Biography for Thomas Yarnold
Source: various articles and information sheets Dr. Thomas Yarnold was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, on March 12, 1807. His parents being well off he was enabled to get a good education and indulged in the sports of the country, and being fond of following the hounds became an expert rider. This accomplishment stood him good stead when later in life he became a surgeon to some mining work in South Wales. He graduated at King College and married on Nov. 29, 1847 at Bathwick Church, Bathwick, England to a Miss Louisa Thacher, by whom he had three children. Children by his first wife: At the time of the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837 he had an excellent practice in London. At the outbreak of the Crimean War he entered Her Majesty's army as a surgeon and served with great energy and credit. His wife having died, he married Miss Mary Ann Watkins in 1857, left England with his three children, and after some travel in this country settled in 1860 on a farm near Clinton, Douglas County, Kansas. Children by his second wife: He soon developed a practice in and about Clinton and kept it by prompt attention and enthusiastic devotion to his profession. The Yarnold School District No. 40, Kanwaka Twp., in Douglas Co. was organized in 1864, and named for Dr. Yarnold, who had built a stone house of six rooms a short distance east of the school site. The school was sited on about one acre of ground in the SE 1/4 of Sec. 33 T12 R18. The first school building was a log cabin, and the second building was of native limestone. A third limestone school building replaced the second building, and this structure still stands, and is now used as a private residence. In 1870 Dr. Yarnold moved to Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas, and added to his practice many patients from among the English residents. Gradually with advancing years he confined himself more and more to office practice until in 1883, when he gave up altogether. Later he divided his time pretty nearly equally among the three daughters by his second wife. Soon after coming to Lawrence he and his family became active members of Trinity Church, and to his energy and foresight in the management of its finances the church is greatly indebted for success in tiding over its hardest and grasshopper times (1874). He was of a gently and kindly disposition, an excellent father and the kindest of husbands; was always glad to welcome his friends and those of his children at his home. Dr. Yarnold died at the age of 88, on March 17, 1895, having enjoyed fifty years of active practice in his profession to which he was an honor. He is buried in sec. 6, Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas. His second wife, Mrs. Mary Ann (Watkins) Yarnold was born in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, on Feb. 28, 1833. They married March 11, 1857 at Bedminster Church, Bedminster, England. They emigrated to the United States very soon after their wedding. She died in 1885, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas. The doctor's five surviving children at the time of his death were: Mrs. H. M. (Jemima) Sault, Las Vegas, N.M.; Edwin T. Yarnold, Medford, Grant Co., Okla.; Mrs. Anna M. Moyes, Lawrence, Kas.; Mrs. F. M. (Amelia) Alexander, El Reno, Okla.; and Mrs. T. A. (Lilly) Pollock, Kansas City, Kansas. |
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