U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Yost, Ellis Asby (b. 1872) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Bench and Bar of West Virginia Author: Geo. W. Atkinson, L.L.B., L.L.D. Virginia Law Book Company, Charleston, W. Va., 1919 Pages 496-498, Hon. Ellis Asby Yost Mr. Yost is a native of Fairview, Marion County, West Virginia, son of B. W. and Elzena J. Yost, born December 12, 1872. Like some of the most illustrious examples of men who have made their influence widely felt in public affairs in State and nation, he was born and grew to manhood on a farm, and the foundation of his education was laid in the public schools of his native county. In those schools he developed a thirst for knowledge, which he, by pluck and perseverance, secured at the Ohio Northern University at Ada and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. In these well-known colleges he received a thorough, liberal education, which proved of incalculable value to him in his professional and business career. Like many another American young man, with proper ambition, he has made good in life. While engaged in the mercantile business for several years he decided to take law as a profession, and began the study of textbooks, which he kept up for a time, and completed his studies in the Law Department of the West Virginia University, and was admitted to membership of the Monongalia County Bar in 1908, where he has since conducted a successful business. In early life he developed a liking for politics. His public service in a political way began at the age of 23 with his election as Mayor of the town of Fairview in his home county. Since 1904 he has been a resident of Morgantown and a member of the Monongalia County Bar, and he has twice represented the people of this county in the Legislature of the State. He is a man of high grade moral character, and is always found on the moral side of all questions that arise in politics and law as well. But he is very far from being a "re-former" of the one idea type. The Yost bill is not the only measure of great political and social interest in the shaping of which the subject of this sketch has had a hand during his two terms of legislative service. He worked hard for the enactment of the Public Service Commission Law, the Workmen's Compensation Act, the Hydroelectric Law, a Juvenile Court bill, a State-wide primary law and other measures promised in the platform of the Republican party upon which he was elected. The Prohibition Law, for which Mr. Yost stood sponsor in the session of 1913, has now met the test of actual enforcement, and it is not too much to say that West Virginia to-day stands at the head of the growing list of States in which prohibition has been made to prohibit. The Yost bill was an attempt to put into definite legislative form the unmistakable mandate of the people of West Virginia, uttered in the election of 1912 by their vote on the adoption of the Prohibition Amendment. In Charleston, during the legislative session of 1909, and later, in the session of 1913, Mr. Yost took a prominent part in the framing and championing of a number of constructive and progressive measures of the utmost importance, evincing in this work the qualifications that go with a high order of statesmanship. He proved to be alert and resourceful as a parliamentarian on the floor of the House and an indefatigable worker on the bills in which he was interested in their committee state of development. In his business, professional and domestic life, Mr. Yost's career has been one of unquestioned integrity and fidelity to the highest ideals of good citizenship. He has been successful in business and in his professional work. Being a man of many gifts, he has proved an excellent advocate and a successful practitioner. In all his dealings he has been scrupulously honest, and consequently has a strong following of patrons and close friends. He is happily married, has one son, and resides at Morgantown, the seat of justice of Monongalia County. His home life is ideal, and among his friends he is always social, joyful and happy. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- MARRIAGE (Minister's Return) Married to Lenna Lowe (age 21) on Sept 26, 1899 in Basnettsville, Marion County WVa DEATH CERTIFICATE of Ellis's mother Marion County WV Death Certificate Name: Elzena Jane Ammons Yost b. 15-Dec-1852; d. 29-Jul-1943 dau of Noah Ammons (Marion Co.) and Susannah Caldwell (Mon. Co.) widow of P. W. Yost born in Monongalia County died in Fairview, Marion County buried in the David Yost Cemetery, near Fairview Informant: Ellis A. Yost, addr: Mt. Pleasant, Mich --------------------------------------------------------------------- CENSUS 1870 Census, Marion County WV Paw Paw District, hw-pg 37 Dwelling: 271, Family: 274 YOUST, Annanias W. (25) Farmer & Miller, $1800/$100, Virginia ", Alzena (18) Keeping-house, Virginia YOUST, James (55) Farmer, $5250/$1235, Virginia ", Sarah (49) Keeping-house, Virginia ", Defarius (17) Without-occupation, Virginia 1900 Census, Marion County WV Paw Paw District, ED:62, Sheet 10B Yost, Elis A (head) Dec-1872, age-27, Married-1-yr, WV-WV-WV, ??-Insurance ", Lenna (wife) Jan-1878, age-22, WV-WV-WV 1910 Census, Monongalia County WV Morgan District, Morgantown, Ward 4, ED:79, Sheet 11B 56 University Drive YOST, Ellis A. (head) 38, m1-10-yrs, WV-WV-WV, Lawyer ", Lenna S. (wife) 32, m1-10-yrs, 1-child/1-living, WV-WV-WV ", Leland S. (son) 7, WV-WV-WV 1930 Census, Cabell County WV Huntington City, Ward 6, Gideon District ED: 6-23, Sheet 30A, Lines 40-41 YOST, Ellis A. (head) age 56, mar-at-age-26, WV-WV-WV Asst Attorney, District Court YOST, Lena L. (wife) age 52, mar-at-age-21, WV-WV-WV Natl Representative, W. C. T. U. ---------------------------------------------------------------------