>From "History of Berks County": Hiram P. Yeager, proprietor of the Pennsylvania Boiler Works, and a prominent citizen of Reading, Pa., was born in Schuylkill county, June 26, 1844, son of John L. and Mary (Gift) Yeager, and grandson of John Yeager. John Yeager, the grandfather, who was a native of Germany and a hatter by trade, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He and his wife were both buried in the Charles Evans cemetery, being members of the Reformed Church. [Oddly, I cannot find this to be true; cemetery has no record, JART] He and his wife had seven children: John, Nicholas, Harry, George, Michael, Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Seiders. John L. Yeager, father of Hiram P., was also a hatter by occupation, a trade which he learned of his father. When a young man he located in Schuylkill county, and there for a number of years followed his trade, but later went into the hotel business, conducting a hostelry for about thirty years. Mr. Yeager died in 1858, aged fifty-seven years, while his widow survived him until 1879, being in her seventy-eighth year at the time of her death. He was a member of Orwigsburg Lodge, F. & A. M. of Schuylkill county. [ 1850 Reading Census lists a John L. Yeager, age 47 as an innkeeper and a Ann M. {assume Mary Gift}. Also listed, all Yeagers, Eliza Q., Sophia, Lucy A., Alfred, Henry, Hiram, Ellenora and Emma Y. JART] There is a bit more information in the "History of B C" article but nothing of importance, I'm afraid. Jack Tucker jart@epix.net