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Below is a family biography included in Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1903.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Frank Yeager, who for the past 23 years has been the “village blacksmith” of Clarkston, Michigan, was born in Ludlowville, Tompkins County, New York, May 29, 1853, and is a son of Jedediah and Sarah (Brown) Yeager, and a grandson of John and Cynthia Yeager, natives of Germany.

Jedediah Yeager was born in Milford, Onondaga County, New York, and at the age of 14 years left home, learned the blacksmith’s trade and worked at it throughout his native locality until 1854, when he came to Michigan. Here he became the owner of a shop at Clarkston and continued to follow the trade until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, on September 17, 1861, entering Battery D, First Michigan Light Artillery. For three years he endured all the hardships and dangers of a soldier’s life, participating in these battles: Hoover’s Gap, Tennessee, June 26, 1863; Chickamauga, September, 1863; Chattanooga, November, 1863; Mission Ridge, November, 1863; Murfreesboro, December, 1864, and was mustered out of the service on August 3, 1865. He was with his battery all this time and after the war and until his death was remembered by the government with a richly deserved pension. The death of this brave soldier occurred at the age of 78 years, October 6, 1900. As long as the star spangled banner floats, the country’s defenders in time of her peril will be recalled with gratitude. Mr. Yeager was married thrice; there was no issue to his first two marriages. The children of his union with Sarah Brown, who was born in Tompkins County, New York, were the following: Frank; George, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Petty, of Clarkston, Oakland County; Mrs. Delia Chamberlain, of Pontiac; and Mrs. May McMahon, of Clarkston, Oakland County.

Frank Yeager was but one year old when his parents moved to Michigan and settled in the village of Clarkston. His education was secured in the district and in Professor Cochran’s private school. He can recall Indians, curious but stolid spectators, sitting on the banks outside the old log school house. His boyhood was passed in working in his father’s shop, and in assisting the neighbors in getting in their crops. On October 22, 1875, he dug with a hoe 100 bushels of potatoes in three hours, and during the day dug 150 bushels and picked up 45 bushels. In 1876 he ran an engine in a mill. The next year he acted as cook on a wood train for the railroad, but left there to enter the blacksmith shop of William H. Lewis, for whom he worked three years, and then spent one year in his father’s shop, opening then his own shop in the south end of Clarkston, where he has been a feature ever since. Mr. Yeager is a skilled workman as a case of handsomely made horseshoes, displayed on his wall, bears testimony. One would not suppose it possible to pound out wreaths of flowers on the anvil, but this he has done, with taste and skill. Probably he inherited some of his deftness from his father and grandfather, both skilled mechanics. Mr. Yeager started in life with nothing but his two capable hands, and now owns a farm of 40 acres, a good home and convenient shop, and controls a fine trade.

On November 17, 1880, Mr. Yeager was married to Smithy Howes, who was born in Detroit, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Kidd) Howes, natives of Scotland and England, respectively. One son has been born to this union, Frederick F., who is attending the Clarkston High School. Mr. Yeager is a prominent member of the Prohibition party, and has served on the Village Council two terms. Religiously he is a Baptist. Fraternally he belongs to the Gleaners, Loyal Guards and Knights of the Maccabees, Allen Tent, No. 85.

Probably no smith in Oakland County excels Mr. Yeager, either in skill or celerity, as he has a record behind him of having fitted and put on, on one occasion, 80 horse-shoes in one day, and it was while shoeing horses that Mr. Yeager lost the sight of his right eye, having put on 54 shoes for the day. He holds a very high place in public esteem in Clarkston.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published in 1903. 

View additional Oakland County, Michigan family biographies here: Oakland County, Michigan Biographies

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