Civil War Union Army Officer. Major of the 3rd Regiment New Jersey Brigade Militia during the Civil War. He was the son of Captain Joseph Ashton Yard. He received his preliminary education from books at Trenton Academy, and left school at the age of fourteen to act as book-keeper for his father in the auction business. He afterwards entered the True American office to learn the art of printing, and spent several years in learning the mechanical branch of the trade. He was a skillful compositor and pressman, and at one time worked the entire weekly edition of the True American on a hand-press. In 1846 he started the Weekly Visitor in the city of Trenton, and after conducting it for three months, sold it. In 1848 he published for an association in Williamsburgh, L.I., a campaign newspaper, the Kings County Democrat, and in 1850 he printed for Benjamin F. Yard, owner and editor, the first thirteen numbers of the Ocean Signal (now Ocean County Courier), at Tom’s River. Subsequently he started the Village Record (now Gazette) at Hightstown. While at that place, he was postmaster for a period just before 1854, which position he resigned upon removing to Freehold. He was also postmaster of Freehold from October 1, 1855 to July 1, 1860, when he resigned. In 1854 he purchased the Monmouth Democrat (see sketch), and has conducted it to the present time (1885). In 1866 he also established the Long Branch News, which he conducted for several years. He was elected a member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in the spring of 1863, and re-elected for two succeeding years, when he declined to serve longer. He was major of the Third Regiment of militia during the three months’ service at the outbreak of the late war, and afterwards was connected with all the military operations in the county for raising troops until the close of the war. He was appointed by Governor Olden to draft the militia for Monmouth County, and was commander of Camp Vredenburgh and assisted in raising the Twenty—eighth and Twenty-ninth Regiments of volunteers. He was also commissioned as commander of Camp Bayard, at Trenton, which he declined. He held several commissions under Governor Parker during the war, in connection with New Jersey troops in the field. Major Yard was appointed commissioner of railroad taxation by Governor Parker in 1873, which position he filled until 1883. In 1878 he received the appointment of deputy quartermaster-general from Governor McClellan, which position he still holds.
While Major Yard has been earnestly engaged in business matters, and filling responsible military and civil places and assuming responsible trusts in the interests of his fellow—citizens, he has not been unmindful of other obligations, to himself and to the community in which he has resided. While at Hightstown, in 1852, he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has remained in that communion since. He efficiently served there as superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and upon his removal to Freehold was appointed to the same position here which he held for many years. In this, and also in church-work, he has zealously guarded the interests of both morality and religion. For several years Major Yard has held a license as local preacher in the church at Freehold.
On September 25, 1856, he married Adaline Clark, daughter of Daniel D. Swift, of Lancaster County, Pa. (see sketch of H.W. Murphy), by which union he has had seven children,— Emma, wife of Wm. M. Ivins, of New York City; Mary Sterling, wife of A. Harvey Tyson, of Reading, Pa.; Daniel Swift, who graduated at Princeton in the class of 1882, died November 21, 1883; Joseph Ashton; Adaline Swift; James Sterling, died April 7,1877, and Thomas Swift, who died June 14, 1880. Mrs. Yard, in addition to the usual cares of a large family, which she has managed discreetly, has been an active and useful member of the church and of society, taking a leading part in the affairs of both; and not only with her hands, but by her counsel and with her pen, has she labored efficiently and contributed her share in the world’s work.