Jacob Jost and Elizabeth Schambaugh
of Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

He died in Philadelphia County (now Montgomery), Pennsylvania. He is buried in the cemetery of the Old Race Street German Reformed church, Philadelphia, the site of which is now included in the plot known as Franklin Square.

He married ELIZABETH SCHAMBAUGH 11 July 1734, daughter of ADOLPH SCHAMBAUGH and DOROTHY _____________.

Jacob Jost, accompanied by another person, arrived at Philadelphia 18 September 1727 aboard the William & Sarah, William Hill, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group included 109 men and their families, numbering in all about 400. They were led by the German Reformed Church minister, George Michael Weiss. He settled in Whitpain Township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County, Pennsylvania.

See Ralph Beaver Strassburger, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers - Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia, 1727 - 1808," the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA, 1934, v 1, pp 7, 9 and Israel Daniel Rupp: "A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727 - 1776," p 49. An improved second edition was published by I. G. Kohler at Philadelphia in 1876. M.V. Koger, in 1935, published an index to Rupp's work entitled "Index to The Names of 30,000 Immigrants—German, Swiss, Dutch, and French Into Pennsylvania, 1727 - 1776. Supplementing The I. Daniel Rupp Ship Load Volume."

Also, see The Pennsylvania German Society, "Proceedings and Addresses -- The Yost Family -- By J. Irwin Yost." The Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania 1906, v 7, pp 337 - 341.  Transcript of the article as follows:

The Yost Family
By J. Irwin Yost, Center Square, PA.

 THE revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685 sent out of France and into England, Holland and Germany half a million refugees, who scattered far and planted deep the seeds of protest against political and religious intolerance.  The fruit-time of popular discontent came a generation later, when all Europe was ripe with a harvest of unrest.  Out of the prevailing disquiet sprang the strong, matured spirit of freedom.  From America the beacon of Liberty shone brightly, and the gleaming light-shafts of greater opportunities and a broader freedom lured many to our shores.  Germany felt the impulse and the tide of immigration to America began to set in.  From the Palatine some of her best families, fleeing the rigors of persecution, made resolute venture of their prospects and hoped-for freedom by coming hither.

 Jacob Yost, a Palatine Immigrant

            In company with Rev. George Michael Weiss, the first regularly ordained minister of the Reformed church in this country, about one hundred and nine families (nearly 400 persons in all) of Reformed people from the Palatinate immigrated to America, arriving in Philadelphia September 21, 1727.  Among that number was Jacob Yost (Jost), the pioneer of the present Yost family in America.  He was born in Germany March 16, 1696, a native of the province of Zweibrücken and by occupation a weaver.  Shortly after his arrival in this country he settled in Whitpain township, Montgomery (then Philadelphia) county, Pa., and according to tradition carried on the business of weaving in a log house which he built a short distance north of the present village of Center Square.  He was married July 11, 1734 to Elizabeth Schumbach (Shambaugh).  Six years later he purchased what is known as the “Homestead Farm,” removed thereto, developing and improving the same, whilst engaging in many affairs of local importance.  He was naturalized April 11, 1761.  According to a peculiar provision of an act of Parliament the time of his last sacrament of the Lord’s Supper before naturalization is recorded – March 22, 1761.

             The original certificate, well preserved and prized as a unique document, is in possession of the writer.

             After deeding the property to his eldest son, Daniel, he retired from the active pursuits of life, removed to Philadelphia and lived with his son-in-law, John Philip Boehm, Jr., until his death.  He was buried in the cemetery of the old Race Street German Reformed church, the site of which is now included in the plot known as Franklin Square.

             Jacob Yost the immigrant had five children, two of whom died in infancy.  A daughter, Anna Maria, married John Philip Boehm, Jr., son of Rev. John Philip Boehm, founder of the historic Boehm’s Reformed church at Bluebell, Pa.  Daniel, the oldest son, married Elizabeth Spare.  Accurate data of the youngest son, Peter, have not been completed, as no descendants of his are known to exist.  Prominent descendants of the Boehm branch are to-day found in families bearing the names of Jones and Clayton.

 Daniel Yost (2) and His Family

            The ancestral name has been carried down thro’ the progeny of Daniel Yost, of the second generation.  He had five children:

            Jacob, Born December 12, 1761, died March 25, 1814;
            Maria, born October 3, 1762, died November 26, 1840;
            Peter, born January 28, 1765, died September 16, 1827;
            Abraham, born March 9, 1767, died September 22, 1848;
            Sarah, born January 18, 1772, died January 3, 1853.

             In the list of taxables of Whitpain township in 1761 Daniel Yost is returned as a blacksmith.  He became famed as a manufacturer of edged tools, mill-accessories, guns, etc.  He was an expert mechanic.  Entries in the account-book [In possession of the writer.]  of work done in his shop show that he was equipped to meet the demands for every class of iron and steel-work which the surrounding communities required, such as the manufacture of sickles, scythes, and other edged tools, cutting screws for all purposes, turning mill spindles, making rifle-barrels from iron furnished by the customer, etc.

             Much of the early history of the Yosts is co-extensive with that of the Yost farm, or “Homestead,” which originally contained 95 acres, was purchased by Jacob Yost September 10, 1740, and has remained in unbroken possession of the Yost family ever since – a period of 166 years.  This tract is situated in Whitpain township, on the Yost road; it has latterly been known as Yost’s saw and chopping mill, and “more than a century ago as Yost’s shops and tool-factory.” [Detweiler]  Jacob Yost deeded the property to his son Daniel November 27, 1768.  During Daniel’s ownership the original tract was increased to its present extent of over 130 acres by four subsequent purchases.  Not earlier than 1774, nor later than 1781, a saw-mill was built, and an extensive business in that line was carried on in conjunction with the tool-manufactory.  It is probable that about this time, or earlier, Daniel also erected the huge cider-mill and press which did service for more than a century.  The ponderous press operated with wooden screws, 12 by 14 inches in diameter, was removed less than two years ago.

             Because of the enterprise and varied character of business carried on at this place, also because of their public services, the Yosts during Daniel’s career sprang into more than ordinary prominence.  That distinction did not cease at Daniel’s death (August 6, 1812), for his sons, Jacob and Abraham, were particular characters both in public office and private life.  Daniel Yost by will bequeathed the property to his sons, Jacob and Abraham.  After Jacob’s death Abraham became sole owner until his death, when it came into possession of his sister Sarah.  After her death in 1853, it was purchased by Isaac Yost, a nephew of the fourth generation, who further improved the premises by erecting a grist-mill thereon.  Issac lived upon the ancestral estate until 1874, when he removed to his newly built mansion at Center Square.  Here he died in 1891; however, he always retained possession of the “Homestead” farm, and it is still the property of his undivided estate.

 Peter Yost (3) and His Descendants

            Of Daniel Yost’s children only one, Peter, embarked upon th matrimonial sa.  He, Peter of the third generation, was married to Elizabeth Ziegler. The offspring of this union were eleven children, all of whom married.  Nine reared families and left descendants, who at the present time constitute the distinctive branches of the Yost family.  Ann Yost, of the fourth generation, married John Henricks, had thirteen children, and left descendants to the eighth generation, bearing the names of Henricks, Bechtel, Dare, Carson, Bateman, Bertolett, Cassel, Yorgey, Herzel, Funk, Anders, Tyson, Latshaw, Klink, Vangorden, Lafferty, Weiser, White, Moser, Hunsberger, Schlotterer and Hammel.  Elizabeth married Peter Reifsnyder and had no descendants.  Daniel married Juliana Missimer, had eight children, and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the names of Yost, Harley, Schwenk, Hallman, Wisner, Zimmerman, Baker and Keeler.  Jacob married Hannah Christman, had five children and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the names of Yost, Krause, Schaffer, Barlow, Binder, Scheffey, Borneman, Walt and Miller.  Abraham married Maria Christman, had seven children and left descendants to the seventh generation bearing the names of Yost, Summers, Murray, Fitzgerald, Querns, Platt, Herbert, Housenick and Smith.  Mary married George Grubb, had two children, and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the name of Foster.  Michael married Johanna McCandless, has five children and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the name of Yost.  Catherine married Robert Brooke, had eleven children and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the names of Brooke, Loughridge, Fenstermacher, Dengler, Bessemer, Jones, Vogel and Fryer.  Isaac married Mary Reiff, had three children and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the names of Yost and Beyer.  Sarah married Leonard Metz and left no descendants.  Peter married Eliza Werkiser, had eight children and left descendants to the seventh generation, bearing the names of Yost, Freideborn, Missimer, Martin, Garber and Buck.

 Families of Yost Kin – Yost Reunions

            Families of Yost kin are the most numerous in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the counties of Montgomery and Philadelphia.  Representatives of the branches, however, are found in several States and Territories of the Union.  The entire family and descendants of Michael Yost, who was stricken with the gold-fever in the early fifties and emigrated to California, are all residents of that State.

             The early Yosts were quick in adapting themselves to the institutions of our country.  They were alert with progressive ideas; were strong patrons of education and always ready to respond with money or service toward the needs of the community, or the larger affairs of public welfare.  In religious proclivities they were and are prevailingly identified with the Reformed church.

             The annual Yost family-reunion has been and institution for nine years.  The interassociation of the several family-branches and the fellowship thus engendered has proved a pleasant means of gathering much of the historic character of our ancestors.  Of that, there is all reason to be proud.  There are prominent types thro’out the generations that have nobly conserved the inherent strain of Yost integrity and honor, the presentation of whose lives in the present sketch by the writer would be fulsome extolling.  It is enough for popular information to say there is something of rarer quality in Yost history which historians, other than those of kin have been pleased to note and to which they accord the meed of unqualified praise.

Transcript of biographical article on Jacob R. Yost by Ellwood Roberts:  

Ellwood Roberts, ed., “Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.”  New York, N.Y.:  T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, Vol. 2, pp. 7-9.

 MONTGOMERY COUNTY

 JACOB R. YOST.  The immigrant ancestor of the Yost family of middle Montgomery county was Jacob Yost, who came from Germany in 1727, and purchased a tract of land in the township of Whitpain.  In 1732, he married Elizabeth Shambough, also of German descent.  He is named in the assessment list of Whitpain in 1734 as owning eighty acres of land, some of which is still in the possession of lineal descendants.  There were at that time but twenty-four landholders in the township.

 Jacob Yost had several children, among whom was Daniel Yost, great-grandfather of Jacob R. Yost, subject of this sketch.  He was born on the homestead at no great distance from where is now the village of Centre Square.  He was reared on the farm and engaged in the business of weaving, then carried on by the family, who introduced it into the township, it having been established at first in a small log house, before the purchase of the farm in 1732.  After that time it was carried on still more extensively.  The Yosts were also famed far and near for their sickles, scythes and edge tools, which they manufactured from 1760 to 1816 at the old homestead in Whitpain.  These implements were all forged by hand, and had an excellent reputation wherever they were used.  The Yosts were among the earliest members of Boehm’s Reformed church at Blue Bell, in Whitpain township, and they appear to have arrived in the colony somewhat earlier than any of their German neighbors.  The name Yost is found on some of the most ancient tombstones in its interesting old burying ground.  Two of the members of the family who lie buried there, held the office of county commissioner, namely:  Jacob Yost and Daniel Yost.  Six or seven generations of the family have been members of the church—including Jacob R. Yost.

 Daniel Yost (great-grandfather) was born March 14, 1736.  He married Elizabeth Spear, also of that section of Montgomery county.  They had a number of children, one of whom was Peter.

 Peter Yost, born on the homestead, January 28, 1765, was a farmer, and also engaged in the manufacture of scythes and other edge tools.  There was a saw mill on the property, which has long been in ruins.  Peter Yost married Elizabeth Ziegler, of a well known Montgomery county family of German descent.  Among the children of Peter and Elizabeth Yost was Isaac (father).  He was born at Crooked Hill, Limerick township, was educated in the schools of the vicinity, and followed farming on the homestead for some time, and learned the tanner’s trade with his uncle, Abraham Ziegler, near Skippackville.  Later he removed to Berks county, where he followed tanning for seven years, then returning to the old home near Centre Square, and in 1873 removed to Centre Square, where he died at the age of eighty years, and where his widow yet resides, at the advanced age of ninety-four years.  She was Miss Mary Reiff, of Skippack township.  The children of Isaac and Mary Yost were: 1.  Abram, died in 1892;  2. Michael, who died in 1871; he married Mary Fetter, and to them were born the following children:  Annie C., who married Reuben C. Beyer, and they have one child; and J. Irwin, single.  3. Jacob Reiff Yost.

 When Jacob R. Yost was about eight years of age, his parents removed from the upper end of the county where the father had been engaged in business as a farmer, and returned to the homestead near Centre Square.  He was born in New Hanover township, May 16, 1843.  He was educated in the schools of Whitpain, and completed his education at Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College.  He then entered the store at Centre Square, kept at that time by Ephraim Shearer, and remained there about three years.  He then engaged in the coal, feed and machinery business at Gwyendd station, on the North Pennsylvania Railroad, where he was very successful and had an extensive and profitable trade.  Having an opportunity to dispose of his business, he sold out, purchased the store at Centre Square of Mr. Shearer, his former employer, and conducted that business until the autumn of 1881.  Mr. Yost was a very active Democrat, which party had at that time long been in the ascendant in Montgomery county, but from the year 1872, when the celebrated Grant-Greeley contest had undermined Democratic strength, was gradually losing its prestige.  Mr. Yost in 1880 was nominated by way of recognition of his efforts in behalf of party success, for the office of county treasurer.  After a most active and energetic canvass of the county on both sides, Mr.Yost was elected by one majority over his Republican competitor, Samuel S. Daub, of Pottstown, in a poll of nearly twenty-five thousand votes.  He entered upon the duties of the position on the first Monday of January, 1881, and after closing out his business at Centre Square, removed with his family to Norristown, where he has ever since resided, occupying a handsome residence, No. 536 Swede street.  He served three years very acceptably in the position of county treasurer, and after the completion of his term, was retained for another three years in the office as deputy treasurer by his successor, Henry A. Cole.  He then engaged in the real estate business with Edwin S. Stahlnecker, who had filled the office of sheriff of the county, as his partner, the firm being Stahlnecker & Yost, with offices on Penn street, near Swede, Norristown.  The firm was a success from the start, Mr. Yost’s extensive acquaintance throughout the county and his knowledge of the value of property contributing greatly to their prosperity.  The firm continued until 1893, a period of six years or more, and was then dissolved by mutual arrangement, Mr. Yost purchasing his partner’s share of the business, and continuing it on his own account.  He is one of the most successful real estate dealers in Norristown, and is often called upon to testify as to the value of land and other property in suits for damages and other cases where it is necessary to have the judgment of experts, there being few men in the county whose knowledge in such matters is equal to his own.  Mr. Yost has since removed his office to No. 305 Swede street, in the Albertson building, having a very complete and well equipped suite of offices.

 Mr. Yost married, in 1876, Miss Josephine V. Smith, daughter of Lorenzo D. Smith, a well known resident of Whitpain township.  Mrs. Yost was born June 2, 1846.  Her mother was Jane Supplee, of an old Montgomery county family, who are descended from Andreas Souplis (Andrew Supplee), a French Huguenot, whose ancestors were driven from their native country by religious persecution, and who settled in Germantown in the time of William Penn.  They have one child, Miss Mary, who is an artist of considerable ability.

 Mr. Yost is one of the best known citizens of Norristown.  Although a lifelong Democrat his is not a partisan, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the whole community.  He remembers being told by his great-aunt, who lived to an advanced age, many interesting traditions of Revolutionary times.  His ancestors at the old homestead manufactured rifles as well as edge tools during the contest with the mother country, and these weapons were used with good effect on the patriot side.  Some of these antique guns still remain in the neighborhood, although, unfortunately, none of them are in the possession of the family.  A tool used by the Yosts in Revolutionary times in reaming out the barrels of the rifles was sold recently at a public sale in the neighborhood for a few cents.  At the time of the attack by a band of Tories on the house of Captain Andrew Knox, in Norriton township, February 14, 1778, an alarm was given to the surrounding country, and a member of the Yost family set out for the beleaguered mansion, but the enemy had been driven away before he reached it with a stock of rifles intended for purposes of defense.  The marauders had retreated, and several of them wee afterwards captured, two of them being hanged for their share in the transaction.

 Mr. Yost is a member of Boehm’s Reformed church at Blue Bell, but his wife and daughter are adherents of the Methodist faith, being members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Norristown.  Mr. Yost’s ancestor, Jacob Yost, the immigrant, was a brother-in-law of the Rev. John Philip Boehm, the founder of the Church, and the Yost family have always been among its strongest and most influential members.

Children of JACOB JOST and ELIZABETH SCHAMBAUGH are:

ANNA MARIA² YOST, b. Abt. 1735; m. JOHN PHILIP BOEHM, JR, 02 August 1753, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

ii. DANIEL YOST, b. 14 March 1735/36; d. 06 August 1812, Whitpain township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; m. ELIZABETH SPARE, 21 February 1760, Worcester, Pennsylvania.

iii. PETER YOST, m. SARAH.

Transcript of article by Clarence V. Roberts includes biographical information regarding Dr. Richard J. Linderman, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Yost) Linderman.  Article includes linage of his spouse, Mary G. Thomas.

Clarence V. Roberts, “Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks.”  Philadelphia, Pa.:  Author, 1925, pp. 558-560.

 19.  SAMUEL THOMAS³ (Samuel,¹ Edward²), son of Edward and Alice (Roberts) Thomas, born in Richland 7 mo. 15, 1760, died in Quakertown 5 mo. 17, 1847.  He was a farmer inheriting his father’s lands in Richland, adding thereto by purchase.  He lived and died on West Broad Street, Quakertown.  He married, 9 mo. 24, 1806, Elizabeth McCarty, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lancaster) McCarty, born 9 mo 17, 1776, died in Buckingham 1 mo. 11, 1861.  See No. 32, Chapter XXXI.)

 Children of Samuel and Elizabeth (McCarty) Thomas:

28.  JERVIS THOMAS⁴ (Samuel,¹ Edward,² Samuel³), son of Samuel and Elizabeth (McCarty) Thomas, was born in Richland 9 mo. 9, 1808.  He married, 5 mo. 20, 1830, Jane R. Green, daughter of William and Mary (Roberts) Green, of Quakertown.  (See No. 39, Chapter XVII.)  She was born in Quakertown 7 mo. 23, 1811, and died 3 mo. 24, 1859.

 Children of Jervis and Jane R. (Green) Thomas:

37.  MARY G. THOMAS⁵  (Samuel,¹ Edward,² Samuel,³ Jervis⁴), daughter of Jervis and Jane R. (Green) Thomas, born in Quakertown 11 mo. 25, 1838, married, first, on 3 mo. 15, 1858, Dr. Richard J. Linderman of Quakertown.  He was born in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pa., 1 mo. 12, 1836, and was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Yost) Linderman.  He graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia, March 16, 1856, with the degree M.D. and began the practice of his profession in Quakertown.  He later established a drug store there and relinquished the active practice of medicine in 1870, giving his whole attention to the drug business.  He was one of the active members of the Bucks County Medical Society, and represented that society in the State and National Medical Associations.  He was also a member to the Lehigh Valley Medical Society.  Dr. Linderman took an active interest in public affairs.  He was a member of the Quakertown School Board for nine years and instrumental in the establishing of Quakertown High School.  In 1868 he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate and served one term.  He was one of the projectors of Quakertown Savings Bank and of its successor the Quakertown National Bank, and served many years as a director.  In 1889 Dr. Linderman removed with his family to Philadelphia, residing at 2809 North Broad Street, where he died 1 mo. 6, 1901.  Mary G. (Thomas) Linderman married, second, 7 mo. 28, 1909, Arthur H. Middleton, a prominent business man of Philadelphia.  He was born 10 mo. 2, 1854, and died 1 mo. 18, 1910.  She died 2 mo. 28, 1924.

Children of Dr. R. J. and Mary G. (Thomas) Linderman: