William H. Yates, 1844-1926

YATES, OSTRANDER, BECKET, DUFFE, HAMM, MCCARTNEY

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/6/2012 at 06:32:27

Another of the few remaining Civil War veterans and a pioneer resident of Clay county passed away Friday evening, July 9, 1926, when death claimed Mr. W. H. Yates, at his home, 292 East Second street. Mr. Yates was one of the oldest residents of Clay county, being eighty-one years, seven months and fifteen days old. He had been a resident in Spencer for forty-two years.

Mr. Yates had been in failing health for the past five years but up to the evening of his death he had remarked how well he felt. At seven-thirty Friday evening when he returned from his short walk he became ill and a doctor was called and he died soon afterwards at nine o'clock. The cause of his death was due to acute dilation of the heart.

Mr. Yates had been totally blind for the past three months. His eye sight first began to fail about eight years ago.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Cobb Funeral Home at 2 o'clock in charge of the Rev. Benjamin J. Trickey, pastor of the First Congregational church. The members of the G.A.R. were in charge of the services at the Funeral Home and the Odd Fellow lodge members assisted with the services at the grave. Interment was made in Riverside.

William Henry Yates was born on November 24, 1844, in Manley, New York, where he lived until three years old and then he moved with his parents to Racine, Wisconsin, where they lived for a few years. They then moved to Barton, Wisconsin, whore he grew to manhood. It was here that he met Mrs. Yates.

At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Yates tried five times to enlist with the troops but as he was not of age he was not accepted. Finally he was able to enlist and served with Company E 40th Wisconsin Infantry for ninety days.

On December 22, 1869, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Ostrander of Barton, Wisconsin. They lived in Barton for one year and then moved to a homestead three miles south and three miles west of Spencer where they lived for several years. Forty-two years ago they moved to Spencer where they have since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Yates would have been married fifty-seven years of happy married life this December.

To the union of Mr. and Yates were born three children: Mrs. D.E. Becket of Spencer, Edwin Yates, also of Spencer, and Mrs. W.H. Duffe of Spokane, Washington.

When Mr. and Mrs. Yates came to Spencer there were few houses or business concerns. The surrounding country was a flat prairie. They could look in all directions with no trails in one direction and not see a bush, tree, or building. They experienced the hardships of the day and lived in dread of a prairie fire. They also experienced the grasshopper plague. Their first home in Spencer was a small structure, just large enough for them to live in. A light was always kept burning in their window to aid one lost in finding his way to their hospitable home.

Mr. Yates was affiliated with the Congregational church and was a member of the Odd Fellow, G.A.R. and Rebekah lodges. Mr. and Mrs.Yates were charter members of the Rebekah lodge, Mrs. Yates being the only remaining charter member.

Mr. Yates was a railroad contractor and was at one time in partnership with D. C. Gillespie and Douglas Kirkpatrick, father of Fred W. Kirkpatrick of this city. He retired from this work in 1890.

Mr. Yates is survived by his wife and three children, thirteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one brother, Charles Yates of Bigelow, Minnesota, one sister, Mrs. C.H. Hamm of Minneapolis, other relatives and a host of friends.

In Mr. Yates passing, Clay county has lost another pioneer and highly esteemed citizen, and his family a beloved husband and father. He never complained and was always cheerful, looking for the comfort of others before thinking of his own comfort. He will be deeply missed by his relatives and friends.

Those from out-of-town attending the funeral were Charles Yates of Bigelow, Minnesota. A.J. McCartney, brother-in-law of Mrs. Yates, of Hartford, South Dakota, Mr. and. Mrs. Myron E. Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Jackson and son, all of Langdon, Mr. and Mrs. T.Y. Jackson of Royal, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Milton of Langdon, Mr. and Mrs. O. Yeomans, also of Langdon, Mrs. E. Erickson and Mrs. D. Quinn of Estherville, Mr. and Mrs. George Foote, Mr. and Mrs. Will Yates and son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. H. Horstman and son, all of Bigelow. Two nephews, George Yates and Ernest Yates and wife, of Spencer, were also present.

Source: News-Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; July 15, 1926.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

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