Biographical Sketch of Nathan W. YARNALL (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, page
463.

"NATHAN W. YARNALL, a well known farmer residing near White Horse, on the old
farm homestead during the life of four generations, is the eldest son of Eli
and Mary (Wood) Yarnall, and was born September 25, 1830, on the farm where
he now resides, in Willistown township, Chester county, Pennsylvania.  The
Yarnalls are an old and numerous family in Pennsylvania, and were settled in
Chester county prior to 1684.  Nathan Yarnall (paternal great-grandfather) was
born on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, and spent his life
here engaged in the occupation of a farmer.  He was a whig in politics, married
and reared a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters: Mordecai,
Nathan, Lewis, Mary, Edith, Nancy, Hannah, and one that died in infancy.
Nathan Yarnall (grandfather) was also born on the same farm, September 11,
1777, and died in 1822.  He passed his life on property which was then a part
of the farm now owned by Nathan W. Yarnall.  By occupation he was a farmer and
cattle dealer, and for a number of years was engaged in buying Lancaster county
cattle for the Chester county markets.  He was twice married, first wedding
Sarah Scott, by whom he had two sons and a daughter: Anna, Eli (father), and
Thomas.  After his first wife's death he married Hannah Robinsons, and by this
union had three children: William, Sarah, and Nathan H.

"Eli Yarnall (father) was born March 4, 1804, in the house now occupied by his
son, Nathan W.  Here he was reared and educated, and after leaving school
settled down to farming and passed his life in the cultivation of the soil.
His death occurred March 6, 1878, when he was in the seventy-fifth year of his
age.  He was a whig and republican in politics, and in 1826 married Mary Wood.
To them was born a family of four children, three sons and a daughter: Martha
E., who died in infancy; Nathan W., whose name heads this sketch; Alfred, and
Eli.

"Nathan W. Yarnall grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received a good
practical education in the public schools of his neighborhood.  His tastes led
him to follow the example of his ancestors and become a cultivator of the soil,
and to that occupation he has devoted the greater part of his somewhat active
and busy life, on the old home farm which passed into his possession in 1879.
In politics Mr. Yarnall is a stanch republican, taking an intelligent interest
in all public questions, and earnestly supporting his party on all leading
issues, but not engaging prominently in political contests.

"On January 23, 1866, he was united in marriage to Lydia Ann Sill, a daughter
of Thomas and Sarah (Baker) Sill, of Willistown township.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Yarnall have been born two children, both daughters: Sarah B. and Alice S."