Lesher H. Yeager, successful merchant and banker at Allentown, was born Aug. 25, 1851, at East Texas, in Lower Macungie township, and while being reared on a farm, attended the township school from four to six months annually from fall to the following spring, until he became sixteen years of age. Then he went to Allentown to prepare the way for a mercantile career by engaging as clerk in the confectionery store of M. B. Schadt, for two years, and in the "Old Kramer Store," at Seventh and Hamilton Streets, for three years. With this experience in business, he became associated with the firm of S. R. Engelman & Company, first as clerk, and later as a partner, which was engaged as wholesale dealers in china, glass, and queensware at No 740 Hamilton (now Young's Hardware Store). He continued there upwards of two years, when he formed a partnership with J. M. Culberson to engage in the same business, and locating at No 46 North Seventh Street, they traded as Yeager & Culberson for five years, when he purchased the interest of Mr. Culberson and carried on the business alone in a most successful manner for upward of thirty years, until January 1, 1912, at which time he retired.

During this business career, he developed a wholesale and retail trade in china, glass, queensware, wood and willow-ware which was extended throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey by traveling salesmen and his establishment came to be recognized as one of the largest and completest stores of this kind in Eastern Pennsylvania; and while this was going on, his son, Charles H. Yeager, was being educated and fitted to take his place. His son organized the "L. H. Yeager Company, Inc. which has continued the large business successfully and kept up the reputation of the establishment in a most admirable manner.

In 1896, Mr. Yeager erected the "Yeager Building" at No 21 North Seventh Street, being a marble front structure, four stories and basement, 30 feet wide by 230 feet deep, which was then regarded as one of the finest and most imposing building for business in the city of Allentown. He also erected other business places and many private residences; and he has since come to be one of the largest owners of real estate in the city of Allentown.

While concerning in the mercantile and building affairs, he also became prominently identified with the financial institutions of Allentown. The Second National Bank, the Citizens' Deposit and Trust Company, the Ridge Avenue Bank, and vice-president of the Penn Counties Trust Company. He also showed great interest in the industrial welfare of the city be encouraging the erection and maintenance of manufacturing establishments, which evidence his enterprising spirit. He took great interest in plans for the enlargement and development of this city by preparing the way prominently identified with the "Land Improvement" Companies, which secured the farming land situated to the north, south and west of Allentown, and laid it off into building lots. And he was largely instrumental in establishing the "Highland Cemetery" of which he has become the sole owner. He owns a large farm (120 acres) at Catasauqua, to which he has given much attention.

Mr. Yeager has been prominently identified with the religious life of the community for the past twenty-five years, as a devoted member of Ebenezaer church of the Evangelical Association having in this time served faithfully in all its offices and acted as trustee and class leader for twenty consecutive years. In the Sunday school work he showed great interest, serving as superintendent for fourteen years. He was a delegate to many annual and general conferences of the Evangelical Association, a member of the general committee on the reunion of the Evangelical and United Evangelical Churches. The Schuylkill Seminary at Reading has had the benefit of his support and influence for many years as a trustee and treasurer.

In 1870, Mr. Yeager was married to Matilda Scheldon, daughter of Lewis I. Scheldon. She was born Dec. 25, 1850, and died Dec. 2,1908. They had five children: two of whom died young. Those surviving are: Charles H.; Minnie M., married to Edwin A. Donecker and Jeanette, married to Frederick O. Raymond. In 1910 he was married to Hattie S. Mushelitz, a daughter of Wilson Muschlitz and his wife Emma nee Andrews, both deceased.

Mr. Yeager has traveled very extensively in the United States and also in European countries, having crossed the Atlantic Ocean ten times, and been to Jerusalem and the Orient twice. Mr. Yeager and family reside at the southwest corner of Eighth and Linden Streets, which is known as the "Yeager residence" for more than thirty years.