My Genealogy Hound

ALGERNON GORDON YOTHERS is the son of Jacob Freed and Lydia (Gordon) Yothers, of Hilltown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 13, 1857. His father was at that time engaged in the general commission business in that locality.

He attended the public schools of that vicinity. In 1870, when he was thirteen years of age, his mother died and he was compelled to earn his own subsistence. He became an apprentice to John Stem, a well known saddler and harness maker at Springhouse, in Lower Gwynedd township, to learn the trade. He remained at that occupation for a little more than two years, but abandoned it to tend bar at the Springhouse Hotel, then kept by Samuel Delp. At the end of his year of employment with Delp he sold the hotel, and Mr. Yothers continued in the employ of the new proprietor, Frank Hughes, for the following six months. He then secured a situation at the hotel of Mr. Bush at Doylestown, the county seat of Bucks. Later he went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the same business on South Ninth street, nearly opposite the post office, the place being very popular with the professional and business men of that section of the city. He next removed to Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he remained a year, and returned to Philadelphia, and followed his calling at various places for eight years. In the meantime he was for a brief period at Atlantic City. He then went to Ambler, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the same capacity by William Blackburn, at the Hotel Ambler. In 1897 Mr. Yothers bought the Three Tuns hotel, in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, at which place he remained until December, 1900, when, having bought the hotel rights at the Gwynedd hotel, he commenced business at that place. That hotel has been for many years one of the leading hotels of the county. He took possession of the hotel in December, 1900, and has since conducted it under the name of the William Penn Inn. Since Mr. Yothers has been proprietor the appearance of the property has been greatly improved. The hotel is so situated on the heights overlooking the Wissahickon as to have a view of the country for miles, and Mr. Yothers is extensively patronized by summer boarders, permanent and transient. At night the lights at Chestnut Hill, miles away, can be plainly seen.

Mr. Yothers married, February 3, 1898, Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Edward and Amanda (Zook) Burgess, of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. For some years previous to her marriage Mrs. Yothers had made her home in Ambler. Although her opportunities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, she made the most of them, and she makes an excellent hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Yothers are members of Montgomery Baptist church in Montgomery township. In politics Mr. Yothers is a Republican, and has always taken an active interest in party affairs. He has served as delegate to the county convention, and as town clerk. While residing in Philadelphia he served as assessor, and also as judge of elections.

Jacob Freed (father) was born in 1813. He obtained an ordinary education in neighboring schools. He married Lydia, daughter of Robert Gordon, whose wife was a Miss Hoxworth. The Hoxworth family is well known in that section of Montgomery county, the mother of General Winfield Scott Hancock having been a member of it. The children of Jacob F. and Lydia Yothers: Mary Ann, Henry, Hilary, Robert, Winfield Hancock, Jacob, Algernon Gordon, and Amelia Virginia. The only members of this family now living are Algeron G. (the subject of this sketch) and Amelia Virginia.

Fraternally Mr. Yothers is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order in New Jersey, and of the Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree, and the Mystic Shrine, grand council of New Jersey. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.