Biography of David Yarde, pages 726/727.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 
1914.



Among the representative farmers of DeKalb county is the 
subject of this review, who is the owner of a fine landed 
estate in Keyser township  and is carrying on the various 
departments of his enterprise with that discretion and 
energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in 
definite success, having always been a hard worker, a good 
manager and a man of economical habits, and, being 
fortunately situated in a thriving farming community, it is 
no wonder that he stands today in the front rank of the 
agriculturists of this favored locality.  David Yarde, who 
was born on December 26, 1862, on the old Coombs farm in 
Richland township, DeKalb county, Indiana, is a son of John 
and Lydia Ann (Houser) Yarde, old and well known citizens of 
this county, who are referred to elsewhere in this work in 
the sketch of the subject’s brother, Frank Yarde. Therefore, 
it will not be necessary to give further reference to the 
family ancestral history at this point. David Yarde spent 
his boyhood days on the home farm in Richland township, and 
received a good, practical education in the local schools. 
After his marriage in 1891, he moved to and rented his 
father’s farm in Richland township, which he operated until 
his father’s death. He then bought the farm, which consisted 
of one hundred and twenty acres, divided into two plats of 
eighty acres and forty acres respectively. Later he added to 
this one hundred and twenty acres more, and still later 
another tract of similar size lying close to Garrett on the 
north. In addition  to this extensive farm, Mr. Yarde also 
farms a twenty-acre tract for his mother. Mr. Yarde has 
built many of the outbuildings on the farm, the  residence 
and barn having been built by his father. The buildings are 
all up-to-date and modern in style and arrangement, and the 
farm in every respect is kept up to the most modern and 
progressive ideas relative to successful agriculture.  Mr. 
Yarde is giving due attention to every detail of his farm, 
including the drainage and preservation of the timber, and, 
because of his progressive tendencies and industrious habit, 
he has been enabled to achieve an enviable success in his 
work, being numbered among the representative farmers of his 
section of the county.  On March 19, 1891, Mr. Yarde married 
Mary Brechbill, the daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Ober) 
Brechbill, who are referred to specifically in the sketch of 
H. R. Davidson elsewhere in this work.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Yarde have been born four children, namely: Ora, who died on 
September 3, 1896, and Claude, Edna and Howard, who are at 
home.  Politically, Mr. Yarde is affiliated with the 

Progressive party, in the support of which he is 
enthusiastic, and he is interested in everything that 
pertains to the common weal. His life history exhibits a 
career of unswerving integrity, indefatigable private 
industry and wholesome home and social relations a most 
commendable career crowned with a gratifying degree of 
success.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com