Further bio.
The founder of the furniture factory in the Twelfth ward of Allentown.

William F. Yeager, the father of William R. and a brother of John S. and Lesher H., was also in his day a very prominent man as he was a most excellent one, who labored earnestly and successfully for the good of Allentown. He was born Aug. 22, 1833 at Wescoesville, Lehigh County and reared on a farm, attending the township school during the winter months. The language in daily use there having been almost wholly German and his father wishing to secure him the advantages of an English education, he was sent to a friend. Lewis Ott, at Pleasant Valley in Bucks County, (who conducted a farm tannery and country store), and there he attended the school and assisted Mr. Ott for three years, until he was fifteen years old. It is worthy of mention that Mr. Ott was so highly pleased with the boy's devotion and integrity that he sent him to school at Doylestown for three extra months before allowing him to go home, so as to be sure that he had acquired a satisfactory knowledge of the English language and manners.

Upon his return home, he worked on the farm for three years. Then he had reached the age of eighteen years, and feeling equipped in health, education and experience to start out for himself, he went to the store of John R. Schall at Trexlettown, and securing a clerkship, he filled the position for a year. With this introductory preparation, he went to Allentown and secured a position as clerk in the dry goods and grocery store of Kline & Kern, where he remained for a year. After an experience of several months as a book agent for this district, which embraced all the towns in Lehigh Valley from Allentown to Carbondale, he obtained a position as clerk in the store of Owen and Joseph Saeger, at an annual salary of $300 and there he continued for three years. While there, he suggested a system of sprinkling the streets, which was used successfully for many years.

Mr. Yeager at this time got a notion to try a business venture in New York City, so, with the money he had saved he bought a number of horses and took them there to sell, but the market was poor, he accidentally broke his arm and returned to Allentown minus his cash and with his notion exploded. He then rented a stable and embarked in the livery business. This was in the time that the Lehigh Valley Railroad was being constructed and he started the first omnibus line at Allentown. This was a fortunate enterprise for him for in ten years, he sold out with a profit of $12,000.

Mr. Yeager was then thirty-three years old, and seeing the prospects of Allentown developing into a large and prosperous inland city, the "Queen City of the Lehigh Valley", he engaged in the business of buying and selling real estate, and for thirty years he followed it in a most successful manner including extensive building operations and the improvement of the streets. Within the first ten years, he amassed property interests amounting to $150,000. The Panic came on and failures followed, but his courageous, enterprising, indomitable spirit kept on and with the encouragement and assistance of a kindred spirit, M. L. Kauffman. Esq. he carried on Building operations at Seventh and Liberty Streets by getting the material men and grocers to take houses for their claims. In this way he gave employment to people and sustained the credit of the city. He proved himself a master-builder in every way, putting up altogether about 300 houses. But he also erected business blocks and factories, and he was largely instrumental in locating here industrial establishments which proved of great consequence in the development and enrichment of Allentown, as evidence by the growing stores and shops, and banks, and increasing Population.

With such a progressive, venturesome and enterprising spirit, Mr. Yeager was quite naturally a Republican. He believed in protection and the support of home industry. He took an active interest in politics and was a delegate to the national convention at which General Grant was nominated for President. In 1890, he received the unanimous nomination on the Republican ticket for mayor, but was defeated in a Democratic community by only a small majority. Mr. Yeager was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a liberal contributor in it successful maintenance. He was affiliated with Greenleaf Lodge. No 561, F. & A. M.

In 1852, Mr. Yeager was married to Priscilla S. Ronaig, a daughter of Peter Romig and they had an only son William R.. whose history follows.