David Yeisley, 1st (1826 - 1917)

David Yeisley, son of John G, was born December 30, 1826 in what is now Ashland County, Ohio. Laura Benson called him David the 1st because of the many David's in his line. David was educated in the common schools in Ohio. In 1848 he went to Iowa where he engaged in breaking prairie ground. He farmed in Hardin County, Iowa until 1857. He moved to Missouri and bought 160 acres of land near Arkoe, Nordaway County. He raised stock and general farm products. He was a democrat and a member of the state milita during the Civil War, though he was not called upon to serve in active battles.
David and his family were members of the Methodist Church in Arkoe. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party. He became a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, well respected in the community in which he lived.

David grew to manhood on his fathers farm in what was then Richland County, now Ashland County, Ohio. He was educated in the common schools. In 1848, at the age of 22, he and his brother William went to Iowa. This was just two years after Iowa was admitted to statehood. Family records indicate that David went to Hardin County, Iowa but that county was not formed until 1851 (3 years after he arrived) when it was formed from a part of Black Hawk County.

The first land record found for David was dated July 16, 1853 when he purchased 80 acres from Joseph Johnston in Sec. 26 T86 R19 (Hardin Co, Iowa Deeds Bk A p19). This was 6 months before he and William were listed in the Land Grant Index. David cleared the land and built a small log cabin on it. Several other land transfers were made by both David and William. The last one found for David was dated July 28, 1857 when he sold his holdings on Sec. 22 T87 R20 to James Valentine (Bk G p196). This was the year David brought his family to Nordaway County, Missouri. William remained in Iowa for a time because deeds in his name were recorded as late as 1863 when he gave Power of Attorney to John Rogers (Bk N p511) indicating that he either left or was planning to leave Hardin County.

On December 2, 1856, David purchased 160 acres in Nordaway County, Missouri from William O. Howard and his wife Alice (Nodaway Co, Mo. Deeds Bk 12 p29). The purchase price was $1380. A down payment of $500 was made with a mortgage given for the balance. Final payment was made on March 19, 1862. The land was described as the West half of the NW Quarter of Section Number 23 and the SE Quarter of the NE Quarter of Section Number 10 all in Township number 63 of range number 35 containing in all 160 acres according to government survey. The land was situated in White Claud Township at the time. Later when the township was divided, it became located in Grant Township. The main waterway, the 102 River, cuts across the property, providing rich mud and plenty of timber. The Yeisley family moved into the existing log cabin and lived there until David was able to build a much larger frame house.

His first wife, Olivia Ellsworth of Ohio, died in 1865. Olivia was born about 1833 in the state of New York. She and David were married about 1854, probably in Hardin County, Iowa. Their first child John was born in 1855 in Hardin County. Three more children were born to David and Olivia after they came to Missouri. Mary was born about 1859, Henry was born in 1860, and David Hamilton was born in 1862. Olivia's parents and her two brothers apparently moved to Missouri with David and Olivia. They were living side by side on farms in Nodaway County when the 1860 census was taken. John Ellsworth died August 16, 1863 at the age of 71. A year later, Olivia died on August 18, 1865 at the age of 33 years. Her eldest child, John, was only 10 years old.

He remarried in 1870 to Medina Sherer Clark (he was her 4th husband). Medina was the daughter of Solomon and Mary "Mariah" Sherer. She was born February 27, 1833 in Indiana. She was about seven years old when Solomon brought his family to Iowa Territory.). Two children were born to David and Medina, Nora Violet, born June 17, 1872 and Walter, born October 23, 1875. Medina died February 21, 1904 at the age of seventy one. David survived her by thirteen years. David died February 21, 1917 at the ripe old age of ninety. Walter, the only son, remained on the farm and took over its management.

By way of comparison with prices as they are today, expenses for the funeral of David were listed as: Vault. $65. Casket. $100. Embalming. $15. 2 cars. $10. and $5. Flowers. $5. car for Mrs. Ellsworth. $4. for a total of $219. In another account, Mary Ellsworth (daughter of John and Mary Ellsworth and sister of Olivia) was paid $50. per month for taking care of David Yeisley during the last year of his life.