Biography of Jared G. Yarnell, Berks Co., Pennsylvania

JARED G. YARNELL, a highly esteemed retired citizen of West Reading borough, Pa., who was for many years engaged in contracting in Spring Township, Berks County, was born Feb. 23, 1840, in Bern Township, son of George and Margaret (Lerch) Yarnell. The Yarnell family is of old English Quaker stock. Francis and Peter Yarnell came from their native land* with the Hugheses, Boones, Penroses, Kirbys, and Lightfoots, and settled in Oley township. They were of the fifty or more families who had been left out when the township was erected. The people to the "south part of Oley" therefore petitioned the Court at Philadelphia, in 1741, to erect that part into a township. The petition was granted.
[The "native land" isn't England, as the previous sentence implies, but rather the land of their nativity - birthplace. - RDY.]

Among the sixteen signers to this petition were Francis and Peter Yarnell, one of whom was the great-grandfather of Jared G. Peter Yarnell, grandfather of Jared G., had a brother Jasper, who was a blacksmith by trade, and who had settled in Maidencreek township prior to 1800; in 1802, he bought a tract of land in that district from Michael Dunkel. The Yarnell family was related by marriage to the Lightfoot family of the Revolutionary days. Peter Yarnell, the grandfather, is buried at the Quaker Meeting House in Maiden-creek township. He married Maria Yarnall (the original spelling of the name), and their one son, George, was born Aug. 4, 1793, in Maiden-creek township.

George Yarnell, son of Peter, obtained a fair education in the local schools and learned the shoemaking trade, which, however, he did not follow. He worked at the carpenter's trade, and also followed farming, having a small tract of land in Bern township, near "Leinbach's Hotel," where he died April 23, 1842, and was buried at Epler's Church. Mr Yarnell married Margaret Lerch, born Jan. 3, 1803 in Bern Township, daughter of John and Margaret (Steffe) Lerch, who died Sept. 27, 1888, and was buried beside her husband. They were members of the Reformed Church, and in politics Mr. Yarnell was a Whig.

To George and Margaret (Lerch) Yarnell there were born these children: Mary, born Feb 16, 1825, is unmarried and resides at the Home for Widows and single Women, Reading; Reuben J., born Jan 1, 1831, died unmarried Feb 17, 1861; Catherine, born April 26, 1837, married Henry R. Tobias, of Bern township: and Jared G.

Jared G. Yarnell attended the schools of Bern township and the Normal school for two terms, and then taught two winters in Bern and Brecknock townships, after which he learned the stone mason's trade, which he followed in connection with stone cutting for several years. He engaged for a short time in boating on the Schuylkill canal, and in 1867 engaged in the contracting business, beginning operations in this line by building the Albright school house in Bern township. He built ten county bridges, the waterworks at Fleetwood, the Maiden Creek pumping station and pipe line, and did a great deal of sewer contracting in the city, also breaking the ground for the City Park at Reading. For twenty-five years he did work for the city and county. In 1884 he located in West Reading, where he built fifteen private residences, but since 1905 he has been living retired.

On Sept. 18, 1906, Mr. Yarnell met with an accident, through which he lost his left leg, eight and one-half inches below the knee.

At the beginning of the Civil war Mr. Yarnell enlisted in Company E. 42nd regiment for the State defense, and in 1864 reenlisted, becoming on Sept., 2d, a private in Company II, 205th PA V. I., with which he served until the close of the war, being with the Army of the Potomac. For many years Mr. Yarnell was a member of Keim Post, G. A. R. He was raised a Mason in 1882, belongs to Chandler Lodge, No 227, F. & A. M., Reading Commandery No. 12, and Excelsior Chapter, No 237. He was a member of LuLu Temple, of Philadelphia, and a charter member of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Reading. In politics he is a stanch Republican, being one of the first councilmen of West Reading, and a prime mover in the establishment of the borough. He is a member of Bethany Lutheran Church of which he has been an elder since 1902.

On Feb. 10, 1867, Mr. Yarnell was married to Katie M. Adams. of Cumru township, daughter of Amos and Mary A. (Moore) Adams. One child has been born to this union: Charles W., alderman of the Fifth ward of Reading, who married Sarah, daughter of Albert Franks.