James W. Yearty was probably born in 1834 in Jefferson County, in the Territory of Florida, a son of Jacob Yearty. In 1845 Florida became a state. The Jacob Yearty family applied for, and received, a land grant approximately 35 miles due east of Tallahassee. Not long afterwards the Seminole Indians destroyed the Yearty homestead. The Jacob Yearty family then moved to the town of Girard (later renamed Phoenix City), in Alabama, where Jacob probably died (burial unknown). During the 1860 census James was working as a mechanic.
When the Civil War broke out James did not appear to be eager to volunteer for duty. He was eventually drafted, and served in the 34th Alabama Regt. during the Civil War. He was captured at Chickamauga, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois for the duration of the war. At the end of the war he applied for, and received, a pardon.
After being released from prison he traveled back to Russell County, Alabama, where he briefly worked as a butcher. Soon after, he packed up his family and traveled down the Chattahoche River back to Florida. The James Yearty family settled in the town of Marianna, in Calhoun County. They are listed as family #1 in the 1870 census, where James operated a blacksmith shop. James was elected to the Florida legislature, and also became the sheriff of Calhoun County about 1870-1871 during the turbulent post-war period known as "reconstruction". James was ambushed on a trip home from Tallahassee and murdered. His burial (if there ever was a burial) is unknown.
When the Civil War broke out James did not appear to be eager to volunteer for duty. He was eventually drafted, and served in the 34th Alabama Regt. during the Civil War. He was captured at Chickamauga, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois for the duration of the war. At the end of the war he applied for, and received, a pardon.
After being released from prison he traveled back to Russell County, Alabama, where he briefly worked as a butcher. Soon after, he packed up his family and traveled down the Chattahoche River back to Florida. The James Yearty family settled in the town of Marianna, in Calhoun County. They are listed as family #1 in the 1870 census, where James operated a blacksmith shop. James was elected to the Florida legislature, and also became the sheriff of Calhoun County about 1870-1871 during the turbulent post-war period known as "reconstruction". James was ambushed on a trip home from Tallahassee and murdered. His burial (if there ever was a burial) is unknown.
James W. Yearty was probably born in 1834 in Jefferson County, in the Territory of Florida, a son of Jacob Yearty. In 1845 Florida became a state. The Jacob Yearty family applied for, and received, a land grant approximately 35 miles due east of Tallahassee. Not long afterwards the Seminole Indians destroyed the Yearty homestead. The Jacob Yearty family then moved to the town of Girard (later renamed Phoenix City), in Alabama, where Jacob probably died (burial unknown). During the 1860 census James was working as a mechanic.
When the Civil War broke out James did not appear to be eager to volunteer for duty. He was eventually drafted, and served in the 34th Alabama Regt. during the Civil War. He was captured at Chickamauga, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois for the duration of the war. At the end of the war he applied for, and received, a pardon.
After being released from prison he traveled back to Russell County, Alabama, where he briefly worked as a butcher. Soon after, he packed up his family and traveled down the Chattahoche River back to Florida. The James Yearty family settled in the town of Marianna, in Calhoun County. They are listed as family #1 in the 1870 census, where James operated a blacksmith shop. James was elected to the Florida legislature, and also became the sheriff of Calhoun County about 1870-1871 during the turbulent post-war period known as "reconstruction". James was ambushed on a trip home from Tallahassee and murdered. His burial (if there ever was a burial) is unknown.
When the Civil War broke out James did not appear to be eager to volunteer for duty. He was eventually drafted, and served in the 34th Alabama Regt. during the Civil War. He was captured at Chickamauga, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois for the duration of the war. At the end of the war he applied for, and received, a pardon.
After being released from prison he traveled back to Russell County, Alabama, where he briefly worked as a butcher. Soon after, he packed up his family and traveled down the Chattahoche River back to Florida. The James Yearty family settled in the town of Marianna, in Calhoun County. They are listed as family #1 in the 1870 census, where James operated a blacksmith shop. James was elected to the Florida legislature, and also became the sheriff of Calhoun County about 1870-1871 during the turbulent post-war period known as "reconstruction". James was ambushed on a trip home from Tallahassee and murdered. His burial (if there ever was a burial) is unknown.
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