Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
GEORGE YEAKLEY. Crop management is a scheme, not a lot of practices. An important part of it is the rotating or alternating of crops on given areas. In other words, pre-arranged, permanent plans must be carried out in order to obtain the best possible results. The properly managed farm not only becomes an annual income producer, but leads on to what is tantamount of an endowment policy or an annuity during the declining years of the farmer, and, finally, resolves itself into a provision for the family of those the farmer leaves behind at the close of life. One of the most successful general farmers of Republic township is George Yeakley, a representative of one of the old and prominent families of the western part of Greene county.
Mr. Yeakley was born on the old homestead in Republic township, this county, March 31, 1856. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth M. (Young) Yeakley, whose family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters, all now deceased except the subject of this sketch and a sister, Mrs. Margaret Drum, widow of W. E. Drum. Those deceased are John, James, Henry and Rebecca.
The Yeakley family emigrated from Tennessee to Missouri in 1840. The father of our subject was ten years old when he removed from has native locality, Greene county, Tennessee, to Polk county, this state. After living there about a year the family moved to Greene county, settling in what was then known as Center township, and not long thereafter the father, Thomas Yeakley, entered and purchased from the government a large tract of land. This he improved and carried on general farming and stock raising here the rest of his life, adding to his holdings from time to time until he finally owned fourteen hundred acres of valuable land and was regarded as one of the most extensive and successful general agriculturists in the western part of the county, and was a progressive and public-spirited citizen, a man of fine character, and he did much for the general improvement of his neighborhood. His death occurred on May 11, 1914, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, leaving behind him a host of warm friends and a record of a well-spent and honorable life. The mother of our subject was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, in the year 1834. She was the daughter of George Young and wife. Mr. Young was a native of Hawkins county, Tennessee, whose family consisted of four children. He came to Missouri in pioneer days and located in Lafayette county. The mother of our subject is living at an advanced age.
George Yeakley grew to manhood on the home farm in Republic township and there assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his education in the local schools and when young in years took up farming and stock raising for his life work and this has engaged his close attention to the present time, and he has met with very gratifying results all along the line, having inherited much of his father's thrift and foresight. He owns a well-improved and productive farm of eight hundred and sixty-five acres in Republic township, which is adorned with a pleasant home and numerous substantial outbuildings. One may see about the place at all seasons large numbers of sleek, well-bred live stock which form no small portion of his annual income.
Mr. Yeakley was married on December 27, 1877, to Celestia J. Redfern. She is the daughter of Joseph Redfern, a native of Tennessee, from which state the family came to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day and established their future home. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Redfern, an equal number of sons and daughters; three sons and three daughters survive.
Six children have been born to George Yeakley and wife, namely: Minnie, who married Ed. Shook, now engaged in the implement business in Springfield, has one child, Edwin; Lucile is the wife of Robert E. Mansfield, a railroad man, and they have one child, Robert Y.; Bessie is the wife of Jake Frame, a farmer; Hattie is at home with her parents; Thomas Pauline is the youngest; the second oldest of the children died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Yeakley is a Democrat, but has never cared for public office, preferring to devote his attention to his large farming and live stock interests and to his home. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the family stands high in the community.
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