1882 History of Linn County, Missouri

 

BIOGRAPHY

                                                                                                                           

 

John YOUNT                                               Jefferson Twp. and town of Laclede, page 632

 

son of David Barbara (nee Stover) Yount., was born in East Tennessee, March 30, 1810.  When a small child his parents removed to Middle Tennessee, and in 1817, they located in Howard county, Missouri.  In 1824 they went back to Tennessee, and three years later returned to Missouri, settling in Cole county.  The subject of this sketch received a limited education in subscription schools, the branches of study being writing and arithmetic.  In 1833, he formed a copartnership with David Curtis, then living in Linn county, Missouri, and bought a lot of hogs and cattle and drove them to that county.  He and Curtis kept bachelor’s hall for two years, living together in a cabin.  In 1835 Mr. Curtis went to Howard county, Missouri and married.  After that Mr. Yount kept bachelor’s hall himself most of the time until he, too, married in 1838.  He and Curtis were accustomed to buy hogs in Howard county, Missouri, and drive them to Linn county.  When they had fattened on mast they would drive them back and sell them, getting sometimes only one cent per pound, dressed.  Keytesville, Missouri, was their milling point.  On one occasion, as Mr. Yount was on his way from mill he was water-bound for two weeks. He had started home with five bushels of meal on two horses, but when he reached there only one bushel was left, he having loaned the balance along the road.  Such was an incident of the pioneer experiences of that time.  On another occasion he had to go to Keytesville to get a doctor to come and see his sick brother.  The trip occupied two nights and a day.  Mr. Yount was the first constable of Linn county, sometimes having to ride twenty miles for a witness and getting only twenty-five cents for the service.  He helped to build the first cabin where Linneus now stands in the winter of 1833-34 for Jack Holland.  Mr. Yount removed to his present farm in 1839, and is the only survivor of the settlers living in Linn county in 1833.  The rest have all gone to that bourne from whence none ever return.  Since the latter named year he has been a constant resident of Linn county.  Mr. Yount was married January 11, 1838, to Miss Margaret Taylor, daughter of George and Rebecca (nee Raymee) Taylor.  Her parents were natives of Virginia, and removed to Tennessee, but emigrated to Linn county in 1836.  Mrs. Yount was born in the latter State in 1820.  She is the mother of six children, four of whom are living: William P., Joseph A., George W., and Amanda.  They all live near their parents, excepting George W., who has been mining in Colorado the past nine years.  Amanda married Mr. William Furbee, and lives in Linn county.  Mr. Yount’s farm comprises two hundred acres, splendidly improved.  As an indication of his liberality and prosperity he has given to each of his four children sixty acres of valuable land.  He has always been a highly esteemed and useful citizen. 

   

* * * * * * * *

 

Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch © 2009.  All Rights Reserved.