Biography of Ziba S. Yarnall, Gage County, Nebraska

"ZIBA S. YARNALL, ESQ., is a representative citizen of Highland Township, residing on section 4. He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1841, and is a son of Aaron and Harriet Yarnall, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The paternal ancestors came to America from Scotland previous to the Revolutionary War, and the maternal ancestors were from Wales. Our subject was the second son and third child in his father's family, and he spent his early life on a farm, engaged in the various duties of a rural life, and received a good academic education. The time passed quickly until he became about twenty years old, at which time the war began, and he enlisted, on the 19th of December. 1861, in the 6th Ohio Independent Light Artillery. He participated in the battles of Farmington, Mo., Island No. 10, New Madrid, the battle of Farmington near Corinth, Miss., Stone River, McMinnville, Tenn., and Chickamauga, where he received a wound in the left leg, which disabled him so much that he was obliged to have it amputated in 1882. He was honorably discharged on the 18th of November, 1864, after having given proof of a valiant and courageous spirit.

After his release from the service of his country, our subject returned to Harrison County, Ohio, where he was married, on the 6th of September, 1866, to Miss Martha Logan, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Logan, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 28th of May, 1830. By their marriage they have become the parents of four children, of whom we have the following record: Mary is the wife of Henry M. Heustis, of Chase County, this State; John B. and Hattie N. are at home; William F. is deceased. In the spring of 1867 our subject removed to Marion County, Iowa, where he resided until the fall of 1871, when he removed to Poweshiek County. There he remained until the fall of 1883, when he once more changed his residence and came to Gage County, making his home on his present farm on section 4. The home farm contains eighty acres of land, which has been well improved and yields abundant harvests of cereals and general farm produce.

Our subject is prominently connected with the G. A. R., Monitor Post No. 184, of Cortland, and is now serving as Senior Vice Commander, his honorable war record entitling him to a prominent place in the order. He and his wife and family are members of the Congregational Church, and are active members of society, respected by all who know them. During his residence in Poweshiek County he served for three years as Justice of the Peace, and is now serving his third term of the same office in Highland Township. He has served as a School Director and is now serving his second year as Treasurer of his school district. In recompense for his service in behalf of the country he receives from the Government a pension of $30 per month, which, although it by no means compensates him for the loss of so valuable a member of the body, is yet a mark of appreciation which should not be withheld from any wounded soldier. He is a Republican in politics, and one of the leading citizens of his township.

Mrs. Yarnall is a native of Allegheny County, Pa., of which State her parents, Samuel and Eliza Logan, are also natives. Her paternal grandfather, John Logan, was a native of North Ireland, of Scottish descent, who came to America and settled in Kentucky about the time Daniel Boone made his residence there. He was one of a military company who went out with the intention of driving away the Indians who had proved very troublesome, but unfortunately all the company were killed with the exception of two men, one of whom was the grandfather of Mrs. Yarnall. He subsequently removed to Pennsylvania, and to him does this branch of the Logan family trace their ancestry. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Yarnall, James Fulton, was a native of the United States, but his father was a native of Ireland and of Scotch descent. Her mother's uncle, William Fulton, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was killed in the battle in which Gen. Harmer was defeated. Her mother's brother, Samuel Fulton, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and yet still farther has this family been distinguished by the possession of military heroes, her great-great-great-grandfather having been a soldier under William Prince of Orange, and fought at the battle of the Boyne (so tradition says), and was a Scotchman by birth. Her brothers, Harvey and Bennington Logan, were soldiers in the late War of the Rebellion, as were also two brothers of Mr. Yarnall, named James and John.

When she was about twelve years old Mrs. Yarnall with her parents, moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where they remained until their death, that of the father occurring in 1865, at the age of sixty-three years, and that of the mother in the year 1877, when she was seventy-four years old. Of ten children born in their family seven survive, and of them we have the following record: Alexander remains in Harrison County, Ohio; Martha, the wife of our subject: Lucinda wife of J. M. Ross, of Smith County, Kan.; William D., of Tuscarawas County, Ohio; Harvey, of Cowley County, Kan.; Bennington T., of Muskingum County, Ohio, and Sarah, also in Tuscarawas County. The three members of the family who are deceased bore the names James, John and Thompson.