WI BIO - Green Lake Co - YAHR, Ferdinand T. 

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, pp 360-61 

General banking, hardware, lumber and grain, Princeton [Green Lake County, 
Wisconsin]. Ferdinand T. YAHR was born in Prussia 13 December 1834. His 
father was a native of Prussia, and a manufacturer of prints, calicoes, etc. 
His mother's maiden name was Caroline LIELENDAHL, also a native of Prussia. 
She died in her native land. The family emigrated to America in 1849, 
locating on a farm near Watertown [Dodge or Jefferson County, Wisconsin], and 
where the father [name not given] now lives. The subject of this sketch 
commenced his business career as a clerk in a general store at Watertown, 
where he was engaged about three years. He then learned the blacksmith trade, 
which he followed for seventeen [p 361] years in Berlin [Green Lake County, 
Wisconsin], Waupun [Dodge or Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin] and Chicago [Cook 
County, Illinois].

In 1861 he [Ferdinand T. YAHR] came to Princeton, and for five years was 
foreman of the carriage and wagon manufactory of Aug DHIEL [DIEHL?]. Then 
established a blacksmithing business, which he conducted two years, one year 
in company with August SWANKE. At the expiration of the two years, he engaged 
in buying grain and selling farming implements. In 1874 he bought the 
hardware stock of H. H. HOPKINS, and in 1875 built the building he now 
occupies, and the same year added a banking business, associating with him 
Mr. THOMPSON and Mr. FISH, who is now President of the bank. Mr. THOMPSON 
retired from the firm. Mr. YAHR is a self-made man, commencing his business 
career without capital and working the first three years for $130.

On 29 April 1861 he [Ferdinand T. YAHR] married Miss Amelia C. SCHAAL, a 
native of Prussia and a resident of Dodge County, Wisconsin. He has held 
nearly all the town offices, and is a member of the County Board of 
Supervisors. He is a member of the Princeton Lodge, No. 166, also of the 
Berlin Commandery [Masonic lodge].

[A second biography of Ferdinand T. YAHR from the 1890 History of Green Lake, 
Marquette, and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, will be added at a later date.]

Submitted by: Cathy Kubly