William Yellis, engineer at Allentown Water Works for twenty-five years, was born April 9, 1845, in North Whitehall (now Whitehall) township. He received his education in the township school and assisted his father in a grist and saw-mill until he became of age, then he married and after assisting his father-in-law in zinc mines near Friedensville for a time, ran saw mills at Centre Valley and Friedensville for several years.

He next rented his father's grist-mill and ax handle factory near by and operated them for five years. In 1884, he moved to Allentown and was employed in a grist-mill and furniture factory until 1889, when he secured a position at the water works of the city and continued three for twenty-five years until his deceased, first as a fireman for a short time, and then as assistant engineer, to which he was promoted for efficiency. He as a member of the Hancock Conclave of Heptasophs, No, 120, of Allentown, and of St. Michael's Lutheran Church; and in politics he was a Democrat.

In 1867, Mr. Yellis was married to Mary C. Cole, daughter of John and Harriet (Rudman) Cole, of Lower Saucon township. He died Jan 3, 1914, and she on June 8, 1905. Both were buried in Greenwood Cemetery. They had five children: Laura Agnes, who died in infancy; William Irwin, m. Agnes Reichard; Maggie May, m. Robert E. Thomas; Frederick Allen and Alma Harriet.