John Darius Yeoman

YEOMAN, AXTELL, JONES, MOORE

Posted By: Dana Roquet (email)
Date: 10/24/2010 at 08:44:11

The Past and Present of Mahaska County
By Manoah Hedge 1906

JOHN D. YEOMAN

The spirit of agricultural enterprise and progress is exemplified by John D. Yeoman, who follows farming on section 2, Cedar Township, where he owns a valuable tract of land of one hundred and twelve acres, his home having been in this county since 1866. He was born in Lorain County, Ohio, March 30, 1859. His father, Richard Yeoman, was a native of England and on coming to America settled in Ohio, making his home in Lorain County. He was married in Ohio to Miss Fannie C. Axtell, a native of Ohio, where her father had located at an early day. Mr. Yeoman devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits in the Buckeye state until 1866, when he sold his property there and removed with his family to Iowa. Unto him and his wife had been born nine children, of whom *seven came with their parents to this state. On arriving here Mr. Yeoman purchased the tract of land upon which his son John now resides and began to cultivate and improve the farm. He built here a good house and substantial barns and outbuildings and made many modern improvements, developing a farm of one hundred and twelve acres.

It was upon the old homestead property here that John D. Yeoman was reared to manhood. He assisted in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn and during the winter months he attended the public schools. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had attained the majority and at the age of twenty-one years he went to what was then the territory of Washington, where he remained for a year herding cattle. He afterward came back to Iowa and settled upon the old home place purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the property. His father had died in *1884, in his seventy-eighth year, while his mother survives and is now seventy-seven years of age. She is in good health and makes her home with her son John. After coming into possession of the home property through purchase, John D. Yeoman resolutely took up the task of further improvement here and has erected a good residence of a story and a half, together with substantial barns and outbuildings. He had to clear over one hundred acres of the land and his farm in its present advanced condition of improvement and development is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry.

Mr. Yeoman was married on the 2nd of July 1882, to Miss Mary. J. Jones, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Rev. J.W. Jones, who was born in that state and came to Iowa at an early day, casting in his lot with the early settlers, who were subjugating the wilderness and extending the frontier. He is still living and now makes his home in Hedrick, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Yeoman had ten children, of whom two died in infancy and one, Elden D. at the age of three years. The others are: Nina Mabel, the wife of L.C. Moore, a business man of Chicago; Jessie, Floyd R, Herald J., Fannie C, Charlie and Reinhold, all living at home and attending school. The parents are members of the United Brethren Baptist church but attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Fremont as there is no Baptist church at that place. Mr. Yeoman is a member of the Odd Fellows Society at Fremont. In politics he is a stalwart republican, but without aspiration for office. He has, however, served on the school board for eighteen years and the case of education finds in him a stalwart friend. His business interests are carefully conducted and in all his dealings he is straightforward and reliable. He not only tills the soul but also raises good stock various kinds and his business in both its branches is bringing to him a very good living.

* Richard Yeoman died in 1886

*All 9 children came to Iowa with their parents and were living in Fremont as of 1870 census. Oldest Margaret was married and living in Fremont with her husband Lewis C Roquet