city in 1875,
son of James E. and Rachel H.(Reed) Yoder.

James E. Yoder was a native of Churchtown,
Lancaster county, and was a cabinet maker by trade, an occupation
which he followed for many years in his native vicinity, also
operating an undertaking establishment. He was a good business man
and exemplary citizen, and had the respect and esteem of all who
knew him. He died in 1896, at the age of sixty-seven years, in the
faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Yoder was
a member of the I. O. O. F. James E. Yoder and his wife, Rachel H.
(Reed), were the parents of four children, as follows: Mary R. and
William R. deceased; Miss Martha; and S. Herbert. Mrs. Yoder is
still living and is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

S. Herbert Yoder was educated in the common
schools of Reading, and graduated from the Reading high school in
the class of 1892. For a short time thereafter he clerked in a
grocery store, and then entered the employ of the National Bolt,
Nut & Rivet Works, with which company he continued until its
consolidation in 1898 with the American Iron & Steel
Manufacturing Company. He then went to Lebanon, Pa., in the latter
company’s employ, and continued with them until May, 1904, when he
returned to Reading, becoming manufacturer’s agent for machinery,
and in this capacity represented eighty lines and companies. In
1905 he discontinued this business, and engaged in a real estate
and building line, in which he has continued to the present time
with much success. Mr. Yoder is considered one of Reading’s able
young business men. In political matters he is a Republican.

YODER,
SOLOMON R.

p. 1439 Surnames: YODER, ROTHERMEL,
SCHMECK, HEIST, MEDLER, BORREL, RUTH, WERTZ, BECKER

Solomon R. Yoder, of No. 1352 North Tenth street, Reading, Pa., who
has been an employee of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
Company for over twenty years, was born in 1865, in Muhlenberg
township, Berks county, son of Solomon and Mary (Rothermel) Yoder.

Solomon Yoder, father of Solomon R., was a
farmer all of his active life in Muhlenberg township, and his death
occurred in 1891, in his sixty-third year, his wife passing away in
September, 1871, when in the forty-second year of her age. They
were the parents of seven children; Sarah, who married Adam
Schmeck; Mary, who married Samuel Heist; Hannah; John, m. to Hannah
Medler, daughter of Edward Medler; Daniel m. Susan Borrel, daughter
of Daniel Borrel; Solomon R.; William m. Emma Ruth, daughter of
Henry Ruth.

Solomon R. Yoder was educated in the schools of
Muhlenberg township, and until twenty-two years of age worked on
his father’s farm. In 1887 he came to Reading and accepted a
position as boilermaker with the Philadelphia & Reading
Company, in whose employ he has continued to the present time. Mr.
Yoder is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally he is connected
with the P. O. S. of A., and the P. & R., Relief Association.
On July 31, 1887, Mr. Yoder was united in marriage with Miss Ida V.
Wertz, daughter of Franklin and Magdalena (Becker) Wertz, and to
this union there have been born two children; Ella, who died in
July, 1906, at the age of eighteen years; and Carrie, at home. Mr.
Yoder is a member of the Reformed faith, while his wife is a
Lutheran.

YORGEY,
ALFRED B.

p. 1339

Surnames: YORGEY, BRENDLINGER, EAST, GERHART, HEFFELFINGER,
ESTERLY, HOLMES, LONG, ZIMMERLY, BOWERS, DAVIDHEISER, GOTTSHALL,
DENGLER, SASSAMAN, GRESH, ROSHON, REIFSNYDER, NEIMAN, BECHTEL,
GEIGER, FRITZ, BAKER, RHOADS, RITTER, BRESSLER, DAVIS, HOHL,
SHEARER, HECHLER, BOYER

Alfred B. Yorgey, postmaster and merchant at Wyomissing, was born
in the upper section of Douglass township, Oct. 10, 1850. He
received his education in the local public schools, and after
assisting his father on the farm until he was eighteen years old,
he entered the general store of Peter Brendlinger, at New
Berlinville, where he filled the position of clerk for a year.
While there he prepared himself to become a teacher, and, after
receiving a certificate, taught public school for three terms, two
in Douglass township and one in Pottsgrove township near Pottstown.
He then learned the trade of a watchmaker under Jonathan East, at
Boyertown, serving an apprenticeship of three years.

Mr. Yorgey’s brother George was then carrying on
a grocery store in Philadelphia, and needing his assistance, he
went there to fill the position of clerk, but he remained there
only a year, for in the fall of 1874 his father was elected sheriff
of Berks county, and being offered the position of deputy sheriff
he accepted it, and filled it for the term of three years from
January, 1875 to January, 1878. He next engaged in the sale of
fruit trees for three years; after which he again served as deputy
sheriff of the county under Levi M. Gerhart sheriff, from 1881 to
1884. After this Mr. Yergey embarked in the jewelry business on
Penn street in the vicinity of Seventh, in Reading, and he carried
this business on successfully for twenty years, closing out in
July, 1904, to remove to Wyomissing to carry on the grocery
business in a fine store building, which he had purchased there in
the Mory addition.

While in the jewelry business Mr. Yorgey
purchased a grocery store at No. 738 North Sixth street, Reading,
and he conducted this from 1899 to 1905, when he sold it to enable
him to devote all his time to his rapidly increasing trade at
Wyomissing. In July, 1904, Mr. Yorgey removed with his family to
Wyomissing, and he has been engaged in the grocery business there
until the present time. The post office has been established in his
building, and immediately after locating in the place, he became
assistant postmaster of the local office under George W.
Heffelfinger, postmaster. After serving the position for two years
he received the appointment of postmaster, which he has been
filling satisfactorily until now in connection with the grocery
business.

Mr. Yorgey was married to Laura R. Esterly,
daughter of Amos S. Esterly, a prominent proprietor of well
established hotels at Reading for many years, and by her he had
sixteen children: Elizabeth, unmarried; Lillie May, Mrs. John C.
Holmes; Annie, Mrs. James M. Long; Florence, Mrs. Morris Zimmerly;
George; Leah; Rachel; John; Samuel; David; Sarah; Alfred; and four
boys who died in infancy, two of whom were twins.

George R. Yorgey, father of Alfred B., was
brought up on the Yorgey farm in Douglas township, which has been
in the family name for upward of 125 years. He was a farmer and
millwright for more than fifty years. He became very prominent as a
Democratic politician of the county, serving as sheriff from 1875
to 1878; officiated as a school director and also as a supervisor
of the township roads for several terms; and acted as a bank
director. He died in 1896 at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
He married Elizabeth Bowers of Amity township, and by her he had
ten children: Malinda, who married Levi Davidheiser; Emma, who was
a public school teacher for upward of ten years, and died at the
age of twenty-seven; George, who married Catharine Gottshall;
Alfred; Clara, who married Henry Dengler; Henry, who married Ellen
Sassaman and after her decease Maggie Gresh; Oliva, who married
Zephaniah Roshon; Anna, who died at the age of eighteen years; and
two who died in infancy.

Jacob Yorgey, the grandfather, was a farmer of
Douglass township. He married Sarah Reifsnyder, and by her had
seven children: Charlotte, who married Frederick Neiman; George;
Ephraim, who married Hannah Bechtel; Rachel, who married John
Geiger; Christian, who married Matilda Fritz; Leah, who married
Henry Baker; and Sarah, who married Henry E. Rhoads.

Mrs. Yorgey’s father, Amos S. Esterly, was
married to Elizabeth Ritter, daughter of David Ritter, of Exeter
township, and by her he had six children. Laura R.; Mary, who
married Frank F. Bressler; Francis, who married Matilda Davis;
Joseph, who married Catharine Hohl; Amos, who married Susan
Shearer; and Jacob Joseph Esterly, father of Amos, was a farmer and
blacksmith of Exeter township, a short distance south of the Black
Bear Inn. He married Lydia Snyder and by her he had ten children:
Daniel, Amos S., Joseph, Augustus, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and four,
who died young. He died in 1856, aged sixty-two years; and his wife
died in 1882, aged eighty-four years. Daniel Esterly, Mrs. Yorgey’s
great-grandfather, was also a farmer and blacksmith, living on the
same place as his son. He married Susanna Hechler, and by her he
had eight children; Daniel, Jacob, John, George, Joseph, Jonas,
Amos and Elizabeth (married to George Boyer).

YOST, ALBERT
R.

p. 1102

Surnames: YOST, ROTE, MILLER, HARRISON, MOORE, HELMS

Albert R. Yost, a dealer in new and second hand furniture, stoves,
etc., in Reading, Pa., was born in Columbia county, Pa., Aug. 20,
1851, son of Harmon and Elizabeth (Rote) Yost. The
great-grandfather of Albert R. Yost was granted a large tract of
land by William Penn, and this he divided among his children, among
whom were: Philip, Conrad, John, Harmon, Rebecka, and William.

John Yost, grandfather of Albert R., was born in
Columbia county, and was a farmer in that county all of his life,
dying in 1859, aged eighty-four years. He married Polly Miller (of
English parentage), who died in 1852, the mother of three daughters
and one son.

Harmon Yost, son of John and father of Albert
R., was born in Columbia county, and followed the dual occupation
of carpenter and farmer. He died in 1894, when he was eighty-six
years of age, his wife passing away two years later, being also
aged eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Yost were members of the
Reformed Church, which they attended regularly and supported
liberally. In politics he was a member of no particular party,
voting for the candidate, irrespective of party ties.

Albert R. Yost was educated in the schools of
Columbia county, and there resided until nineteen years of age when
he removed to Ashland, Schuylkill county, and learned the trade of
chair making, an occupation which he followed several years. He
then removed to Pottsville, and later to Lancaster county, but in
1890 came to Reading, settling in the northern part of the city. In
1896 he located at his present place of business, where he has
since been successfully engaged in the handling of new and
secondhand furniture and stoves. Mr. Yost was married in 1874 to
Clarinda S. Harrison, daughter of English parents, and she died in
1904, the mother of the following children: Clarence E. m. a Miss
Moore, and has one child, Donald; Alberta C. m. Charles Helms; and
Ralph is at Chicago; one child, Frank A., died when four and
one-half years old. The family are members of Grace United
Evangelical Church. Mr. Yost is not only a consistent member of the
church himself, but for years has been active in evangelical work.
He is very familiar with Holy Writ, and can apply passages of
Scripture to meet almost any case.

YOST
FAMILY

p. 708

Surnames: YOST, BENNINGER, BRUNNER, DIETRICH, DOTTERER, HAINES,
HARTMAN, HARTZ, HEMMIG, HENKE, HIGH, HORNBERGER, JOST, KACHEL,
KISSINGER, KURTZ, MATZ, PENNYPACKER, RAPP, REESER, SEIDEL, SPOHN,
WAGNER, WENRICH, YOCUM

The Yost family is one of the oldest in this section of the State,
and two of its members, Rufus R. and James Franklin R. Yost, are
representative citizens of Spring township, Berks county.

Philip Yost, or Jost as it was then spelled, was
the ancestor of this family in America. He was born in 1718 at
Nassau, in western Germany, and when twenty-two years old came to
America, locating in Montgomery county; Pa., where he married
Veronica Dotterer, a native of Limerick township, that county. They
had three sons: John, Harmon and Philip, one of the two first named
being the great-great-grandfather of Rufus R. and James Franklin R.
Yost. The last named of these sons, Philip, Jr., was born in
Montgomery county Aug. 24, 1757, and in 1768 moved with his father
to Pottsgrove township, where they purchased a tract of land which
remained in the family name for more than one hundred years. When
nineteen years of age Philip Yost Jr. served in General
Washington’s army. In 1783 he married Rosina Benninger, and they
had these children: Mary Magdalena, Tobias, Jacob, Benjamin,
Salome, Rosina, Herman, Jonas, Sarah and Philip. Mr. Yost died Aug.
28, 1832.

Abraham Yost, great-grandfather of Rufus R. and
James F. R., came to Poplar Neck during the latter part of the
eighteenth century, and here obtained a farm, which later became
the property of Gen. William High, next to Ezra High, and
subsequently of William P. High, the present owner.

Nicholas Yost, the grandfather of Rufus R. and
James F. R, born April 15, 1787, died June 9, 1867. He was an
extensive farmer, owning over five hundred acres of land in Cumru
township, along the Morgantown road. He was a great marksman and
frequently indulged in shooting matches, seldom failing to bear
away a prize. Mr. Yost was a short but well-built man, with dark
hair and a ruddy complexion, and was well known and very popular in
his day. He frequently related to his grandchildren how he heard
the few remaining Indians on Mount Penn and the Neversink Mountains
signal to each other. On Nov. 23, 1817, Nicholas Yost married
Susanna Seidel (born Sept. 29, 1798, died June 12, 1851), daughter
of Philip and Elizabeth Seidel, of Robeson township, and to this
union were born ten children, as follows: Mary married Samuel
Hemmig; Elizabeth, twin of Mary married Washington Kissinger;
Rebecca married Amos Hartman; Lydia married Moses Yocom; Susan
married Jesse Matz; Amos lied (sic) at Cacoosing Creek; Benneville
S. is mentioned below; Francis lived at Reading; Sarah Ann married
Adam Spohn, of Spring township; Louisa married Joseph D.
Hornberger.

Benneville S. Yost was born on Mifflin Island,
at the Little Reading Dam, Nov. 15, 1823, and died Sept. 19, 1899.
He was in the hotel business at the “Green Tree” for ten years,
kept the hotel at Riverside for two years, and one at Hamburg for a
similar period. For upward of thirty years he was engaged in the
coal business, and the freshet of Oct. 4, 1869, caused the loss of
nearly one thousand tons of his coal, which he had stacked along
the banks of the Schuylkill river. During the latter years of his
life Mr. Yost was a farmer, but retired, in 1879, at which time his
son, Rufus R., took charge of the farm of 146 acres at Flying Hill.
He was a lifelong member of Yocom’s Reformed Church, where he is
buried. Mr. Yost was also an old school-master, and taught pay
school at Weitzeltowrn (Fritztown), in Cumru township, and also a
few terms in Bern township.

The first wife of Benneville S. Yost was
Christina Rapp, to whom he was married Jan. 22, 1848, at Reading,
and they had these children: William H. R. died in infancy;
Nicholas R. also died in infancy; Susan died unmarried; Rufus R. is
mentioned below; Cyrus R. is deceased; Nicholas R. is a resident of
Myerstown, Pa.; James Franklin R. is mentioned below. Benneville S.
Yost married (second) Clementine Henke, of Reading, who was of
German descent. There were no children born to this marriage. Rufus
R. Yost was born on his grandfather Nicholas Yost’s farm at the
“Green Tree” in Cumru township Jan. 5, 1855, attended the district
schools, and later, studied at Palatinate College for two years,
leaving school when twenty years old, with a good education. He was
reared to agricultural pursuits, and worked for his parents until
twenty-five years old, but in 1880 began working on his own
account, spending four years on his father’s farm in Cumru
township, located at the Flying Hill. He then lived at Myerstown,
Lebanon county, for two years, after which he spent four more years
at the Flying Hill, in 1890 purchasing the Richard Pennypacker
farm, in Spring township, a tract of 125 acres of some of the most
fertile and productive land in lower Berks county. This valuable
farm is well and conveniently situated, and on it is found an
inexhaustible supply of some of the best limestone in the State,
which is burned by Mr. Yost. He has disposed of as much as ten
thousand bushels of lime annually in connection with his farm work.
Since the spring of 1907 he has rented his farm, and with his
brother, James Franklin R. Yost, has engaged in building houses at
Reading, Shillington, Wyomissing and Springmont. At the time he
rented his farm Mr. Yost sold his live stock at public vendue, and
he realized a large amount therefor, one pair of mules bringing
$536, a cow $70, and his thirty head of cattle averaging $50 each.
In 1879 Mr. Yost married Catherine Kurtz, daughter of Samuel and
Catherine (Haines) Kurtz, and to this union have been born three
daughters and one son: Christina married Webster Hartz, of
Shillington, Pa.; Harry, Laura and Bessie are unmarried and reside
at home. Mr. Yost and his family are members of Yocom’s (Christ)
Reformed Church, of Cumru township.

James Franklin R. Yost was born at the Yost
homestead at the Flying Hill, Cumru township, Berks county, Sept.
9, 1864, and was educated in the public schools and at D. B.
Brunner’s Academy in Reading, which he left when sixteen years of
age. In 1889 he commenced farming for himself on a fine tract of
152 acres in Wyomissing borough, Spring township, which he had
purchased in 1887 and which he had rented for two years. From 1885
to 1889 Mr. Yost was also engaged in the milling business at
Myerstown, Lebanon county, but since the latter year has engaged in
farming and building. He purchased the Reeser farm of 164 acres in
Sinking Spring, but this he later sold to Daniel Wenrich. Mr. Yost
conducts a fine dairy, keeping about thirty Holstein and Jersey
cows, and has a select trade in Reading, to which city he conducts
a daily route. In addition he has good horses and mules, and his
farm is operated by the latest improved machinery. In politics Mr.
Yost is a Republican, and fraternally he is connected with West
Reading Castle, K. G. E. With his family he attends Yocom’s
Reformed Church in Cumru township.

On Dec. 19, 1885, Mr. Yost married (first) Annie
Catherine Kachel, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Wagner) Kachel,
and to this union were born three children: Stella A., Walter H.
and Emma K. Mrs. Yost died Sept. 1, 1896, aged thirty-one years,
four months, three days. On Nov. 30, 1899, Mr. Yost married
(second) Clara May Dietrich, daughter of William H. Dietrich, of
Reading, and to this union there have been born two children,
George Washington and Lloyd Allen.

YOST, HEBER
Y.

p. 1494

Surnames: YOST, BAER, REMPPIS, YOCUM

Heber Y. Yost, the general private secretary to President Baer of
the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Co., is a native of Reading,
coming from a family which has long been identified with Reading
and Berks county.

Nicholas Yost, grandfather of Heber, was a
prominent and financially able farmer of the county, and took an
active part in its development.

Francis Yost, son of Nicholas, was man of
affairs in the county, but has now retired. He married Emma Louisa
Yocum, daughter of Daniel who in his day was one of the wealthy
landowners of the county and was also engaged in manufacturing. He
owned the well-known Speedwell Forge, and Yocum was named after
him. He was a Director of the Farmers National Bank of Reading.
Heber Y. Yost is one of three sons born to these parents. Henry N.
is Assistant Bookkeeper with the Reading Iron Company, while Daniel
F. is the Treasurer and General Manager of the William F. Remppis
Company.

Heber Y. Yost was born in Reading. He profited
by the excellent public schools of the city, finishing the course
at the Boys’ High School, after which he took a business course at
Prof. Brunner’s business college. For a year thereafter he filled
the position of assistant bookkeeper in one of the box factories of
the city, then, in 1888, came to his present important and exacting
position as private secretary to President Baer. His long period of
service speaks volumes for his efficiency.

Mr. Yost is unmarried. He satisfies his social
proclivities in membership with the Reading Library and Berkshire
Country Clubs, organizations of the city. He votes with the
Republicans, and in his religious life affiliates with the Trinity
Lutheran Church.

YOST, HENRY
H.

p. 909

Surnames: YOST, BRUBAKER, POTTEIGER, STIFFEY, STITZEL, TORBERT,
YOCUM

Henry H. Yost, one of the farmer residents of Sinking Spring,
Spring township, Berks county, was born in Cumru township, this
county, July 8, 1856, son of Amos S. and Catherine (Yocom) Yost,
and grandson of Nicholas Yost.

Amos S. Yost was born in Cumru township, at
Poplar Neck, in 1820, and died in 1899, aged sixty-nine years. He
is interred at the Sinking Spring Church. During his useful life,
he followed farming, owning two farms, and was a well-known and
much respected resident of Berks county. His wife was a daughter of
Nicholas Yocum, of Cumru township. Children as follows were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Amos S. Yost: Rosa, who married Joel Stiffey; Emma,
who married A. I. Torbert; Abraham, of Bern township; Henry H., and
Rebecca, who died young.

Henry H. Yost received his education in the
common schools of Spring township, and has always been engaged in
farming. One of his pleasant experiences was a seven months’ trip
he took through the West, doing farm work in Minnesota, Illinois
and Iowa, and gaining an insight into different methods and ways of
conducting farms. Upon his return he purchased the old Stitzel farm
of 207 acres in Lower Heidelberg township, near State Hill, which
he now rents out under contract, he having in 1899 removed to
Sinking Spring and built himself a pleasant home, his present
residence, in that community.

Mr. Yost has always taken a deep interest in
public affairs, and is a Republican in politics. He has served as
school director, and is now chairman of the board which is working
toward the incorporation of Sinking Spring as a borough. One of the
characteristic traits of Mr. Yost is his activity, for he keeps
himself fully occupied with his private affairs as well as those of
the community, and is rightfully regarded as one of the
representative men of Berks county.

Mr. Yost married Emma C. Pottieger, daughter of
Henry Pottieger, and they have had two children: Stella married
Raymond S. Brubaker, and has one child, Henry Yost Brubaker;
Florence died young.

In his religious affiliations Mr. Yost is a
member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and has filled all the
offices in that body. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No.
660, and has many friends in that organization, as he also has
throughout a wide area, for he is a man of pleasing personality and
kindly intent, and has few if any enemies.