Obituary for Edward Franklin Yarnelle
Source: Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana;
Wednesday, 28 December 1938; page one.
E. F. YARNELLE
BEARERS NAMED
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Prominent Business
Leader Dies Tuesday
After Long Illness
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Pallbearers to serve during funeral services for
Edward Franklin Yarnelle, 88, outstanding civic and industrial
leader who died Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock at his home at 1110 West Wayne street
(Fort Wayne, Indiana), following a five-year illness, will include
Robert N. Keegan and James
Yarnelle, grandsons; and Robert C. Hanna and
Harold O. Pillmore, grandsons-in-law, all of the city,
and George Yarnelle of Huntington (Indiana) and
Kenneth Yarnelle of Wabash (Indiana), nephews.
Services will be held Thursday afternoon at two o'clock at the residence, with Dr.
George William Allison, pastor of the First Presbyterian church,
officiating. Burial will be in Lindenwood cemetery.
The body was removed to the Peltier-Ashley funeral home and will be returned to the
residence Thursday morning.
Mr. Yarnelle was one of Fort Wayne's outstanding civic and industrial leaders.
It was through his efforts that the heavy hardware industry centered in Fort Wayne for
the surrounding area. The Mossman-Yarnelle company, which
he founded in 1880, is one of the leading
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4)
businesses of its kind in the middlewest.
Came to City in 1876
The deceased was born April 8, 1850, at Springfield, O., a son of William R. and Sarah R.
Hendricks Yarnelle. His father operated a lumber mill in Springfield. In 1861 the
family moved to a farm home near Pana, Ill., where Mr. Yarnelle
stayed until he reached the age of 18. He then went to work in a Pana dry-goods store.
After staying in Pana 10 years, the deceased came to Fort Wayne in 1876. He obtained
a job in the D. N. Foster department store, remaining there for several years. He
later became associated with Coombs and company in 1879, starting his career in the
heaby hardware business.
Mr. Yarnelle was one of the founders of the Alderman & Yarnelle
company in 1880. Two years later this firm was reorganized and the name
changed to the Mossman-Yarnelle company. He served as
president of the firm from then until 1919, when he was named chairman of the board of
directors. He relinquished all duties in 1930, after his health began to fail.
It was through the efforts of Mr. Yarnelle that the Fort Wayne Rolling Mills was
established here. he served as president of that concern for a time. In 1918 he was
elected president of the American Iron, Steel & Heavy Hardware National association.
He became a member of the association advisory board after serving in that office one
year, and was active in the organization until 1930.
Mr. Yarnelle was a leader in many other Fort Wayne businesses. He was a vice-president
of Sherman White & company, vice-president and director of the former First National
Bank, vice-president and director of the Citizen's Trust company,
and vice-president of the W. E. Doud Building corporation.
Business matters did not take up all Mr. Yarnelle's time, however, He was a member of
the old Hayden (Haydn) quartet, a famous local singing organization which sang
together for more than 40 years. Mr. Yarnelle was a member and an elder of the First
Presbyterian church. He sang in the church choir for more than 40 years. In 1920
he donated a set of chimes to the church in memory of his wife,
Mrs. Alice Moffett Yarnelle, who died in 1918.
Active Civic Worker
The deceased was active in civic events. He was a member of the board of park
commissioners during the administration of Mayor Jessie
Grice and again during the term of Mayor William C.
Geake. In 1927 he donated a tract of land to the park system at the
Jefferson street approach to Swinney park. This tract has been beautified, and greatly
enhances the park. Mr. Yarnelle was one of the leaders in the creation of a fund to
erect the monument to the late Col. D. N. Foster,
which now stands in Swinney park.
He was a member of the old Commercial club, and was a leader in the 1926 campaign to
erect the present chamber of commerce building. During the days of the Commercial
club he instituted the round-table discussion idea, which practice has been carried
down to the present chamber of commerce. He also instituted the Good Morning club
at the chamber of commerce, and his cheery salute to friend and stranger alike as he
walked down the city's streets brought him many loyal friends.
Mr. Yarnelle was a charter member and the first president of the Fort Wayne Quest
club. He was an honorary member of the University club, a member of the Fort
Wayne-Allen County Historical society, the Izaak Walton league and the Y. M. C. A.
He was a Thirty-third degree Mason, receiving that honor in 1926. He was a member of
the Scottish Rite, Mizpah Shrine temple and the Jesters.
During the World war Mr. Yarnelle took a leading role in many of the financial
campaigns conducted in Fort Wayne. He was chairman of the second Allen county War
Work drive conducted by the Y. M. C. A., and served as district chairman for the
United War Work campaign.
Charities also benefited greatly from mr. Yarnelle's activities. He was a member
of the committee in charge of the establishment of the Pixley Relief home. Mr. Yarnelle
was interested in the Boy Scout movement, and served on the Scout Court of Honor for
many years.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Hugh G. Keegan of this
city; two sons, E. Ralph Yarnelle, of Philadelphia, Pa., and
W. Page Yarnelle of this city; a brother,
William R. Yarnelle of Wabash; a sister,
Mrs. Mary E. McGrew Seattle, Wash.;
nine grandchildren, Miss Margaret Ann Keegan,
Mrs. Robert C. Hanna,
Mrs. Harold Pillmore,
James Porter Yarnelle,
Miss Catherine Yarnelle,
Miss Agness Yarnelle,
and Robert Yarnelle Keegan, all of this city,
Mrs. Joseph Helmer of Philadelphia, Pa., and
John Edward Yarnelle, of Litchfield, Conn., and
four great-grandchildren.
contributed by Mary Lou Clegg, 24 8m 2001