Biography of Henry Yarde, pages 722/723/724. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. The office of biography is not to give voice to a man’s modest opinion of himself and his accomplishment, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character by consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those fact which have shown the distinction of a true, and useful and honorable life-a life characterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well-defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people of who have known him long and well. Henry Yarde was born on February 13, 1859, on a farm one mile north of Garrett, Indiana, and is the son of John, Jr., and Lydia (Houser) Yarde. He is descended from good old English stock, his paternal grandfather, John Yarde, Sr., having been born in Devonshire, England, on March 12, 1805. His parents died when he was child and he was reared by his mother’s sister and given a collegiate education. At seventeen years of age he began teaching, and, with the exception of a year and a half in the grocery business, followed that vocation for thirty-five years. He married Mary Symonds, a native of Devonshire, and to them were born twelve children, eleven daughters and a son. In August, 1852, Mr. Yarde came with his family to the United States and lived in Summit county about one month, when he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he bought fifty acres of unimproved land. Having the use of only one hand, the burden of the work of clearing and improving the land fell to his son, John, Jr., then only sixteen years of age. Mr. Yarde, Sr., was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a Republican in his political views. John Yarde, Jr. was born in Devonshire, England, on November 17, 1836. His early life was spent in school and before sixteen years of age he had taught seventeen months of school. He was successful in his life’s business pursuit and eventually became the owner of a large tract of fine land. He was married on October 10, 1858, to Lydia N., Houser, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, who was born on July 20, 1842, and was the daughter of David and Rebecca Houser, and to them were born six children, Martha, Frank, David, Nettie, Henry and Bertha. John Yarde, Jr., died on May 19, 1900. He was a member of the Episcopal church and highly respected in the community. Of the children enumerated above, Martha became the wife of William Imler and lives west of Garrett; Frank lives in the southwestern part of Keyser township; David lives one mile north of Garrett; Nettie is the wife of George Kelham, and lives in Noble county, Indiana; Henry lives on the home farm one mile north of Garrett, and Bertha is the wife of Ira Grogg, of Butler township. The mother of these children still lives on the home farm. Henry Yarde, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, and has spent his entire life there, having early assumed its management and operation. At the time of his father’s death the estate amounted to six hundred and twelve acres, and had been improved to a degree which made it one of the best farms in DeKalb county. In addition to the paternal estate, Mr. Yarde is the owner of a farm adjoining the home place, to which he has also given close attention and which he has developed into a splendid estate. The residence in which Mr. Yarde lives is one of the most attractive homes in the community, being a large brick, slate roofed and with an observatory tower, and the surroundings are in harmony with the character of the home, the well kept hedge along the front of the farm, rows of evergreen trees and other tasteful improvements giving the place an air of prosperity and cheer and welcome which is attractive to the passerby. In March, 1894, Mr. Yarde was married to Ida Ober, the daughter of Levi and Betsey Ober. To them have been born seven children, Merritt, Ruth, Ralph, Lydia, Mary, Rosa and Frank. Mr. Yarde is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material, civic and moral lines, and is known as one of the progressive and representative men of the county. Because of his genial disposition and progressive spirit, he has earned and retains to an eminent degree the respect and confidence of all who have had acquaintance with him. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com