My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL J. YAGER.
Samuel J. Yager, who has been a resident of Auburn township, Shawnee County, since 1866, and owns a well-improved farm of 240 acres, situated in section 23, township 13, range 14, was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, March 13, 1834, and is a son of Willis and Nancy (Overstreet) Yager.

Jesse Yager, the paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, of German ancestry. He moved to Kentucky, where his son Willis was born. The latter died at the age of 35 years. The mother of our subject was a native of Oldham County and died in Shawnee County, aged 65 years. Her father, Samuel Overstreet, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The father of Samuel J. Yager died when the latter was but two years of age, leaving five children, viz: John, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Fields; Willis, deceased; Samuel J., of this sketch; and Mrs. Martha Netherton, deceased.

After the death of the father, the mother took her little ones to Johnson County, Indiana. In 1864 our subject visited Shawnee County for two months and was so pleased with the appearance of the land that in 1866 he came here and settled permanently, buying 240 acres of land, only 40 of which had been fenced and cultivated. Mr. Yager has placed his land under cultivation and has made many substantial improvements here, including the building of a fine brick dwelling and all necessary barns and outbuildings. He devotes his land to growing grain and stock. Two of his sons are located in the neighborhood, each owning farms of 80 acres.

Mr. Yager was married in 1864, in Indiana, to Magdalene M. Terrill, who was born near Middleton, Ohio, in 1845, and is a daughter of Hampton and Hannah (Aten) Terrill, whom she accompanied in childhood to Indiana, which was her father’s native State. Mr. and Mrs. Yager have four children: Willis H.; Sybil Maud, wife of Harry Wright of Topeka; Jesse M. and Garrett A.

Politically, Mr. Yager has been identified with the Republican party ever since the administration of James Buchanan for whom he cast his first presidential vote. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Auburn for many years and ever since settling here has been one of the trustees. He has also taken a deep interest in the Sunday-school and has served as its superintendent. Mr. Yager is a man of sterling integrity, one who enjoys the esteem of his fellow-citizens to a marked degree.