John T. Yager.—Prominent among the old and substantial citizens of Johnson County, is John T. Yager, who was born in Oldham County, Ky., July 29, 1829. Paternally, he is descended from German ancestry, and traces his family history back to the early days of Kentucky. His father, Willis Yager, was born in the above state about the year 1775, and died in Oldham County, September 31, 1835. Nancy (Overstreet) Yager, his wife, and mother of John T., was born in Oldham County, Ky., in 1780, and departed this life in Topeka, Kan., in the year 1875. About one month after her husband’s death, when the subject of this sketch was but six years old, Mrs. Yager brought her family to Johnson County, Ind., and settled where her father had previously located in Franklin, now Needham township. “She bought eighty acres of land upon which she resided for a period of about fourteen years.” Subsequently she went back to her native state, but returned to Indiana. She died several years ago, at or near Topeka, Kan. Her father died in 1836, and the mother in 1867. Willis and Nancy Yager were the parents of five children, three of whom are living; the subject of this sketch, Samuel J., living near Topeka, Kas., and Martha L., wife of James Netherton, who lives on the old Yager homestead. John T. Yager passed his early days upon a farm, and on the death of his father, was early compelled to contribute his share toward the support of the family, being the eldest son. At the age of eighteen, he accompanied his mother to Kentucky, where he looked after her interest until attaining his majority, at which time he began life for himself as a farmer. He remained in Kentucky until his twenty-fourth year, and then returned to Johnson County, Ind., and located upon the place where he now resides in Needham Township. His first purchase consisted of 125 acres of land, to which he subsequently added, until he now owns a fine farm of 165 acres, upon which are some of the finest improvements in the township. Mr. Yager’s early educational training was limited, owing to his time being required on the farm. Socially, he is very popular, and is an honorable and upright gentleman; none in the county stands higher in the estimation of the people. September 25, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Jemima Clare, daughter of John and Matilda (Broils) Clare, natives respectively of Jefferson and Washington counties, Ky. Mrs. Yager was born in Jefferson County, Ky., December 22, 1834, and is the mother of one child, Samuel C. Yager, one of the leading businessmen of Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Yager are active members of the Christian Church.