Yeary
CAPTAIN DAVID YEARY of Anneta, Texas, is one of the prosperous and highly esteemed farmers of Parker county.
He was born in western Tennessee, September 19, 1824, and was reared to farm life, receiving only limited educational advantages, and remaining with his parents until he reached his majority. When he was fourteen years old the family removed to Arkansas, and from there in 1839 came to Texas, locating first in Lamar county, and a year later removing to a place near Bonham in Fannin county, David remained in Fannin county, engaged in farming, until 1855, when he moved to Goliad county. There he purchased land and farmed the same until 1859. That year he came to Parker County. Here he bought 320 acres of raw land, the same being located on Clear Fork of Trinity River. All the improvements on this farm have been placed here by him. At first he gave the greater part of his attention to the handling of cattle and horses.
For a few years before the war Mr. Yeary and his brother-in-law carried on merchandizing at Weatherford. In 1862 Mr. Yeary entered the State service, was commissioned as Captain, and was on duty in Texas until the war closed, guarding against the Indians, looking up deserters, scouting, etc. From 1863 till 1866 the Indians were hostile in various parts of the State, and several years before that time they were even worse. When Mr. Yeary was a boy in Fannin county, he frequently went out with the men on Indian raids, and on one occasion was in battle with the red men. The Indians at one time attacked his father’s house and wounded both his father and mother. His father was pierced with two arrows and his mother with four. Both recovered. Those were exciting times.
These brave pioneers ever held themselves in readiness for a surprise, and many were the dangers, both seen and unseen, through which they passed.
Mr. Yeary was the fourth born of a family of eight children of John and Mary (Chinault) Yeary, natives of Tennessee, and of Irish descent. John Yeary was captain of a command that helped to move the Indians from Georgia and Florida to their reservation west of the Mississippi. He was a prominent planter and a slaveholder. The names of their eight children are as follows: Walter, deceased; Melvina, wife of Martin Hawick; David; James M., deceased; Cassie, wife of King Bailey, is deceased; Amanda, wife of Jefferson Reagan; John; and Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Dr. Hendrix.
The subject of our sketch was married in 1845 to Miss Nahala J. Kiser, daughter of Parson J. K. Kiser, a native of Tennessee, who died in Kaufman county, Texas. He was a minister of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Yeary are the parents of fourteen children, two of whom died when young. The others are: John, who died in 1891, leaving a widow and six children; James, whose whereabouts are unknown; Walter, married and a resident of Parker county; Wade, of this county, married a Miss Fife; Thomas, at home (single); Cordelia J., wife of E. Pipkin, Weatherford; Cassie, widow of A. S. Froman; Lucinda, deceased wife of D. Kile; Polly, wife of Mart Carr, of Parker county; Virginia, wife of M. Price; Elizabeth, wife of C. Williams, of Parker county; and David, Jr., who married a Miss Black.
Mr. Yeary has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs and has affiliated with the Democratic party. He has not, however, aspired to official position, and the only offices he has filled have been those of justice of the Peace, County Commissioner and Assessor. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.