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YATES, HON. JOHN C. who is now serving his fifteenth year as judge of Peoria county, was born in Ohio county, West Va., on the 17th of August, 1827. He is the third of five children— three sons and two daughters — of Joseph and Mary Yates, nee Caldwell, natives of Virginia, now West Virginia. John spent the first ten years of his life on his father's farm, and when old enough attended the common schools, after which he took an academic course. His father being a zealous Presbyterian, desired him to study for the ministry, while the son's choice was the law. A compromise was effected by which he took a course in medicine; and after a brief practice in the East, he came to Illinois, landing in Peoria in December, 1846, with the intention of engaging in the practice of medicine here. Not finding the field very promising, he went to teaching school in the county, which he followed until 1853. He then opened a farm on section 1 of Radnor township, and devoted his attention to the pursuit of agriculture for twelve years. On February 17, 1865, he went into the army as a private in Company B, 7th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war, nearly all of time on detached duty. The next Fall after returning home he received, unsolicited, the nomination and election to the office of County Judge, over a Democratic majority of more than 700 in the county, he being a pronounced Republican, and has held the office continuously since, which speaks volumes for his efficiency and official integrity and consequent popularity among the masses who have the good sense to value the man as an officer more than party affiliations. Few men in any position of responsibility have had the good fortune to win the esteem and confidence of so many of their constituents as has Judge Yates. He married Lura [misspelled?] A. Hitchcock, a native of New York, on November 17, 1847, who died July 20, 1855, leaving one son, Sylvester M. Yates, now residing on a farm in Ford county, Ill. Judge married again, on June 17, 1857, to Jane H. Hargadine, born in Ohio, in 1836, by whom he has five daughters and three sons—George, Laura, Ella, Ada, Jennie, Gertrude, John Dixon and Guy, all at home. Judge being made of the sort of stuff that will not down at the bidding of misfortune, though having experienced his full share of it, has made a financial success of life. Besides the old farm in Radnor, of 120 acres, he owns an elegant homestead, together with considerable other property in the city, a good farm in Ford county, Ill., and several tracts of land in the West. (The History of Peoria County, Illinois, 1880, page 705-706, submitted by Janine Crandell)
YERION BROS. These agreeable, hospitable
gentlemen rank among the successful farmers of Trivoli Township, where they
operate an estate consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, and
forty acres of timber. They are engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a
specialty of the latter, to which they have devoted more and more attention each
year since they took possession of the farm. They raise from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty head of hogs of good grades, have twenty to thirty head of
Morgan and Flying Cloud, and of Morgan Clay blood. Their younger brother, John,
who lives with them, owns Eureka, an Abdallah and Morgan stallion, whose record
is 2:40.
The Yerion line is of French and German origin, the remote ancestors of our
subjects having been residents in Alsace. Their grandfather, William Yerion, a
native of Pennsylvania, accompanied a colony to Virginia, where he was engaged
in farming and distilling. About 1840, he came West, located on raw land near
Brunswick, Ill., and improving one hundred and sixty acres, resided thereon
until 1855. He then sold, bought another tract of raw land in the vicinity of El
Paso, farmed there some five years and then moved into the village. Later he
became a resident of Bloomington, passing his last days there and dying in 1885,
at the age of eighty-four years.
Among the members of the family of Grandfather Yerion was a son, William, who
was born in Virginia, but became a resident of the Prairie State in early
boyhood. His first employment away from home was driving a team when the
Illinois Central Railroad was being built through Woodford County. He next
bought forty acres of land in that county, improved and resided upon it until
1881, when he took up his abode in Farmington, Fulton County. There he spent the
remnant of his days, dying in 1885, in his fifty sixth year. He was an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and during the last thirteen years of
his life a local minister. He was a strong Democrat in politics, a self-made man
in finances, and an honored citizen.
The maternal grandfather of our subjects was George Patten, who was born in
Ireland and brought to America by his parents when eight years old. The family
settled in West Virginia, whence Grandfather Patten removed to McLean County,
Ill., and later to Buchanan County, Mo. He was of the Protestant religion. His
occupation was that of a farmer. His daughter Catherine, became the wife of
William Yerion, Jr., sharing his joys and sorrows until 1878, when she entered
into rest. Like her husband, she was an honored member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are living
in Trivoli Township. These are, Adelia F.; Alva A., George W., and John D. The
fourth child, Joseph R., is engaged in the grocery business in Farmington,
Fulton County.
Alva A. Yerion was born in El Paso Township, Woodford County, November 1, 1857,
and his brother, George W., February 3, 1860. Their childhood was spent on the
farm, their time being divided between home duties and attendance at the common
schools, which were in session only during the winter months. In 1880 they came
to Trivoli Township, Alva being in the employ of D.B. Stookey four years, and
George working at various places until 1884, when they formed the present
partnership, renting the land from their stepmother. They began business with a
capital of $700, engaging in farming, raising grain principally, and as fast as
possible turning their attention toward stock. As before stated, they are
successful in the employment they have chosen, and as they are still
comparatively young, are likely to become the possessors of a comfortable
fortune by the time they have reached middle age.
The elder of our subjects is unmarried, but George W. took a wife January l0,
1869. This was Miss Lucy, daughter of William H. and Rebecca (Dunn) Meeker of
this township, whose family history will be found elsewhere in this work. Mrs.
Yerion was reared in this township, educated in its schools and fitted for
usefulness in her sphere. She is the mother of one child—Cena. She and her
husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Concord. Both the
Yerion brothers are Democrats; Alva has been delegate to county conventions and
is now Constable.
(Portrait & Biographical
Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), pages 213-214, submitted by Susan Hare)
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