Jerome Yearous

YEAROUS, PETERS, SCHRACK, MCHOES, KIMPSTON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/21/2010 at 16:37:31

Jerome Yearous, living on section 17, Nodaway township, is one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers and stock raisers of this township. One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Clayton county on the 25th of May, 1856, a son of Charles and Catharine (Peters) Yearous. The former, a native of Baden, Germany, was born January 9, 1834, and came to the United States with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Yearous, when only three years of age. They located in Cleveland, Ohio, where Charles Yearous was reared. He passed away, however, in Clayton county, Iowa, on the 7th of January, 1906. His wife, who was born in May, 1833, in Ohio, still survives and makes her home on the old farm in Clayton county, Iowa. In their family were nine children, namely: Aaron, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Jacob S., residing in West Union, Iowa; Jerome, of this review; Martha Jane, the wife of Frank Kimpston, of Fayette, Iowa; Christ, of Fayette county; Charles, residing in South Dakota; William, making his home in Clayton county: John, residing in Fayette county; and Andrew, a resident of Clayton county.

Reared in his native county, Jerome Yearous attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education that would fit him for the practical and responsible duties of life. His time was divided between the duties of the school room and the work of the fields, and he remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the cultivation of the home place, until twenty- two years of age, when he became desirous of entering business on his own account. Accordingly he went to Phelps county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he immediately put under cultivation. Eleven years were spent in the improvement of this place and then, in the spring of 1890, he sold this property and returned to Iowa, establishing his home in Nodaway township, Page county, upon the farm which is still his place of residence. This farm, known as Maple Grove Farm, consists of one hundred and sixty acres, constituting the southeast quarter of section 17, and is one of the valuable far s of Nodaway township, presenting in its neat appearance an indication of care and pro- gressiveness on the part of the owner. Mr. Yearous has erected good, substantial buildings upon the place which afford ample shelter for grain and stock and he has also instituted many other improvements. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, engaging in general farming and stock raising, his close application to business, his energy and perseverance and his ability to capably manage his affairs being potent elements in the gratifying degree of prosperity which he now enjoys. He is also the owner of considerable property, owning, aside from his home farm, a half section of land in Hand county, South Dakota, near the town of Miller.

On the 20th of September, 1881, in Clayton county, Iowa, Mr. Yearous was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Schrack, who was born near Free-port, Illinois, January 18, 1864, a daughter of Potter and Rebecca (McHoes) Schrack, the former now deceased and the latter residing at Alma, Nebraska. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Yearous has been blessed with the following children: Charles R., residing in South Dakota; Raymond O., and George A., also in Dakota; Guy U., Isaiah, Leona A., Nathan A. and Leonard, all at home. They also lost two children, Nevada, who died at the age of seventeen months, and Herschel, who passed away when three years old.

Mr. Yearous gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served for the past six years as trustee. He is not, however, an office seeker, preferring to devote his time and energies to the management of his business affairs. He has used his opportunities to the best advantage and he has won a creditable measure of prosperity, while during the nineteen years of his residence in Nodaway township he has gained a large circle of friends who entertain for him high regard and esteem.

~History of Page County Iowa, by W.L. Kershaw, Vol II, 1909; pg 338-339