The San Francisco call., 1895-07-15
PASSED AWAY AT NIGHT.
The End Came at His Daugh-
ter's Home at Arlington
Heights.
A POWER IN THE EARLY DAYS.
One Of the Heirs to Fifty Million
Dollar Estate In Ger
many.

FRESNO, CAL, July IA. Cornelius
Yager. better known as Father Yager, one
of the most noted of California S pioneers,
died here late last night.
When he passed away he was lying at
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah E.
Caldwell, at Arlington Heights, in the
suburbs of the city. He was attended by
his grandson, DR.. E. e. Brown of Selma,
and by DR.. J. L. Maupin OF this city.
The decline began last Friday. The
cause was a complication of diseases, of
which diabetes was one, but failure of
the vital organs from age had much to do
with the pioneers death. With wonderful
tenacity the old man has clung to life.
Since Friday night he has been at deaths
door, and his physicians expected that
every minute would be his last.
Father Yager was born in Kentucky in
1911. His ancestors were German, but for
many years had lived in this country.
They took prominent part in the strug-
gle of the colonies for liberty.
Nicholas Yager great-grandfathe of
Cornelius Yager, went into Kentucky
when it was part of Virginia and was the
first white man in that section of the
country. He patented large tract of land
there. On his return to Virginia he sent
the papers showing his title to the land by
another party and he himself undertook to
find shorter route across the country. He
was taken prisoner by the Indians. his
body was stuck full OF pine splinters and
he was burned to death. The papers were
saved and the family of the murdered man
obtained possession of the rich lands.
Father Yager was a true representative
of the illustrious family. He married Miss
Susan Frances Berry in 1888 and::settled in
Missouri, near the present city of Inde-
pendence. Seven children were born and
four are now living, Frank, John G., Sarah
and Mary. Mrs. Yager died in 1S49 and
year later Father Yager came across
the plains to California, settling at
Mountain View, Santa Clara County. For
some years he was County Clerk of Contra
Costa County and later lived in San Joa-
quin, Santa Clara, Tulare and Fresno
counties.
1t was as minister Of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church that he was most
widely known during the great gold ex-
element. His magnificent carriage and
height made him q marked figure, while
his wonderful constitu ton dehed the ex-
posure to which he was constantly sub
jected.
He spent large part of his time riding
over the hills on missionary trips.
The rough miners everywhere reverenced
the sanity old man, and his influence for
law and right was almost unbounded.
Unlike others who travelled from camp to
camp he needed NO protection. He was
welcomed at every digging, and his sim.
pie, honest way of preaching won the love
of many of the lawless miners. The noun
tain preacher was associated with the
noted Bishop Monogue, and for years they
worked in the camps for the cause of the
church.
When an old man Father Yager learned
that he was one of the heirs of an estate in
Germany, valued at $50, 900 900. The money
was left by some of his relatives, and now
lies in the Bank of Hamburg awaiting set
tlement. Father Yager's claim has been
proved up. At no time in his life was he
a wealthy man.
Father Yager was a member of Fresno
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and of
Trigo Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. The
whole community mourns the death OF
this noble man.