San Joaquin County
Biographies
FRED YOST
FRED YOST, one of the
pioneers in Stockton, is a native of Womelsdorf, Berks County, Pennsylvania,
born October 3, 1828, his parents being John and Margaret (Lauer) Yost. His
father, a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, came as a child to Womelsdorf, where,
on growing up, he became well-to-do, building a large brewery, which he
operated until his death, in 1888, at the age of ninety-two years. The mother
of our subject was also born in Germany, and also came to Pennsylvania when a
child, living there till her death in 1852. The Lauers are a prominent
Pennsylvanian family.
Fred Yost, the subject of this sketch, was
reared at his native place to the age of sixteen years, then went to
Philadelphia, and after remaining there two years went on board the whaleship Copia,
a New Bedford vessel; went on a long cruise to the following places: the
Western Faukland Islands, Juan Fernandez Islands, Valparaiso, and thence to
Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. During their voyage they captured two large whales.
When the ship arrived at the Sandwich Islands, to take in fresh water and
provisions, Mr. Yost, not liking the way he was treated, made his escape off to
the mountains, remaining there nine days, until he had found the ship had left
port, and being cared for by an old darkey who kept a boarding house. Here he
obtained employment as a carpenter, putting up frame houses with canvas tops,
for nine months. In March, 1849, in company with two others, he left Honolulu
on a little boat, and arrived safely at San Francisco on April 20. Being three
weeks in this city, Mr. Yost went on a schooner to Sacramento, and thence
footed it along with an ox team to Horse-Shoe Bar, on the American river, where
he was engaged in mining from May to October, being quite successful. He then
returned to Sacramento, and after being there one week, he and his partner
bought two ox teams and proceeded via Stockton and San Jose to the Redwoods.
They got out lumber there, and started a yard for its sale in San Jose. They
carried on the business during that winter, but were one day astonished to
learn that one of the partners had sold out the entire concern and skipped with
the money, leaving Mr. Yost and his partner to pay the hired men. They had no
money to pay the men, but the ox teams, and they all agreed that they would
sell the ox teams and divide the proceeds among themselves. They came with the
ox teams to Stockton in May, 1850, where they sold the teams at auction. Mr.
Yost then sought employment from Mr. Day, an old gentleman, who kept a
brick-yard on the Mormon slough. After about a year of this employment, he had
accumulated enough money to buy an ox team. He engaged in freighting from
Stockton to the southern mines,--Sonora, Columbia, Jamestown, Mokelumne Hill
and other mining towns, and did very well at the business. He followed this
employment for about two years, and then sold his ox team to the proprietor of
a saw-mill at Sonora. With this money he bought a number of mules, and went
into the business of hauling freight to the various towns, having his office on
the levee for thirteen years, until the year 1870, when the railroads were
constructed and had killed the freighting business. He then sold his mule teams
and made a trip back to Pennsylvania to visit his family and friends. On
returning back to Stockton, California, he bought a farm four miles from here
and operated it five years, but not finding it profitable, sold out. In 1881 he
bought into the San Joaquin Brewery Company, on the corner of Weber avenue and
American streets and continued his connection with it until May, 1889, when he
sold out to Charles Wirth, who had been his partner.
Mr. Yost was married in Calaveras County,
California, in 1880, to Miss Margaret Wolf, a native of Baltimore, Maryland.
They have six children living, viz: Frederick J., Addie C., Charles H., Walter
E., Serena L. and Henry L. Mr. Yost is a member of the San Joaquin Society of
California Pioneers, and of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F. In the days of
the volunteer fire department, Mr. Yost took an active interest in its affairs.
He was for nine years foreman of San Joaquin Engine Company, No. 3, and
treasurer for thirteen years, and in 1888, when it was merged into the paid
department. He has been an exempt fireman since 1867, but ran with the machine
until the volunteer department gave way to the paid department. Mr. Yost, a
Republican politically, takes an active interest in city affairs, having served
as one of the councilmen in the years 1859, 1868 and 1873.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 292-293. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
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