The death of Jacob Yost, Sr. of Carroll Township, was one of our oldest citizens. From his son Augustine Yost I have the following.
Jacob Yost, Sr. was of the German parentage. His father located near Chambersburg, Pa., where the subject of this notice was born in the year 1788, and 15 years later came with his parents to this country. They settled first near Munster, but shortly afterwards moved on a farm about 2 miles east of Ebensburg. In the year 1815 they moved to a farm 4 miles south of Carrolltown and made arrangements to purchase it, but through some deficit in the title the bargain fell through and after a residence of 1 year then moved again to the farm now occupied by the 2 sons of Mr. Yost, and where he and his father both died.
Jacob Yost married and had 8 children- 2 sons and 6 daughters, all of whom are yet living. He was the grandparent of 68 grandchildren and great grandfather of 17 children. One sister of the deceased was married to Emericus Bender, and the other Mrs. Elizabeth Holder, settled on the Pike near Ebensburg, and was brutally murdered by 2 men named Flanagan on the on the 21st day of July 1842. Two others married sisters of the deceased settled on farms adjoining to this place. Jacob Yost's father died a number of years ago at the advanced age of 85 and lies buried at Loretto. The wife of the former died about 2 years ago, aged 73, and her remains repose by the side of her husband in the Carrolltown graveyard. The deceased on one occasion, shortly after moving here, went out in the quest of a couple of oxen which had strayed away. He had not proceeded far when he had observed a large bear advancing toward him with decidedly hostile intentions, and he made up his mind that not be healthy to wait until he would come up. Fortunately a tall sapling stood near, and he lost no time in climbing it. The bear followed as far as the foot of the tree, but it was too small to enable him to climb up, and he complacently sat down and waited for some time until his patience was at length exhausted and he moved off, much to the relief of Mr. Yost. He also stated that when out gunning on one occasion he shot 4 deer, without leaving the position he had chosen to watch for them, and during one winter he killed over 50 wild turkey.
Mr. Yost was an honest and industrious man, and his years of toil were rewarded by a handsome competence. He was a consistant member of the Catholic Church and attended services here until a short time of his death. For several years past he had made his home with Mr. Augustine Yost, who finally done all that he could to smooth the pathway of his declining years, at the patriarchial age of 81 he was called home to the reward of a well spent life. |
