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- Henry H. Yoder, son of Martin and Catharine, was born on his grandfather's farm Jan. 5, 1850. His early intellectual training was obtained in the common schools, and later Mr. Yoder attended the Oley Academy. He was licensed to teach in the public schools by Prof. D. B. Brunner, but he never cared for the profession. He was reared upon the home farm and this vocation he has, off and on, followed ever since, beginning for himself in 1874. This was his chief occupation until 1900. In connection with farming Mr. Yoder and his father were engaged in the implement business, and this he has continued, making a specialty of iron and wire fences. He owns the old homestead farm of 236 acres of valuable land, well located and very fertile. It contains valuable magnesia iron ore, and is considered one of the most desirable pieces of property in Oley Valley. On a board in the front of the barn below the cornice is the following: Martin Yoder Susana Yoder 1830. And on the house is the same, only the year is 1831 instead of 1830. Besides the home farm he owned eighty acres of good timberland. Mr. Yoder has the old military bugles which belonged to his father. In politics he is a Democrat, and he was school director of his township for three years, and since 1892 has been auditor, having been re-elected in the spring of 1908 for the fifth time. In 1907 he became one of the organizers of the First National Bank at Oley, of which he is now a director. He belongs to Friedens Lutheran Church, which for four years he served as deacon, and since 1902 he has been an elder. Mr. Yoder resides on Main street, Friedensburg. He has been twice married. In 1883 he wedded Andora Merkel, born Feb. 15, 1857, daughter of Elias Merkel, of Maxatawny. She died Jan. 15, 1903, and is buried in the Yoder lot at Friedensburg. On May 14, 1906, he married (second) Ella L. Hertzog, daughter of Jacob E. Bogh, of Frankfort, Clinton Co., Ind., and widow of Dr. William F. Hertzog, of Oley township, by whom she had two children: Marion S., of Kutztown; and Solis C., of Oley. From 1833 to 1838 there lived on the Moon farm in Oley, now owned by Benneville Herbein, Jacob Frederic Bogh, or Bock. He was born in Schorndorf, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 4, 1791. At the age of twenty-six, April 17, 1817, he married Barbara Bauer, then aged twenty. He was a general in the army under Napoleon, and won seven medals of honor. While shot nine times and badly scarred he was not crippled, yet the open wounds at times caused him trouble. He claimed he was fireproof. When Napoleon was exiled he refused to serve the new rulers, was arrested and thrown into prison, but friends liberated him and secretly placed him on board an American-bound ship, where he found his wife. He landed in Philadelphia Sept. 11, 1818. He was highly educated, and quite a linguist, speaking and writing seven different languages. For a living he engaged in school teaching, while in Berks county teaching at the Spies's church, and at the same time did what legal work he could get, writing deeds, mortgages, etc., and settling disputes. He also did some surveying. He took but little interest in his work in this country, being despondent over the downfall of his commander. He was the father of ten children, six of whom lived to honorable old age. He died Nov. 11, 1844, and is buried at Weissport, Carbon Co., Pa. His only descendants now living in Berks county are: Mrs. Louisa Hill, wife of Jenkin Hill, of Reading. and her three sons, Ralph, Layton and Harold Hill; and Mrs. Ella L. Yoder and her two sons, Marion S. Hertzog, of Kutztown, and Solis C. Hertzog, of Oley, and her granddaughter, Erma De Long Hertzog, of Kutztown. Among the Yoder family relics are zinc dishes made and used before the days of china. Some of the first china in this section found its way to the Yoders. An old sword used in the Revolution, and two bugles made in the old country and bought by Martin Yoder when a boy, are the property of Henry H. Yoder. Martin Yoder was taught to use these bugles by an escaped slave, and was the first man in Berks county to attain that accomplishment, and naturally he was in great demand at the old battalion drills. Old spreads and quilts, four generations old, are preserved in old chests with rare old books.
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1850 - Yes, date unknown
, d. 7 Feb 1888, Pleasantville, PA