OBIT: Peter H. YOST, 1943, of interest in Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ PETER H. YOST Peter H. Yost Was Laid to Rest Just 11 Years Later Than His Elder Sister Retired Garrett County, Md., Farmer Now Rests In His Native Soil - Funeral Services in Maple Grove Church on New Year's Day Attended by Hundreds of Sorrowing Friends - Interment in Grantsville Cemetery The funeral of Peter H. Yost, whose sudden death on Wednesday evening, Dec. 29th, was announced in last week's Republican, was held on New Year's Day, at the Maple Grove Church, three miles south of Grantsville, just 11 years after the funeral of his older sister, Mrs. Mary (John W.) Baker, who died at her home in Grantsville, Dec. 29, 1932, was held at the same place. Mr. Yost had served as a deacon of the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren for 40 years while he lived on his nearby farm. Although he had his membership transferred to the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren when he sold his farm and moved to a home which he purchased in Meyersdale in October 1941, to spend the remainder of his life in retirement, it was his wish that after he had completed his life's span his body should be taken back to his native county and state for burial, and that his funeral services should be in the little country church in which he had worshipped during the greater portion of his life. It was on a beautiful, sunny New Year's day, in keeping with his sunny disposition and long and peaceful life, that his body was laid to rest in the Grantsville Cemetery after funeral rites conducted by his last beloved pastor, Rev. DeWitt Miller of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren. His former neighbors and friends for miles around flocked to the little white church in the vale to pay their respects to the memory of a man who was not only their neighbor for many years, but always a kind and helpful friend. Many friends from Meyersdale and vicinity and Grantsville also took advantage of the fair weather and good roads to attend the obsequies of a friend and neighbor whom they had esteemed as one of nature's noblemen and faithful servant of his God. The funeral cortege was one of the longest that ever came to the Maple Grove Church and moved from there to the Grantsville Cemetery. Never before were so many automobiles parked around that little country church. The sanctuary was crowded to the doors with mourning relatives and friends. The funeral discourse and service conducted by Rev. DeWitt Miller was very beautiful and fitting. He paid high tribute to the consistent, useful, kindly, simple life lived by Brother Yost, and spoke words of much comfort to the bereaved family and friends. As an interlude of the funeral service Mrs. DeWitt Miller sang one of Brother Yost's favorite hymns, "Abide with Me." Mrs. Elizabeth Gnagey Witt, organist of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, presided at the organ. The pall-bearers were John Smearman, C. A. Lichty, Galen Peck, Ernest Miller, Homer Saylor and John Saylor. The funeral director in charge was H. R. Konhaus, Meyersdale mortician. Peter H. Yost, oldest son and second child of Henry and Sarah (Livengood) Yost, was born at Engle's Mill, near Accident, Garrett County, Maryland, Feb. 8, 1864, when his father was operating the Engle grist mill on Bear Creek. Soon after his birth the family moved to a farm near Accident, and in the spring of 1871 bought and moved to the Mt. Airy farm, three miles south of Grantsville, where son Peter and his brothers and sisters grew up. Peter worked in the home farm until he attained his majority, then worked for farmers in the vicinity of Summit Mills, Somerset County, Pa., where he became acquainted with Miss Lydia Bauermaster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Bauermaster, who became his wife on February 4, 1890, one day after Mr. Yost's 26th birthday. They were married by the late Bishop Conrad Lint of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren. After his marriage Peter H. Yost bought a farm adjoining that of his father at Mt. Airy, where he reared a fine family of children and lived and prospered until he sold his farm and retired a little over two years before his death, owing to lack of farm help and on-coming infirmities of age. Mr. Yost was a very successful farmer and stockman and maple sugar producer. He was a hard worker and good manager, but was never too busy to neglect his duties as a citizen and churchman. He took a lively interest in local, county, state and national government, was an ardent Republican in politics and always did his best to try to help elect competent and honest men to office regardless of party affiliations. He took a lively interest in the public schools, served as district school trustee, and also as a member of the County Board of Education. Mr. and Mrs. Yost were blessed with four sons and one daughter, all of whom grew up to honor their father and mother. The two oldest sons, Homer and Harvey, served as quartermaster sergeants in World War I. Homer, their first born, bought the Meyersdale Box Factory soon after being honorably discharged from military service in 1919. After operating the factory in Meyersdale for a short while he moved it to Connellsville and later to Johnstown, where he operated under the title of Friendly City Box Company, until his untimely death about six years ago. The second son, Harvey Yost, is an expert accountant and is at present employed by the Federal government as an auditor in the automotive industry in Detroit. Foster, the third Yost son, is a farmer at Accident, Md., and Henry the youngest of the Yost sons, a graduate of the University of Maryland agricultural and forestry departments, is employed in forestry work in the state of Virginia, with residence at Harrisonburg. The only daughter, Miss Elizabeth Yost, is a registered nurse presently employed in the Wenzel Hospital, Meyersdale, formerly in the Somerset Community Hospital. The three surviving sons and their wives attended their father's funeral, as did also the widow of Homer Yost and one of her daughters, now residing in Washington, D.C. Several of the Yost relatives from Latrobe, Pa., and Edward Bauermaster and son Claude, of Brotherton, brother and nephew of Mrs. Peter Yost, also attended the funeral of their kinsman, and also Mrs. Clara Foy, only surviving sister of Peter H. Yost. On Feb. 3, 1940, the surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Yost arranged a celebration of their golden wedding anniversary at the home of their son Henry, who was then residing in Frostburg, Md. Father and Mother Yost were then both in good health and greatly enjoyed the celebration in their honor, which was attended by many of their near relatives and intimate friends. The photograph of the honorable couple, reproduced herewith, was taken at that time. Mrs. Yost is six years younger than her husband was. She and her daughter, Miss Elizabeth, for the present will continue to live in the commodious home on Salisbury Street, formerly the residence of D. Guy Floto and family, which Mr. Yost purchased when he retired from farming. Meyersdale Republican, January 6, 1944