William Yates, a resident of Kendrick Township, is one of the pioneers of Greene County, and was born in Stokes County, North Carolina, December 24, 1818, son of William and Martha (Durham) Yates, who reared a family of eight children - Jane, Annie, James, Lettie, Paulina, William, Martha and George. When William was thirteen years of age the family removed to Rush County, Indiana, and were among the early settlers of that county. When he was eighteen years old they removed to Boone County, where William lived about seventeen years.
He was united in marriage June 6 1844, with Miss Louisa Brock, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Allen and Sarah (Johnson) Brock, natives of Virginia, who were the parents of ten children - Jahue, Nancy, Lydia, Allen, Sarah, Rhoda, Hiram, Prier, Louisa, and Campbell. All were reared to maturity and married before a physician was ever called to the family.
Mr. Yates resided in Boone County until the fall of 1854, when he removed to Iowa, traveling with two horse teams. Mr. Yates drove one team and Mrs. Yates the other one. He first entered eighty acres of Government land and built a log cabin 17x17 feet, which served for kitchen, dining-room, sleeping-room and parlor. Mr. Yates owns 160 acres of farm land, and thirty acres of timber land. The log cabin has been removed , and in its place stands a good one-and-a-half-story residence, built in modern style and well furnished. He has a fine orchard, a native grove, and his farm buildings are comfortable and commodious.
Mr. and Mrs. Yates have had nine children, four of whom are living - Sarah L., Nancy E., Lydia A. and Clara A. The deceased are - Mary E., Laura E., Martha Jane, Clarinda, and a babe unnamed.
Mr. and Mrs. Yates are zealous and worthy members of the Free Methodist church.
