REFN: 4899
His father wanted him to be a Presbyterian Minister. He graduated from
Washington College, Washington Co., Tn. in 1804. He did not take to the
ministry but became a weaver, farmer, carpenter, teacher, and justice of the
peace. He was often called "the preacher" by his brothers.
The story told ofhim by his son William Henry Harrison Yeager in his History
of the Yeager Family, written about 1888, illustrates well some of the
hardships of pioneer life. It shows him trying to farm without a horse, walking
all the way from Indiana to Tennessee to visit his father, leaving his family
for 15 months to try his fortune in New Orleans, and the like.
Nicholas and his second wife, Henrietta came to Terre Haute about 1817 from
Middletown by way of Miami, OH andthe Wabash River traveling on a raft.
Nicholas left his grown children by Polly Robinson who died about 1815 since
he married Henrietta Bailey in 1816.
In 1836 Nicholas moved with his 2nd wife and their children to Louisiana.
(There is no Sparta, LA listed in my atlas.)
In the 1850 Bienville Parish, LA Census 356-P273R, Nicholas Yeager, age 66,
born TN, Teacher, is listed with his wife, Henrietta, age 63, born TN.
Data from the Broyles Family Letter based on the typescript by Dr. Arthur
Leslie Keith with additions by John KennethBroyles, Sr. and furnished by
Richard Yeager of Bothell, WA confirms much ofthe above and add other details
and descendants but lists death location asVirgo, IN. In view of the 1850
census, Edwin's data appears to be correct.
"A Short Sketch or Biography of the Ancestry and Lives of the Yeager Family for
One Hundred and Fifty Years Back." William Henry Harrison Yeager, written in
the year 1888 or 1889.
Note from the writer: "The writer of this sketch is guided mainly by the facts
gathered from his father some sixty or sixty-five years ago although my memory
is tolerably good, perhaps, it may not serve me in many particulars, especially
the precise dates of the months and years so far back as I refer to."
"My father NICHOLAS YEAGER was born in the year A.D. 1784on September 3rd in
Washington County, East Tennessee in six miles of the town of Jonesbrough where
his father lived at that time. He was kept in school from a small boy till ten
or twelve years old and then sent to one of the higherschools in the town and
kept in it until about 19 or 20 years old. His fatherhad him graduated for a
Presbyterian Minister but my father did not take up with the calling his father
alloted him to. He had a conscience to think he should not preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ not being changed from Nature to Grace which thing did not happen
until he was in his sixtieth year.
"My grandfather moved to White County, middle Tennessee, near the town of
Sparta, the county seat about the time my father completed his education. His
other brothers used to call him the preacher. He lived a single man until his
twenty-third year and then married my mother whose name was POLLY ROBINSON, who
was reared in Culpeper County, Virginia, who was about two years his junior.
Shortly after their marriage, they emmigrated to Kentucky near Lexington in two
miles of the town. And here my oldest brother was born, Vincent YEAGER; but
father only stopped there two years and then emmigrated to Ohio and settled in
Middletown, Butler County, which was the latter part of the year 1809. There my
father took up the occupation of a weaver in making all kinds of cloth common
in that day that was worn on the body, and also around the beds as above
stated. The oldest of the family was born in Kentucky, brother Vincent, was
born in June, the eighth, 1808. The next of the family was born a daughter on
the eleventh of December A.D. 1809, who lived to be married and had one child,
a son, and then died the twenthieth year of her age. The third child was also a
daughter, her name was Eliza, who was born October 8, 1811, who a

• Married: Abt 1807 in White Co.,TN

1. Vincent Yeager b: 8 JUN 1808 in Lexington,Fayette,KY
2. Louise Yeager b: 11 DEC 1809
3. Eliza Yeager b: 8 OCT 1811
4. William Henry Harrison Yeager b: 23 FEB 1814
5. Nancy Harrison Yeager b: 23 FEB 1814

• Married: 15 MAR 1816 in Middletown,Butler Co.,OH

1. John Bailey Yeager b: 2 MAR 1817 in Middletown,Butler Co.,OH
2. James Calvert Yeager b: 30 MAY 1819 in Terre Haute,Vigo Co.,IN
3. Mary Yeager b: 27 AUG 1821 in Terre Haute,Vigo Co.,IN
4. Clarissa Yeager b: 7 OCT 1824 in Terre Haute,Vigo Co.,IN
5. Clement B. Yeager b: 27 APR 1828 in Prairie Creek,Virgo Co.,IN
6. Solomon Nicholas Yeager b: 2 JUN 1831 in Prairie Creek,Virgo Co.,IN