HENRY COUNTY INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
yostbios



WILLIAM S. YOST
William S. Yost, father of Jacob Weaver Yost, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, September 7. 1802. He was raised and educated in his native county and on April 29, 1824, married Mary Catharine Weaver, also a native of Rockingham County, Virginia, born March 10, 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Yost were early impressed with the evils of slavery and to escape its contaminating influences, they emigrated from their old home to the fertile fields of Ohio in 1840, where they lived for a year or more, near Dayton. They then moved to Henry County, Indiana, and located in Jefferson Township, on the site of the present village ot Sulphur Springs, where they continued to reside until, the death of William S., January 27, 1863, followed by that of his wife, December 30, 1870. Both are buried in the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. It must be conceded that William S. Yost was the most enterprising and public spirited man that ever lived in Jefferson Township, and he ranked high as a leader in the affairs of Henry County during the period to which he belonged.
As early as 1844, a post office was established, known as Sulphur Springs, taking its name from the sulphur springs near by. William S. Yost was the first postmaster, serving from February 13, 1844, to January 28, 1848. He was again appointed postmaster on March 10, 1848, and served until February 14, 1854. About the time the post office was originally established, perhaps before, he had started a country store, the first of its kind in that locality. He handled the farm products of the neighborhood, which he was obliged to carry to Cincinnati, with teams, in order to dispose of them. After disposing of the produce, he would then take a return load of merchandise for sale in his store. He also engaged in
the business of driving hogs and cattle to the Cincinnati market, and had built up a large and profitable business before the advent of the railroads radically changed the methods of business of the community. On January 7. 1853, Mr. Yost filed the original plat of Sulphur Springs. William S. and Mary Catharine (Weaver) Yost were the parents of ten children, namely: George S.; Samuel L.; Levi S.; William M.; Mary C.; Jacob Weaver; Albert N.; James B.; Harriet V.; and Sarah A., now the widow of Joseph H. Thompson, residing on the old homestead in Sulphur Springs.

JACOB WEAVER YOST
Jacob Weaver Yost, the sixth child and the subject of this sketch, was born in Augusta County, Virginia. September 2, 1834. He died May 8, 1898, and is buried in Bethel Cemetery, two miles north of Sulphur Springs. On January i, 1857, he married Ann Agnes, daughter of the Reverend George and Catharine Hoover, who at an early day had emigrated from Rockingham County, Virginia, to Indiana. Mr. Hoover was a well known minister of the German Baptist Church and the head of an old and respected family. Ann Agnes, the daughter,
was born February 9, 1837. To this union of Jacob W. and Ann Agnes (Hoover) Yost were born four children, namely: Ralph Wynne, Catharine Olive. George William and David Franklin. Ralph Wynne, a well known citizen of New Castle, alone survives.
Jacob W. Yost, early in life, displayed a taste for mercantile pursuits and in consequence was taken into his father's store as a clerk and finally as a partner. After a connection with his father, as clerk and partner, of thirteen years, he at length succeeded to the proprietorship of the entire business. In connection with his dry goods store, he was also the first railroad depot agent at Sulphur Springs. When the Civil War began, Jacob W. Yost was still engaged in the mercantile trade. The family were all patriotic and it was decided at once that one of the family should enlist, but as the business interests of Jacob W. made it impossible for him to go to the front, it was determined that his brother Albert N. should
represent the family and he accordingly enlisted as a private in Company B, 8th Indiana Infantry (three months). .In the Autumn of 1862, there was a great demand for men with muskets, and Jacob W. Yost, having disposed of his store. united with his brother, Albert N., and his brother-in-law, Joseph H. Thompson, and assisted in the organization of what became Company G, 84th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as First Sergeant of the company, August 22, 1862. The history of the 84th Indiana Infantry is the military history of Jacob W. Yost, who actively participated in all of its marches, skirmishes and battles. He was wounded in the Atlanta Campaign. May 28. 1864, and was promoted First Lieutenant of his company, July I, 1864, for gallant and meritorious service. After the bloody battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, in both of which he took part, he resigned February 19, 1865. to return home and look after the settlement of his father's estate. He rejoined his family at Sulphur Springs and soon afterwards bought of his father-in-law a small farm, situated about two miles north of Sulphur Springs. To this land he added by trade and purchase until he was the owner of nearly three hundred acres.
He continued to reside upon this land until his death. Mrs. Yost still lives on the home farm where her husband died. He was a successful farmer and brought his lands to a high state of cultivation.
Probably no man in Jefferson Township stood higher in the estimation of the community than Jacob W. Yost. He possessed their favor and confidence during his whole life and his acquaintance, not only in the township but throughout the county, was extensive. He was a companionable man and generally liked for his genial good nature. He was a splendid soldier, a devoted husband and father and an excellent citizen. During the last years of his life, he was identified with the German Baptist Church and was one of its most active supporters. He was an earnest advocate of education and everything tending to the betterment of the community received his hearty aid and approval.

ALBERT N. YOST
Albert N. Yost, brother of Jacob W., by family arrangement as above stated, was the first of the family to enter the army. He enlisted from Sulphur Springs in Company B. 8th Indiana Infantry (three months'), and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, April 25, 1861, and served with the regiment in West Virginia. He was mustered out with his regiment, August 6, 1861. In 1862 he, in conjunction with his brother, Jacob W. and his brother-in- law, Joseph H. Thompson, was active in raising Company G, 84th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Corporal of the company, August 21, 1862. He participated in the marches, skirmishes and battles of the 84th, until he was transferred to Company K, 57th Indiana Infantry, of which he was made First Sergeant. With the latter regiment he took part in the closing scenes of the war and was mustered out of the service, October 23, 1865.
He died August 6, 1895, and is buried in the cemetery at Mount Summit. He was married to Mary C., daughter of David and Sarah Sowash, May 12, 1867. They were the parents of the following children, all of whom are living, namely: Horace E.; Clem O.; Charles M.; Nick S.; Nellie Ann, now Mrs. Loren H. Swope, of Sulphur Springs; Paul; Uta Lee, now Mrs. Adolph Sanders, of near Honey Creek. Albert N. Yost's widow survives him and lives on the home farm, a mile north of Sulphur Springs. He was a member of the George W. Rader Post. No. 119, Grand Army of the Republic, Middletown, which took appropriate action with regard to his death.

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON
Joseph H. Thompson, who on December 27, 1863, married Sarah Ann, daughter of William S. and Mary Catharine (Weaver) Yost, and sister of Jacob W. and Albert N. Yost, was born in Middletown, Henry County, Indiana, April 17, 1840, and died October 18, 1893. He is buried in the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. He entered the army in Company G, 84th Indiana Infantry, 'which he had assisted in raising, as heretofore stated, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, August 21, 1862. He was soon afterwards appointed Quartermaster Sergeant and participated in the marches, skirmishes and battles of the regiment until he was mustered out of the service, June 14, 1865. hi the Fall of 1863, while on outpost duty with a detachment of his regiment, he was taken prisoner, near Waldron's Hill, Tennessee, and being paroled was shortly afterwards sent to Indiana on recruiting service. He remained on this service, some three months or more, and while at home was married as above stated. After his discharge from the army, he returned to Sulphur Springs and, a year or so thereafter, engaged in the drug business at that place. He continued in that business until his death. He was a man of excellent business ability and was highly respected and esteemed in the community. He took unusual interest in educational matters and was school trustee of the district for a period of years.
He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his charitable nature was reflected by many deeds of kindness. Joseph H. and Sarah Ann (Yost) Thompson were the parents of five children, four boys and one girl, namely: William E.; George C.; Charles B.; Claudia M., now Mrs. Everett G. Ballard; and John R.