BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Benjamin YEAGLEY, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 368-9
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DR. BENJAMIN YEAGLEY, deceased, was a prominent physician, a shrewd and 
enterprising business man and a highly respected citizen of Johnstown, this 
county.
     He was born March 25, 1841, in Union township, Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, and died January 14, 1895, in the city of Johnstown, this county.
     He was a son of Henry and Phoebe Yeagley, who died in Connellsville, 
Fayette county, the former at the advanced age of eighty-seven and the latter at 
the age of eighty. When but a boy Dr. Yeagley entered Mt. Union college, near 
Alliance, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1861. He then came to Johnstown 
and began the study of medicine in the office of his brothers, Drs. Henry and 
Andrew, who were practitioners at that place. He remained there but a short time 
and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered the Eclectic Medical college, and 
graduated with honors three years later, in 1864, after which he returned to 
Johnstown and began the practice of his profession with his brothers. Some time 
after his return his brother Henry left Johnstown for Lawrence, Kansas, leaving 
the practice in charge of Andrew and Benjamin. This partnership continued until 
the death of Andrew, in 1889.
     He was a man who kept well up to the times and abreast of his profession. 
He was an honored member of the Central Medical association of Pennsylvania, in 
which he had, at different times, held important offices; and, just prior to the 
flood, was president of the State Eclectic Medical association, and in 1892 and 
1893 was president of the National Eclectic Medical association. 
     Not only was he prominent and respected as a physician, but a man in whom 
was reposed the confidence of the people as an enterprising and far-seeing 
business man. Prior to May 31, 1889, he was secretary of the Johnstown Passenger 
Railway company. At the time of his death he was treasurer and vice-president of 
the same line.
     He was active in the organization of the Johnstown Electric Light company, 
organized in July, 1885, and was one of its first directors, and in 1887 was 
elected president of the company to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation 
of Herman Baumer, who had been appointed postmaster. On February 13, 1889, he 
was elected a trustee of the Johnstown Savings bank to fill the vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Philip E. Chapin. When the Citizens' National bank was 
organized in 1890, Dr. Yeagley was elected one of the directors, and, upon the 
death of Col. Linton, who was vice-president of the bank, the doctor was chosen 
to fill the vacancy, and, upon the resignation of Mr. A. J. Haws, he was elected 
to fill the vacancy, a position he held at the time of his death, and was one of 
the fifty incorporators of the Grand View Cemetery association, organized 
January 27, 1885.
     Politically he was a democrat, and believed it the duty of every good 
citizen to take an interest in the cause of good government, local, State or 
National. Prior to the incorporation of the city he served as a member of the 
borough council, and, upon the organization of the city, was chosen a select 
councilman from the Third ward, and served as president of that body until 1892.
     Doctor Yeagley and Jennie C., daughter of Judge John Flanagan, were united 
in marriage, and their marriage was blessed in the birth of two sons: Harry and 
George.
     An epitome of Dr. Yeagley's character might be given in the words of 
Chaeroneia, uttered upon a similar occasion: "He died in ripening years, having 
gained the love and provoked the emulation of his contemporaries. He had been 
dutiful to his parents, obliging to all with whom he had to do, a scholar, and, 
to comprise all in a word, he was a lover of his fellow-beings. He was 
respectful to all who deserved it at his hands, gracious, hospitable and 
courteous, and beloved by all. He was still in the prime of life, and yet had 
filled up a just measure of living."