Parents
William A Yarbrough | a prominent farmer of District No. 1, of Tipton County, is a son of Anderson C. and Mary (Larimore) Yarbrough, and was born in this county in 1828, being the oldest of thirteen children, only four now living, two sons and two daughters. His grandfather, Henry Yarbrough, was a native of the Old World and came to the United States and assisted in the War of Independence, and settled in North Carolina, and in 1821 moved to Tipton County, being the fourth white man to settle in the county, and assisted in its organization.
He was one of the county’s first magistrates and died in 1842. Anderson Yarbrough, our subject’s father, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, born in North Carolina, in 1810. He married in 1827 and settled in Indian Creek, Tipton County, in District No. 2, where he remained until 1847; then moved two miles north of Covington, and died in 1862. He was a man of prominence and for many years was major of the militia, was also a magistrate and justice of the peace of Tipton County, Tenn. in 1840. Mrs. Yarbrough was born in Bedford County, in 1804, and died in 1876. They were formerly members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Life
Our subject was raised and educated at home, having limited advantages; being the oldest child he was compelled to remain at home and assist in the maintenance of the family. November 13, 1852, he married Mary, daughter of Alexander and Ann Glass. They had five children, four now living: Mary Elizabeth (wife of William L. Smith), John L., Ira E., and Ada Ann. The first two being married and settled near home on farms. Mr. Yarbrough owns 700 acres of valuable land under cultivation and well improved, the home farm being two miles north of Covington. He is a kind and benevolent man and has worked hard, and by his own industry and energy acquired his present handsome property. He commenced life poor.
During the late war, in 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry and was in active service until the surrender without being captured or wounded. He then resumed farming. He is a man of ability and influence. Soon after the war he was elected magistrate, accepting the place with reluctance, and after serving two years resigned. He was administrator of his father’s estate, being one of the fourth generation who had acted in that capacity, and has in his possession administrative papers bearing date of 1760. Mr. Yarbrough has been a life-long Democrat. His first presidential vote was cast for F. Pierce.
Overview
He is a man of fine moral character, though not connected with any church. Mrs. Yarbrough was born in Maury County, in 1827 and she and the children belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Her parents were among the early settlers of this county.
[ William A Yarbrough | Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee (1887)]
