Biography - Samuel Yantis
SAMUEL YANTIS is a farmer located on section 30, of Pickaway Township.
He pays particular attention to the breeding of Polled Angus cattle and is
the owner of a fine farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres, all of
which is under a high state of cultivation, he has redeemed this land from
crude unbroken prairie and has made it prolific to an astonishing degree. He
has occupied the farm since 1858, having thereon a fine residence that is
not only comfortable and conveniently arranged, but is attractive and
elegant. There are also barns that are filled to bursting with the products
of the place.
Mr. Yantis' farm bears an orchard in which are two hundred and fifty trees
which are good fruitbearers. The place is well watered and stocked. Our
subject has lived in this township and county since his boyhood. He was born
in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 20, 1834, and is the eldest son of Daniel
and Elizabeth (Longenbough) Yantis, natives of Ohio, being there reared and
married. In 1853 they came as a family to Illinois, traveling thither by the
overland route and living a camp life on the way. They finally located in
what is now Pickaway Township, this county, and here they began. They were
in reduced circumstances but soon secured some new land and began the work
of making new homes. The tracts which they secured proved to he the best
land in the county and they have ever since made this location their home.
The father of the large family of which our subject is the eldest, is still
living and enjoying the afternoon of life, serene in the knowledge that he
has earned his rest by early toil. Here it was that our subject grew up,
lovingly cared for by his parents but early learning the rigors of pioneer
life. He remained under the home roof until he became of age, and has since
been working on his own account. He procured one hundred and sixty acres of
fine land upon which he still lives. Mr. Yantis is one of the substantial
men of the township, and a genial, good-natured fellow who is loved and
respected by all who know him.
Mr. Yantis' marriage occurred in this township and county, November 5, 1857.
His wife's maiden name was Miss Amanda E. Miller. She was born in Fairfield
County, Ohio, in 1836, being the daughter of C. P. Miller, of whom see the
biographical sketch of W. C. Miller. When only four years of age Mrs. Yantis
came with her parents to Illinois and settled on Robinson Creek, this
county, where she was reared and educated. She is the eldest of the family
and is an intelligent and capable woman, being one of the energetic,
ambitious representatives of her sex in this township where she has become
well known and much liked.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of ten children, three of whom are
now deceased: Catherine was the wife of S. B. Cole; she died leaving one
child, now also deceased. William and Henrietta died early in life. The
living children are: George, Mary A., Lydia J., Ellen, Harvey and David. Of
these the first mentioned took to wife Emma Frietz, and is engaged in
farming in this county; Mary A. is the wife of George M. Longenbough, a
farmer in Colorado owning an extensive ranch; Lydia J. is the wife of
Stephen Cole, a farmer in this township; Ellen married Harry Hunter who also
owns a farm in this township; the two youngest sons are still under the home
roof.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 303.
