The Yancey Families of Lafayette County, Missouri

PAUL W. YANCEY.

Paul W. Yancey was born in Middleton township, Lafayette county, Missouri, in 1866, and is the son of John F. and Mary C. (Hinton) Yancey, both natives of Virginia. The father was born on April 14, 1825, and his death occurred on February 20, 1898. He was the son of John S. and Sarah W. (Farquhar) Yancey, who were Virginians, the former born July 28, 1795, and the latter on April 10, 1802. They were married January 20, 1820. John S. Yancey died in October, 1846, and his wife died about 1870. John S. Yancey came to Missouri and settled in Saline county about 1840, locating near Malta Bend, about ten miles west of that town. He "was an extensive farmer and large slaveholder and was a skilled surveyor. He became well and most favorably known in Saline county. The great-grandfather of Paul W. Yancey was a surveyor and when a young man he had the honor of accompanying George Washington on surveying trips. The father of the subject was educated at a medical school in St. Louis, and after completing his course he returned to Waverly, this county, and was successfully engaged in practice there many years. During the Civil war he was an army surgeon under Gen. Joe Shelby. After the war he returned to Waverly and resumed his practice, living there until 1879, when he moved to Colorado, where he practiced a few years, then returned to Waverly and practiced until his death. He was one of the best known and most successful physicians in the county and ranked high not only in professional circles, but in public and social life, being a high-minded, genteel gentleman. His widow is making her home with her son, Paul W. Doctor Yancey was a Democrat and he took much interest in political affairs, but never aspired to public office. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his family also belong, and he was a Mason. Seven children were born to Doctor Yancey and wife, four of whom are still living, three sons and one daughter. He was one of the first doctors in Waverly and was in partnership while with Dr. S. W. Brown.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tribute of admiration and respect to those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride. Among the citizens of Lafayette county who are well known because of their success in agriculture and the part they have played as a true public-spirited citizen is Leyton Yancey, who was born at Waverly, this county. June 26, 1868. He is the son of Dr. John F. Yancey, mentioned in the sketch of Paul W. Yancey. He was educated in the common schools and the Wentworth Military Academy at Lexington, also attended Central College at Fayette, Missouri. Entering life for himself, he became editor and manager of The Progress at Independence, Missouri, and afterwards was instrumental in starting a daily edition of the same paper. He then went to Idaho and spent two years in silver and lead mining at Hailey. His next move was to Los Angeles, California, where he became a general reporter on the Herald. After remaining there about a year, he went to Redlands, California, and secured employment on the Redlands Daily Facts. He then became editor and manager of the Redlands Daily Review, which position he held about a year. He then entered the employ of the Spahr Fruit Company of Glendale, California, as a general man, and in a short time became assistant superintendent of the house. He afterwards became court reporter for the San Bernardino Daily Sun at San Bernardino, that state.

Finally returning to Waverly, Missouri, on December 19, 1906, Mr. Yancey married Bessie D. Ashurst, a cultured lady of the old Blue Grass state. One child, John Leyton, has graced this union.

Since returning from the Pacific coast Mr. Yancey has successfully operated one hundred and sixty acres of land, southwest of Waverly. Although a forceful writer and able manager of newspapers, Mr. Yancey prefers the freedom and quiet of a rural life, which is much more preferable, as all who have tried the two will readily attest. He has a neat and attractively located home and such outbuildings and modern farming machinery as his needs require, and he keeps some good livestock.

Mr. Yancey has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons since he was twenty-one years of age. Politically he is a Democrat, and before going West he was very active in local politics, and has made his influence felt in this direction since his return. Personally he is a very pleasant gentleman, unassuming, genteel, well informed on the current topics of the day and always ready to support any measure having for its object the advancement of the community and state, and he is eminently deserving of the confidence and respect which all freely accord him wherever the circle of his acquaintance extends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL R. YANCEY.

It would seem strange if one who has such an example of correct, living as was left to Mr. Yancey by his progenitors, — men brave in war, strong and reliable in peace, possessors of those qualities which gave to them influence over others; women who never failed in their duty as wives and mothers, who "were true aids to their husbands and the best of guides to their children, — it would be strange if he should live any other than the upright, honorable, influential life which he has lived.

Samuel R. Yancey was born in Washington comity, Virginia, September 30. 1852, the son of Stephen L. and Katherine (Morell) Yancey. Stephen Yancey was born in South Carolina and moved to Georgia with his father when young. He served in the Civil war under Colonel Peters. In July, 1866, he reached Washington township, Lafayette county, having made the journey overland by wagon, bought land there, and made his home there until his death, in May, 1894. He was one of a family of five brothers and five sisters; one of the brothers, who was a captain in the Civil war, was killed at Atlanta, Georgia. Stephen Yancey was a Democrat, and he and his wife were Methodists. His wife, now ninety years old, is living with her son Samuel. She was the daughter of John M. Morell, a planter and blacksmith in Virginia, who owned a wagon and plow factory employing many men, and was well known and one of the prominent citizens of his community. He was the father of a large family, and died during the Civil war. Two of his sons were members of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry and one of them was killed in the war. A cousin and a nephew of Mrs. Yancey were also killed in that war. Her family are stanch Methodists. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Yancey were the parents of the following children: John, deceased; Florence, deceased; Mary, wife of M. C. Brown, of Texas, has a family of two children; Samuel R.; Alice, wife of T. M. Glover, of Minnesota, has a family of three; Katherine, wife of George E. Hawkins, of British Columbia, has a family of five; Milton A., deceased; David, farmer of Washington township (see his sketch), and Anna, deceased wife of S. M. Dalhouse, had family of four.

Samuel Yancey remained with his father until he was thirty-five years of age, then rented for six years, and in 1893 bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has improved very much. On November 23, 1887, he Xvas married to Nellie B. Moss, daughter of David and Martha Moss, of Warren county, Kentucky, where Mr. Yancey was married. Mr. and Mrs. Yancey have no children. They are members of the Methodist church and he is a Democrat. He has followed general farming and has made a specialty to some extent of Shorthorn cattle, having registered some of his herd.

Mr. Yancey's farming has been marked by intelligent application and has been profitable. He is a man whose many good traits of character have gained for him friends throughout the neighborhood and have made him esteemed by all who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVID L. YANCEY.

No farmer can predict much of his success in a single year's farming before his crops are harvested. Even with the very best of cultivation, our weather is such that crops for one year may be a total failure. There are methods of cultivation which will enable crops to pass through ordinary irregularities in weather, but none which will insure certainty. Good farmers have found that the average of the weather for a term of years is nearly the same as that of a similar term at any time and therefore that if he plants approximately the same acreage in the same crops each year he will come out ahead in the end, the good seasons counterbalancing the bad, but that if he varies his operations much from year to year that he can count with certainty on no particular success.

David L. Yancey was born in Washington county, Virginia, on August 12, 1 86 1, the son of Stephen L. and Katherine Yancey. His father was born in South Carolina, went to Virginia a young man, served through the Civil war,' then came to this county of Missouri in 1866, and settled in Washington township near Mount Hope, buying one hundred and twenty acres of land. This farm he improved and dwelt upon until his death in 1894. His widow, who lives with his brother, is now eighty-eight years old. She was born and brought up in Virginia. They were the parents of nine children, five daughters and four sons, seven of whom grew up, and two brothers and three sisters of whom are still living.

David Yancey received his education in the common schools and joined with his brother in farming until 1889, when he went back to the old place, which he has cultivated since, and has added to until now it consists of two hundred and sixty acres, and by his good farming has improved its fertility, taking from it excellent crops.

On March 1, 1893, Mr. Yancey married Sadie E. McFarland, the daughter of Jasper McFarland, a farmer of Johnson county. They are the parents of five children: Beulah, Speed. Lloyd, Lee and Gordon, all living at home, healthy, active and interesting young folks. The family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Yancey is a member of the Mutual Benefit Association and is a Democrat in politics. In most respects his life has been as pleasant as it is prosperous, and though there have been incidents and times which have been unfavorable, his friends can testify to the value of his character, and his family and surroundings speak well enough as to the pleasantness and prosperity which he enjoys.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.