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Here is a biography that was delivered as a speach and was written by Nancy Hitt that was delivered at the Quantrill Society reunion which occurred on 10/09/10. Below is a war-dated image of Yager.
Captain Richard Francis “Dick” Yager (also spelled as Yeager) was born in 1839 and was killed near Arrowrock, Missouri, in 1864 fighting with Quantrill for Southern liberty. Richard’s father, uncle and aunt were all born in Washington County, Kentucky. His father, James Barnes Yager, was born in 1809 and died in 1883. His mother was Mary Jane Berry Yager born in 1812 and died in 1883. Their burial sites remain unknown although James Yager served five terms as Judge of Jackson County, Missouri.
Richard’s uncle was Rev. M. Cornelius Yager. He was born in 1811 and his wife was Susan Francis Berry Yager. She died of cholera in 1849 leaving Reverend Yager to care for seven children. In 1850, he and his children made the move by wagon from Westport, Missouri, to Mountain View, California. He died in 1895 as a distinguished citizen of that state. Richard’s aunt was Mary Ellen Yager who was born in 1818 and died in 1876. She married Jaquiline Amber Lobb of Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1833. They also had seven children and some of their boys may have fought with Quantrill.
(Editors Note: In case you didn't understand Ms. Hitt's droll humor, Dick was a well known Captain under Quantrill who had joined the band by July, 1862. By 1840 his Father John was the presiding judge of the Jackson county court and a wealthy man. In 1861, Dick was in charge of one of his Father's wagon trains. When Dick Wagon trains when he returned home he found his Fathers farm had been stripped of everything by Jennison's men which in turn prompted Yager's to join Quantrill. Richard fought in numerous engagements including but not limited to the Battle of Independence, Lawrence, and Baxter Springs. He lead around thirteen men on a famous raid into the vicinity of Council Grove Kansas on May 4th, 1863. Dick was killed around August 4th,1864 on the farm of owned by the father of Ike and John Flannery).
James Yager and his family moved to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1837 while his only brother and only sister and their families had moved west sometime before 1834.From the Lobb Bible, the Lobb Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Blue Springs, Missouri,was organized in 1834 by Rev. William Horn with five charter members. They were Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lobb, Rev. and Mrs. Cornelius Yager and one negro belonging to Mr. Lobb. This church was sometimes referred to as the Little Blue Church or the Shakerag Church.
The frame church was built in 1854. The Rev. J. G. Dalton became the pastor that year and by 1860 the membership roll comprised over two hundred names. Reverend Dalton remained as its pastor for over fifty years. The present Lobb Cemetery was near to the Lobb pioneer homesite. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Jackson County. The first burial was a Kentucky youngster named John P. Crow who died in 1844. His parents were emigrating and staying with the Lobb family when their son died.
Confederates are buried in this well-maintained cemetery. Duncan Hansen has identified the following as Quantrill members: Silas H. Gibson, Samuel C. Montgomery, George Rider, John T. Crump, James Little, John Little and Gabriel Parr. Both Mary Ellen Yager Lobb and her husband are buried here along with their slave, Anthony Lobb and his descendants. (So much for mean old slave drivers and other such blasphemy.) I remain proud to claim my distant cousin, Dick Yager, who rode, fought and died with William Clarke Quantrill!
Nancy Hitt– © 2010 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. &quantrillsguerrillas.com. "Permission should be requested and agreed to before using this copyrighted essay."