Paul W. Yancey

As printed in 1910

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.

The subject's maternal grandparents, Col. David and Elizabeth (Meyers) Hinton, were well known people in pioneer times. He was born in 1786 and died in 1870; his wife was born in 1800 and died in 1840. He served with distinction in the Mexican war and attained the rank of colonel. He left his home in Virginia in 1840 and emigrated to Missouri, locating four miles west of Waverly, Lafayette county, and there became an extensive hemp raiser. He once received a handsome silver pitcher as a prize given by General Shelby for the best hemp grown. He was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Hopkins) Hinton, of Scotch-Irish descent. The parents of Mrs. David Hinton were John and Barbara (Hart) Hinton, he of German descent and she of Swiss ancestry.

Paul W. Yancey was educated at Waverly in a private school under Prof. Jesse Carter; then he attended school in Lexington and was one of the first students in Wentworth Academy; he then went to Central College at Fayette, Missouri. Leaving the schoolroom, he returned to Waverly and began farming near Blackburn. In 1891 he moved to the place where he now resides, five and one-half miles southwest of Waverly. He has one of the choice farms of the county, consisting of five hundred and sixty acres, well improved and neatly kept. He carries on general farming in a manner that at once stamps him as fully abreast of the times in everything pertaining to his chosen vocation. Being a good judge of stock and an admirer of high-grade animals, he has devoted considerable attention to this department of his work, feeding and raising large numbers, which, owing to their usual excellent quality, find a ready market. He has a commodious and beautifully located home and substantial outbuildings, — in fact, everything about the place shows thrift and prosperity and that a gentleman of correct tastes has had its management in hand,

Mr. Yancey was married on December 7, 1891, to Jennie M. Bagley, a representative of a sterling old New England family, she herself having been born in Rutland, Vermont, and she is the daughter of James E. and Mary A. (Spelman) Bagley. Mr. Bagley was a noted civil engineer and for many years held the responsible position of chief engineer of the Vermont Central railroad, and he was also a bridge-builder of note. To Mr. and Mrs. Yancey the following children have been born: Mary S., Kate H., Paul W. and Jennie B., all living at home.

Mrs. Yancey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Yancey is a Democrat and, fraternally, a Royal Arch Mason. He is a man of influence in his community and, having lived a life of honesty and sobriety, he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him and is regarded as a worthy son of a worthy sire in every respect.

As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.