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From Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905), Portrait and biographical album of Des Moines County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county .. (1888)
SAAC J. YOHE, a prominent and representative I farmer, residing on section 4, Franklin Town- /li ship, Des Moines Co., Iowa, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Washington County, Pa., June 16, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (McPherson) Yohe, the father a native of Washington County, the mother of M.ar3land. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living: Robert, an extensive farmer and breeder of Holstein cattle, residing in Wayne County, Iowa; Daniel, a farmer of Nuckolls County, Neb.; William, who is engaged in farming in Kearney County, Neb.; Thomas a locomotive engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; Margaret, wife of Robert Baird, who is engaged in farming in Nuckolls County, Neb.; Ada, wife of George Ringley, an extensive farmer of Wayne County, Iowa; and Isaac J. On the 4th of May, 1866, when forty-two 3'ears of age, Mrs. Yohe was called to her final home. The following year the family removed to AVayne County, Iowa, and there the father improved a farm, upon which he resided until the past few years, since which time he has lived a retired life, making his home near Allerton. Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yohe were members of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been an elder for many 3'ears. He has been one of the active and progressive men of the country, was Captain in the Pennsylvania State Militia for some time, and filled the office of Justice of the Peace in that State for twenty consecutive years. In all public affairs Mr. Yohe stands in the front rank. In earlier years he strong!y opposed slavery, and in his political predilections he is a Democrat.
Isa,ac J. Yohe received his education in his native county, and in early life learned the art of painting in its different branches, being both a sign and ornamental painter. He became vety proficient in this work, alw.avs receiving the best prices for his labor, and under his supervision the finishing touches have been put to many of the finest residences in Des Moines County. When twenty years of age Mr. Yohe decided to follow the advice of Horace Greeley: "Go West, young man, go West," and started for Des Moines County, Iowa. Upon reaching his destination, he at once secured eraplo3'ment at his chosen vocation, which he continued until 1876, when Mr. Yohe laid aside the brush and commenced f.irving, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 4 and forty' acres on section 16 of Franklin Township.
On the 24th of November, 1875, Mr. Yohe was married to Miss Mary J. McDonald, a n.ative of Montour County, Pa., born Nov. 4, 1851. She is a laughter of James and Penelope (Ball) McDonald, her father being now a farmer of Franklin Township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Yohe — Raymond, James, Margaret and Leslie. In hi.s political views Mr. Yohe is a Democrat, though very liberal in his ideas; he takes an active interest in all public enterprises, being one of Des Moines County's best citizens, and is a member of Diamond Lodge, No. 326, I. O. O. F., at Sperry; was one of its first initiated members, and has filled the various chairs in the lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Yohe are both members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Yohe descended from the good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having served in the War for Independence, and also in the War of 1812. He is regarded as a valuable citizen of the county, and an honorable and upright man.
LIJAH W. BANDY has been a resident of Yellow Spring Township for almost half a ij century. Here he was born.March 25, 1840, and is a son of John and Mary (Vannice) Bandy. John Bandy came to Des Moines County in 1838, settling upon the farm where our subject now lives. He was a wheelwright by trade, but during his residence in Iowa, was engaged in tilling the soil. Twelve children were born to them, ten in Indiana, and two in this county, of whom nine are now living, two being residents of the county, and four of the sons were soldiers in the late AVar. William, now a farmer in Scott County, Minn., was a soldier in the 4th Minnesota Infantry; Isaac died in this county in 1884; Rachel became the wife of S. A. Hall, a resident of Santa Cruz, C.al.; Thomas resides in Brookings County, Dak.; John, who lives in Fairfield, Iowa, and is engaged in dairying, was a soldier in the 2d Iowa Cavalry; Samuel is engaged in farming on section I'J, Yellow Spring Township; Peter is a merchant of Holt County, Mo.; Henry died.at the age of twenty years and eleven months, in September, 1853; J.acob F., a soldier in the 2d Iowa Cavalry, served from 1861 to 18G5, as Captain of Company K, and died Oct. 11, 1878, near Memphis, Tenn.; Lee A. is the wife of L. B. Pierce, of Winfleld, Iowa; our subject is next in order of birth: and Catherine is the wife of Isaiah Messenger, who is engaged in the manufacture of tile at Fairfield. low.a. The father of these children, who was born in 1794, died at an advanced age, May 5, 1873. His wife, who was born in 1799, died.June 2, 1881. They were both active members in the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Bandy was an Elder for thirty-five years, and his aid was largely given to the advancement of the cause. In his earlier life he cast his ballot with the Whig party, but later became a Republican. He also served in the War of 181 2, and was a native of Virginia, and his wife of Mercer County, Ky.
There are few men in the county who can boast of having been born and reared upon a farm where they now reside, but this is true of Mr. Bandy. His early education was received in the district schools, supplemented by a course in the Yellow Spring College. At the age of twenty-one, in 1861, he enlisted under the stars and stripes, becoming a member of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, and serving three 3'ears. He participated iti the siege of Corinth, the battles of luka, Black Land, Farraington, Boonville, Rienzi, Paton's Mills, battle of Corinth, Holly Springs, Yockeney River, Water Valley, Collierville, Moscow and Prairie Station, Miss., and in all Mr. Bandy was always found.at his post of duty, serving his country faithfully and well.
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As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Des Moines County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county .. (1888). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ISAAC JAMES YOHE.
Is. \c Ja.mes Vohe, whom to know is to respect and honor because of his well-spent and upright life, has long been identified with agricultural interests in Franklin township] and is also well known in the county because of his activity in political circles. He likewise has wide acquaintance throughout the State as a prominent representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (McPher.son) Yohe. In both the paternal and material lines he is descended from ancestors who were in the.American army in the Revolutionary War. The Yohcs came to this country in 1680, with the first Gennan emigrants who established homes in Pennsylvania. They settled near Easton, where they followed the occu)ation of farming, and Michael Wo\k, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this review, was one of the organizers of the First Lutheran church established west of the.Mleghany mountains. When the Colonies could no longer endure the yoke of British oppression, and rose in arms against the mother country, he joined the Colonial troops, and after the republic was established, he was granted a patent to land in recognition of his services, and located this in Washington county, being one of the first to secure land in that county after that manner. Isaac Yohe, the grandfather, was a soldier of the War of 1812, serving as a captain in a Pennsylvania regiment. Again the loyalty and valor of the family was demonstrated, when in the Civil War Daniel Yohe, father of our subject, became a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania State troops. He was in active service twice, taking part in the battle of Gettysburg. Among the material ancestors of our subject were also those who served in the war for independence.
Daniel Yohe, the father, was both a farmer and a blacksmith, and through the dual pursuit he provided for his family. He continued his residence in Washington county, Pennsylvania, until 1868, when, removing to the 'est, he became a resident of Washington township, Des Moines county, where he was engaged in farming for a year. He then purchased a tract of land of two hundred and forty acres near Allerton, Wayne county, Iowa. This, in 1869, was new land, thereon he made improvements, and there resided, actively engaged in farming until he retired from business life on account of old age, and resided until his death at the home of his son, Thomas Yohe. in Lincoln, Kans. He passed away in July, 1903, and his remains were interred at Lincoln. He was married on the ist of march, 1844, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to iNIiss Margaret McPherson, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Russell) McPherson. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom Isaac J. was the third in order of birth. Both Mr.
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Isaac Yohe acquired his early education in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and afterward became a student in Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, which he attended for two terms. He took up his above in this county in 1868, settling in franklin township, where he has since lived. In his younger years he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for four years. and his savings during that period enabled him to make his first purchase of land. He bought forty acres of land on Section 16, Franklin township, which he improved from the original timber, erecting substantial * buildings thereon, and transforming his tract into productive fields. In 1886 he bought eighty acres on Section 4, Franklin township, and he also owns one hundred acres adjoining in Yellow Springs township, purchasing a part of it in 1895 and the remainder in 1896. He is a general farmer and stock-feeder, having no specialties in his work, but in all the departments of Jiis labor is energetic and enterprising, and carries forward to successful completion whatever claims his attention. He was also one of the original stockholders and incorporators of the JMediapolis Mutual Telephone Company, and his keen sagacity, enterprise, and strong purpose have been salient factors in his success.
On the 24th of November, 1875, Mr. Yohe was married to Miss Mary McDonald,
BIOGRAPHICAL RBI-Hill who died in 1892, leaving four children: Ramon, who is a farmer at Elk City, Kans.; James, Margaret, and Leslie, all at home. His first wife was a daughter of James Mc- Donald, one of the early settlers of this county, and she was born in Franklin township in 1851. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Yohe was again married in 1896, his second union being with Amcrica Wright, who was born in Franklin township. May 16, 1853, and is a daughter of John and Nancy (Woolscy) Wright, who were among the i)pioneer settlers of this township, the father being a respected farmer of the locality for many years. The daughter was reared and educated here. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yohe are devout members of the Predestinarian Baptist denomination, holding membership in the old stone church, which was organized in February, 1840, and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest. Baptist churches in the State. Mr. Yohe served as one of its deacons for many years, and has taken an active and hcli)fnl part in its work, contributing generously to its support. He affiliates with the Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 326, at Sperry, Iowa; has held all of the offices in the local lodge, and has also been district deputy grand master. He is a broad-minded, intelligent man, keeping well informed on the general questions and issues of the day, jjolitical and otherwise, and his efforts in behalf of public progress in his adopted county have been far-reaching and beneficial. A genial manner, deference to the opinions of others, kindliness, and loyalty to high principles, have made him one of the most respected citizens of Franklin township, esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact, while within the closer circle of his friendship, and home life he has endeared himself to many who know him. Since age gave to him the right of franchise, he has supported the Democratic party, and has been township trustee for six years, and clerk for four years. He is still active in the party work, and his services are greatly depended u])on. for he is a capable campaign worker, getting out the vote for the candidates of the party. Indeed, he enters heartily into everything that he undertakes, and his enthusiasm and interest are basic elements in the successful accomplishment of his life work.
As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.