My Genealogy Hound

H. A. Yarnell, marble dealer and farmer, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and has been a resident of Moniteau County, Mo., since about three months old. His boyhood days were spent in tilling the home farm, but when the Rebellion broke out he left the plow to engage in the struggle between the North and South, and enlisted in Company A, Forty-third Enrolled Militia, being chosen captain of the same. He was afterward transferred to the Ninth Missouri Division, in which he served until the close of the war, also ranking as captain. After participating in a number of hard skirmishes he was honorably discharged in the spring of 1865. He then returned home and resumed farming, but in the fall of 1872 was elected county sheriff and collector, which position he held by re-election until the fall of 1884. He has been a resident of California since 1873, and has served as a member of the city council for a number of years. Since the spring of 1886 he has been engaged in his present business, being also engaged for some time in keeping a livery stable. He owns the old home farm, consisting of 300 acres, all of which is under fence and well improved, a goodly portion of which is devoted to raising stock. In November, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Defoe, a native of Missouri, who died in 1873, having borne a family of eight children, Mary O., wife of W. P. Hanley; Virginia B., wife of J. L. Bishop; Mary A., wife of William O. Dunham, and Nora B., being the only ones living. In November, 1875, Mr. Yarnell wedded Mrs. Mary Wood, widow of Dr. Wood. He and wife are church members, and he belongs to the A. O. U. W. His paternal grandfather was a Pennsylvanian, who removed at an early day to Tennessee, and thence to Moniteau County, Mo., in 1838, coming through in wagons. He located eight miles south of California, where he died in 1848. His son, Henry J., the father of our subject, was born, reared and married in Tennessee, his wife’s maiden name being Ellen Murray. In June, 1849, he and wife immigrated by wagons to Moniteau County, Mo., and located eight miles south of California, at which time there was not a house in the latter place. He purchased 120 acres of land, also entering a large tract, and immediately set to work to clear and improve his land. He built a little log cabin, a very primitive structure, in which he lived until his death in 1866. They did all their trading at Boonville, raised their own flax and cotton, and spun and wove their own clothing. Wheat bread was quite a rarity, and only indulged in on Sunday morning, as the most of their wheat was sold, and they lived on corn bread during the week. Mr. Yarnell served as justice of the peace for some years. His wife died in 1852, having borne one child, H. A. Yarnell, our subject. He had been previously married, and by his first wife had become the father of six children: Jane, wife of J. W. Hathaway; Rebecca H., wife of John G. Hannah; Frances, wife of J. W. McReynolds; Mary A., wife of G. W. Martin; Mordica M., and William S., who is deceased. The Murray family came from Ireland, the grandfather of our subject having come from that land concealed in a flour barrel. He had rebelled against his nation, and was fleeing from the officers, and came to America with his brother, who was a sea captain. He settled in Tennessee, sent for his family, and there resided until his death, having followed the occupation of farming throughout life. His daughter, who afterward became Mrs. Yarnell, was born on the ocean.