My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE YEAGER, one of the oldest residents of Pottstown, who lives retired in that borough, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Christmas day, 1815. He is the son of Michael and Mary (Evans) Yeager.

Michael Yeager (father) was a lifelong merchant in Reading, as well as one of its most prominent citizens. He was one of the largest property owners in Berks county. He was an active church member, belonging to the Lutheran denomination. He and his wife died many years ago, and were buried in the beautiful Charles Evans cemetery at Reading, whose name is derived from the same family to which the wife of Michael Yeager belonged. Mr. Yeager was a Whig in politics, but never took a very active part in partisan affairs and never sought or held office. The Yeagers belonged to the family which originally spelled the name Yager, a German word, of which the English signification is Hunter. Many of the family have anglicized the name to that of Hunter, and are related to the Yeagers of Berks county and Upper Montgomery. The family was very prominent in Germany during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The opportunities of George Yeager for obtaining an education was very meagre, as the entire time he spent at school did not exceed six months. From early youth he devoted himself actively to business, in which he was very successful from the beginning. He first learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some time, then taking up successively the occupations of masonry, cabinet making and the contracting and building business, in connection with which he carried on the feed and coal business at Reading. He acted as superintendent of the Union Canal for thirty-two years, constructing a large part of it, those engaged in the work being under his supervision and control and following out his plans. In many sections of Reading can be seen old and substantial buildings which were erected by Mr. Yeager. At one time he had over a thousand men on his pay roll, a very large number for that day. Mr. Yeager was active in business until a few years ago, when his health began to fail, compelling him to relinquish most of his business enterprises.

Mr. Yeager married Elizabeth Sherman, of Reading. The couple had four children: Evans, George, Morris (deceased), and Sherman. (George and Evans served in the Union army during the Rebellion). Mr. Yeager married (second wife) Ellen Hains, and had one child, Ellen (deceased). Mr. Yeager married (third wife) Catharine Fichthorn, by whom he had three children: Lehman, Harry, deceased, and Annie. His wife died about 1886. Mr. Yeager has two great-grandchildren. He enjoys life as much as ever, but would prefer the more active life to which he was formerly accustomed. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Lodge No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons, of Reading. He was also one of the first members of the Odd Fellows, in Reading.