Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1909 — FUNERAL OF IRA W. YEOMAN. [ARTICLE]

FUNERAL OF IRA W. YEOMAN.

KThe funeral of Ira W. Yeoman, vyio died at Remington Tuesday from a cancer in the side of his mouth from which he has suffered more or less for the past dozen years, was held at that place Thursday forenoon and the remains brought to Renselaer for interment in Weston cemetery, where his deceased children lie buried. A widow and six children survive him— George, of Benton county; Adella, Mrs. Harriet Hicks and Frances, of Remington; Stephen of Indianapolis; and Cleve, of New Orleans. V Mr. Yeoman was a life-long Democrat and served four years as auditor of this county. He was a genial, free-hearted man and had hosts of friends. ,

The following biography of him, except for some alterations caused by death, was written by Mr. Yeoman himself some 15 years ago: Ira W. Yeoman was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 28, 1843; he came with his father and family to Jasper county, Indiana, locating near Rensselaer in June 1844. His father, Stephen Yeoman, was of English descent and married Hannah Smith, who was of German descent. To this union were born ten children, viz.: Joseph, Sarah, Elvira, James, Mary, Minerva. Elizabeth, John, Ira W. and Stephen, all of whom are now living except Sarah, John and James. He was educated in the common schpols of Jasper county, mainly, having attended one term in an academy in Dayton, Ohio. He was marred at Rensselaer October, 1866, to Harriet A. Sayers. By this union were born to them nine children, viz.; George 0., Minnie, Cornelia, Ernest, Elvira, Dell, Hattie Bell, Stephen 8., Ira C. and Frances F., all of whom are now living except Minnie, Cornelia and Ernest. He passed the earlier part of his life on a farm and later taught school in the winter seasons. He crossed the plains in 1864, going to the newly discovered gold fields beyond the Yellowstone river in Idaho Territory. He was elected

Auditor of Jasper county, Indiana, in October, 1867, and served as such for four years, and he w r as also a member of the board of town trustees of Rensselaer -for several years. He turned his attention to the study of law in 1871, and was admitted to practice in the Circuit Court in January, 1872. He has followed his chosen profession from that time to the time his sickness compelled him to remain at home, a year or more ago, with the exception of about one year, when he was engaged .in the service of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota railway, at Vinton, lowa, in 1877, after which he returned to Rensselaer, and remained there until October, 1879, when he removed to Goodland and followed his profession until March, 1887, when he removed to Remington, where he resided until his death, Tuesday, at 11 a. m. Mr. Yeoman’s grandfather, Stephen Yeoman, was a soldier and hero of the Revolutionary War. He was an unyielding Whig, and intensely hated by the Tories for his loyalty to Colonial Government- On one occasion he was visited by a band of Tories, who, finding him alone of Tories, who, finding him alone, at the plow, captured him and took him to a tree for the purpose of hanging him, but upon consultation, they agreed to lash him Instead, and having fastened him with his plow lines, each one of them inflicted thirty lashes by means of straps and then fled. He was found bleeding and nearly insensible, from which horrible cruelity he never fully recovered.