Jacob Bradford Yarnell was born Clinton, Knox County, TN Sept. 12, 1873 to Richard Hall Yarnell and Rachael Minerva Liles Yarnell. He was the 11th of twelve children.
It is believed that the majority, if not all Americans bearing this surname are descended from two brothers, Francis and Philip Yarnall, who came to America in 1683 from England, one year after William Penn founded the colony. His father was seven generations from Francis.
He married Rhoda C, Bittle May 16, 1897 In Heiskell, TN at the preachers house. He wrote, "It was a beautiful May day when all the flower were in bloom and all the birds were singing". They walked back to the farm in Clinton where there was a big crowd to meet them and have their wedding dinner.
They moved to Knoxville and raised a family. He worked for the Southern R.R. and then went in the coal business. They had 7 children although the second son died at birth. They decided to come to southern California. He left his family there and came out by rail on Nov. 4, 1912 with his older brother by 12 years, Kimbrell C on the train. He wrote in his diary, "It was Monday what a day, I could write a book on our trip. K.C. was a wonderful traveling companion we came through the Royal Gorge over the D & Rio Grand. D & R.G. we separated at Ogden Utah. He went on to Portland, Oregon. He wrote, "I arrived Nov. 10th at Los Angeles, Calif. to prepare a home in the big west. A bit lonesome but a wonderful peace on my soul. A hard rain was falling my by spirit was not dampened".
He got a job with the Railroad. He sent for his family and they arrived Easter Sunday March 23, 1913 it was a beautiful day.
They lost their little girl in July 1913, she was 18 months old. They had another little girl April 9, 1914.
They bought a house up on Mt. Washington Los Angeles, near the city of Highland Park, CA and moved in January 30, 1916. It was on Rhoda's 37th birthday and lived there until they passed away. Rhoda said she was always glad they came to L.A.
He had a Real Estate License from the early 1920s but worked for someone else. He got a Real Estate Brokers License Nov.1933 so he could open his own office. He sold and rented homes in all the L.A. basin. His office was in Glendale.
He also helped his oldest son run his gas stations. He loved working with him.
When WW II came housed didn't sell very fast so he got a job working for Lockheed Vega in Burbank. Dec. 7, 1942 as a machinist and worked until just before the end of the war. He went back to selling real estate after the war for many years.
All but one of his children lived in the L.A, area and were very involved in their parents daily lives.
They had a large family gathering at their daughters house on Mt. Washington for their 65th Wedding Anniversary. There were two reporters there, one from the Times and one from the Herald Express to take pictures.
Jacob died in Oct. 1968 at the age of 95. He was greatly missed by his 6 children and 14 grandchildren.