~ Yarham, William J. ~

William J. Yarham, who operates a pump, windmill and harness business in Newton, was born in Jasper County March 23, 1869. His parents were George and Emily (Digby) Yarham, natives of England, and were married in their native land and came to America in 1857 and settled in Canada. Here they resided for ten years, and in Illinois one year. In 1868 they moved to Jasper County, locating in Newton Township. His father died in February 1892, at 59 years of age, and his mother in April 1897, at 64 years of age. Our subject started in his present business in 1894, and has built up a trade second to none in this line of business in the country. November 5, 1896, he married Mamie Goodell, a native of Jasper County. Page 31

~ Young, Nimrod I. ~Photo

Nimrod I. Young, whose comfortable farm residence graces Section 4, Buena Vista Township, is among the early pioneers of Jasper County. Our subject was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, February 8, 1834. In 1859 he started for Iowa, coming by water to Keokuk, and from there pushed on west in company with Alvin Adkins. Their conveyance was a canvas top wagon and an ox team, the property of Mr. Adkins. When our subject arrived in Keokuk, his only capital was a strong constitution and a pair of willing hands. In 1860 he took the gold fever, and with a yoke of oxen, the first team he ever owned, crossed the American Desert. On their outward journey, other mule teams passed them, their drivers expressing their regret that our subject and comrades were obliged to trudge along with such a slow conveyance, and bade them farewell. Ten days later, however, the old story of the hare and the tortoise again came true. This time the ox team passed the mules, and they were never seen again. Our subject put in about four months in Grigger's Diggings, seventy-five miles west of Denver, receiving $2.50 per day for his labor. He returned to Jasper County in October of that year, and the following four years his time was divided in a saw mill and breaking the prairie sod. Mr. Young has endured all the hardships of the early pioneer. His first house was a frame structure 14x16, in which he lived until 1877. He has been highly rewarded for his labor, for today he is considered one of the most prosperous and well-to-do farmers in Jasper County. October 2, 1873, he was united in marriage to Lee Anna Norfleet, the marriage ceremony taking place in Wayne County, Kentucky. They are the parents of the following children: Tranna May, born July 14, 1874; Bolin Robert, born September 1, 1875; John Percy, born August 9, 1877; James Weaver, born April 3, 1879; George Washington, born March 1, 1881; Ivy Vernon, born January 19, 1884; Hugh Frank, born May 16, 1886; Lloyd Lamar, born February 9, 1888; Jesse B., born April 5, 1893, died April 7, 1893; Leola Joyce, born July 31, 1897. In our subject's father's family there were ten children, eight girls and two boys, and when Nimrod was sixteen years of age, the father died. Up to this time our subject had been a careful student, but as the duties of the father devolved upon him, he being the oldest son, school was a thing of the past. He was obliged to take charge of all his father's affairs, and by so doing, acquired an early business education. Part III, Page 3

~ Youngkin, Grant ~Photo

Grant Youngkin was born in Scott County, Iowa, October 21, 1866. Came to Jasper County with his parents in 1871, and now owns the land where his father settled in Richland Township, January 6, 1881. Clara E. Butrum became his wife. She was the youngest child of Emerson and Elizabeth Butrum, who came to Lynnville, Jasper County in 1863. At the time of their marriage she was teaching in the Lynnville public schools. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Youngkin, who came to the County with their family in 1871. Page 12