Sterling (Wesley Sterling) was the son of Joseph Ashton Yard and Mary W. Sterling. He married first to Emma C. Wood. He married second to Anna Macfarlan Wood on 5 Dec. 1872. He married third to Sarah Jordan. He died in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, Bronx Co., NY.

By his first wife, he had children:

1) infant, died Feb. 1861--linked below;
2) infant, died July 1864--linked below; and
3) Wilson Randolph, born 8 Jan. 1867.

By his second wife, he had children:

4) Douglas Southerland, born 5 July 1874--linked below;
5) Grace Sterling, born 7 Feb. 1876;
6) Amy Leffingwell, born 3 Apr. 1877, died 8 Dec. 1882;
7) Harold Sterling, born 18 Dec. 1880; and
8) David Dudley Field, born 4 Sep. 1885.

There were no children by the third marriage.

The following information was contributed by Sheila Y. (thanks) from the New York Daily Tribune, Sunday, 23 Apr. 1899:

W. STERLING YARD

W. Sterling Yard, who died suddenly at his home in Highbridge on Friday, was the third son of the late Captain Joseph A. Yard, who served in the Mexican and Civil wars. He was in his sixty-fifth year. Mr. Yard began his education at Fort Plain, this State, and completed his studies at the Albany Law School. He came to this city in the early fifties and found employment in the law office of the late David Dudley Field and afterward of the late Justice Sutherland, of the Supreme Court. After a time he formed a partnership, the firm becoming Sutherland, Boies & Yard. Their offices were in the old Jauncey Court, in Wall-st. When Judge Sutherland became Justice of the Supreme Court he appointed Mr. Yard clerk of the Supreme Court.

While in this office the Civil War broke out, and he went to the front as a member of the 7th Regiment, Third Company, Captain Price. On the expiration of his term of service he returned to his old place in the Supreme Court, but later on again accompanied his regiment to the front, when called as an emergency regiment at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.
On his return from this service, he formed another law-partnership, the firm being Yard & Furlong and he practised his profession until a few years ago, when he was obliged to retire on account of failing health.

He was the oldest member in standing of Sagamore Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of this city. Masonic funeral honors will, be performed at Masonic Hall, Twenty-third-st. and Sixth-ave., tomorrow evening.

Further from Sheila Y.:

The Jauncey Court was demolished in 1900 but the Masonic Hall is still at 23rd Street & Sixth Avenue in NYC. Also, I suspect but can't confirm 100%, that these are the gentlemen noted in text:

David Dudley Field, memorial 6844060
Josiah Sutherland, 7643477
James Price, memorial 89255441

Note: Heartfelt thanks to T.V.F.T.H. for creating this memorial.