My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM F. YEAGER. Few citizens of Allentown have been more closely identified with the business interests of this city than has the gentleman named above, who has at various times been engaged as a real-estate dealer, contractor and manufacturer, but is now living a retired life. He has the honor of being a native of Lehigh County, his birth having occurred near the city which is still his home, August 22, 1833. His father, Jacob Yeager, also a native of Lehigh County, was of German descent, and in early life followed farming, but later was employed as a blacksmith.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan Fentchamaker, and was born in Lehigh County. She survived her husband six years, passing away in 1878. This worthy couple had a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom William F. was the first in order of birth. When he was five years old his father hired the farm where the poor-house is now located, and this he cultivated for three years, later purchasing seventy-five acres near New Texas, Lower Macungie Township. In childhood our subject aided in tilling the soil of the farm in the summer months, while during the winter season he was a pupil in the district schools.

At the age of twelve years Mr. Yeager was bound out to Lewis Ott, of Pleasant Valley, Bucks County, with whom he remained for three years, assisting him in his tannery and store, as well as upon the farm. His employer was very kind to him, stimulating his ambition and inculcating in his mind wholesome lessons of honesty and industrious effort. It was, of course, impossible for him to attend school during this period, but during the last three months of his apprenticeship Mr. Ott showed his appreciation of the boy’s faithfulness by making arrangements for him to live with James Mann, near Doylestown, the agreement being that he was to take care of the cattle in the morning and evening and attend school during the day.

Returning home at the age of fifteen, our subject continued to assist his father until he was eighteen, when he went to Trexlertown and secured a position as clerk with John R. Schall, proprietor of a country store. For one year he remained in that place, coming thence to Allentown and securing a place as clerk in the store of Kline & Kern. After one year thus spent he had an opportunity to buy out a book agency, and to do so he borrowed the necessary funds, from Benjamin Hagenbuch, proprietor of the Cross Keys Hotel, where he boarded. At the end of two months he had not only repaid the loan, but also had saved a neat sum of money.

While visiting at home, our subject was offered a situation in the store of Owen and Joseph Saeger at $300 a year, which was then considered a good salary. He accepted the place and remained with the firm for three years. It was during that time that he introduced the system for watering the streets which has been continued ever since.

In 1862 Mr. Yeager was married to Miss Priscilla S., daughter of Peter Romig. To them has been born one son, William R., now engaged in the manufacture of furniture in this city. In politics Mr. Yeager is a stanch Republican. He and his wife are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.