My Genealogy Hound

PETER YOAR, an enterprising citizen and general agriculturist now residing section 34, Benton Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a native of County Clare, Ireland, and was born May 14, 1823. His parents, William and Mary (Bradley) Yoar, were engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Old Country, and were among the prosperous farmers of their native land. The mother having in the mean time died, the father came in 1852 to America, but after sojourning for three years in St. Joseph, Mich., returned to Ireland. The children were seven in number, five sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, is a store-keeper in St. Joseph. Patrick lives in Benton Harbor; Matt is a successful agriculturist; Michael is a farmer of the county. Peter, our subject, had just attained his majority when he emigrated to the United States and settled in St. Joseph, his home for sixteen years. October 1, 1846, Peter Yoar and Miss Margaret Daley were united in marriage. Mrs. Yoar was the daughter of Patrick Daley, a native of Ireland, in which country the estimable wife of our subject was born, reared and educated, later coming to the United States.

For a number of years Mr. Yoar profitably ran a sawmill, and, a long-time resident of St. Joseph, during the early days was numbered among the leading citizens and substantial business men of Berrien County. For a time our subject lived in Chicago, but for the past thirty years has continued to occupy the valuable homestead, which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and improved with an attractive residence and commodious barns. When with his family Mr. Yoar first made his home upon section 34, the humble dwelling which sheltered the parents, sons and daughters was in the dense woods, which have by the labor of years been cleared, the rich soil since having yielded a bounteous harvest. The hearts of the parents were gladdened by the birth of twelve children, six of whom yet survive. Peter is in the employ of P. D. Armour, of Chicago; Thomas is working for the Armour Company of Kansas City; Matthew is living in Chicago; Margaret married Jones Hyner, Captain of the Life Saving Station at Ludington, Mich., who, in courageously going to the rescue of a crew whose vessel was in distress, lost his life, his boat being suddenly capsized in a sea in which no swimmer could reach the shore; and Jennie and Catherine are both residing in Chicago.

At one time our subject, who has been financially prospered, owned two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, but gave to his sons one hundred and sixty acres, reserving for his own use an eighty-acre tract, upon which stand the improvements he has from time to time ambitiously added to the fine homestead. Mr. Yoar opened a road from the public highway to his home, and is a believer in the value of local progress. Politically, our subject is a Democrat and a firm supporter of the “Party of the People.” He is interested in local and national issues, and in all things pertaining to public matters is a true and loyal citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Yoar were bred in the tenets of the Catholic Church, and have brought up their family to a due observance of religion. The father and mother are regular attendants of the Roman Catholic Church in Benton Harbor, and are liberal contributors to the good work of their parish.