Benneville was the son of Philip Yerger/Jurger 1791-1860 and Catharina Weber 1796-1875, both born in Bern, Berks Co, Penn. Phillip’s 3ggrandfather came to Berks Co, Penn from probably Anspach, Bavaria, Germany. A family story that passed down through the generations was there was a terrible Indian massacre in Penn that wiped out a good part of the family. By the spring of 1851 Benneville moved his family to Flat Rock, Seneca Co, Ohio where he was a tailor at trade. Seven of Benneville’s children were born in Union Co, Penn and the remaining five were born in Ohio. By the spring of 1865 Benneville had moved his family to LaPorte Co, Indiana where land was plentiful. He became a farmer in Cass Twp. By this time, several of Benneville’s grown children had migrated to different areas of the country.
Benneville Franklin Yarger was born Sept 19, 1814 in Upper Bern, Berks Co, Penn. He died July 1, 1890 Wanatah, LaPorte Co, Indiana of heart disease and kidney trouble. He married 1) Hester “Hetty” Campbell June 13, 1833 in Hartley, Union Co, Penn. Hetty was born September 13, 1817 in Penn or Virginia and died December 20, 1872 of dropsy in Cass, LaPorte Co, Indiana. He married 2) Marie Herman on May 24, 1874 in LaPorte Co, Indiana. She was born in 1817 in Bayern, Germany. Benneville and Hetty are both buried in Morgan Cemetery, Cass Twp, LaPorte Co, Indiana.
Benneville and Hetty’s children were:
1) Israel Yerger was born July 9 1834 Union Co, Penn, and died December 18, 1898, Shenandoah, Page Co, Iowa. Israel was a veteran of the Civil War and his wife filed for his pension in 1899. Israel married Serepta Marsh on March 6, 1853 in Flat Rock, Ohio. Sarepta Sophia Marsh born Sept 24, 1837 in Shiloh, Richland Co, Ohio - parents: Oliver Marsh b. 1798 Vermont, Harriet Wynn, b. 1809 New York. Serepta died January 28, 1905 in Des Moines, Iowa. She died of a heart condition. Israel followed the trade of his father as a tailor. Israel and Serepta are both buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Shenandoah, Iowa. They had seven children.
2) Mary Ann Yerger was born September 1, 1836 in Hartley, Union Co, Penn and died about October 1920 in Pulaski, Oswego Co, New York at her daughter Flora Taylor’s home. Mary Ann married 1) Frederick Harpster born October 24, 1829 Northumberland Co, Penn. Frederick died in 1862 in Glasgow, Jefferson Co, Iowa. Frederick was the son of George Harpster and Catherine Decker. Frederick and Mary Ann had two children. After Frederick’s death Mary Ann married 2) Casper Zerman on September 2, 1866 in Fulton Co, Ohio. Casper was born April 14, 1837 in France. He died September 13, 1902 in Delta, Fulton Co, Ohio. Casper was a tailor by trade. Mary Ann Yerger and Casper Zerman are both buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Delta, Fulton Co, Ohio. They had six children.
3) William “Perry” Yerger was born May 3, 1838 Hartley, Union Co, Penn. He died October 21, 1898 in Wyandotte, Crawford Co, Indiana. William married Harriet “Hattie” Newel Osborne November 6, 1878 in LaPorte Co, Indiana. Hattie was born October 22, 1848 in Summit, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Elias Osborne and Eliza Ann Parsons. Hattie died December 27, 1934 in Indiana Harbor, Lake Co, Indiana. They had two children. Perry was the Postmaster in Wanatah, Indiana. He also served in the Civil War. After his death, his wife Hattie became the Postmistress of Wanatah. “Perry” and Hattie are both buried in Morgan Cemetery, Cass Twp, LaPorte Co, Indiana.
4) John Henry Yerger was born November 20, 1840 in Union Co, Pennsylvania and died March 25, 1917 McCook, Red Willow Co, Nebraska. John married Mary Eveline Patterson on January 9, 1873 in Marion Co, Iowa. Mary was born May 21, 1852 in Havana, Mason Co, Illinois and died March 27, 1914 in McCook, Red Willow Co, Nebraska. Mary was the daughter of Dr Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Jane Garrard. John died of paralysis. John and Mary are both buried in Long View Cemetery, McCook, Nebraska. They had three children. John Henry Yerger served in the Civil War – he later became a brick mason.
5) Joseph Yerger born April 19, 1843 Hartley, Union Co, Pennsylvania and died November 30, 1855 Flat Rock, Seneca Co, Ohio.
6) Chestine “Chesty” Yerger was born February 7, 1848 in Hartley, Union Co, Pennsylvania and died February 27, 1890 in Morgan, LaPorte Co, Indiana. Chestie died of typhlitis. She married David John Gross on January 9, 1866 in Cary, Wyandotte Co, Ohio. David was born January 1, 1842 in Kutztown, Berks Co, Penn and died March 22, 1907 in Union Mills, LaPorte Co, Indiana. David was the son of David Gross, Jr and Elizabeth Dewitt. David died of dropsy and congestive heart failure. He served in the Civil War – later was a plasterer and a farmer. David and Chesty are both buried in Morgan Cemetery, Cass, LaPorte Co, Indiana. Chesty and David had nine children, three of them dying young. (This is Judy Morgan’s direct line)
7) Catherine S. Yerger was born June 11, 1849 Union Co, Pennsylvania and died March 13, 1857 Flat Rock, Seneca Co, Ohio.
8) George Edward Yerger was born November 3, 1851 Flat Rock, Ohio and died February 28, 1892 in S. Chicago, Illinois. George was accidentally killed at the Chicago World’s Fair Expedition. George is buried in Morgan Cemetery, Cass Twp, LaPorte Co, Indiana. He owned a sample and billiard parlor in Fostoria, Seneca Co, Ohio. George married Helena “Ellen” Maraches/Mareches on July 17, 1881 in Seneca Co, Ohio. She was born about 1849 in Seneca Co, Ohio. Her parents were Henry Maraches/Mareches and Anna. George and Ellen had no children.
9) Frederick Yerger was born June 21, 1855 in Flat Rock, Ohio and died December 8, 1928 Medaryville, Pulaski Co, Indiana. He married 1) Ida B. in 1879 in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co, Iowa. They had no children. Ida B. died in 1908 in Medaryville, Pulaski Co, Indiana. Frederick married 2) Etta M. Hardesty on August 11, 1909 in Medaryville, Pulaski Co, Indiana. Etta was born in 1863 in Medaryville, Indiana and she died in November 1942 in Medaryville, Indiana. Frederick and Ida also had no children and are both buried in Morgan Cemetery, Cass Twp, LaPorte Co, Indiana.
10) Adeline “Addie” M. Yerger was born February 28, 1858 Flat Rock, Ohio and died May 4, 1932 in Hastings, Adams Co, Nebraska. Addie married Jonathan N. Osborn on February 20, 1879 in LaPorte Co, Indiana. Jonathan was born April 21, 1857 in Clinton, LaPorte Co, Indiana and died September 27, 1926 in Ayr, Adams Co, Nebraska. Jonathan was a farmer. Addie and Jonathan are both buried in Leroy (Blue Valley) Cemetery in Ayr, Adams Co, Nebraska. Addie and Jonathan had four children.
11) Ella “Ellen” Vincent Yerger was born January 1, 1861 in Flat Rock, Ohio. Ellen married Arthur Freeman on December 27, 1881 in LaPorte Co, Indiana. Arthur was born July 1856 in Indiana and died June 15, 1945 in Tacoma, Pierce Co, Washington. He worked for the railroad. Ellen and Arthur had three daughters.
12)Elmer Vincent Yerger was born January 1, 1861 in Flat Rock, Ohio (twin to Ellen). Elmer died March 15, 1929 Denver, Colorado. Elmer married Ida V. before 1920 in Denver, Colorado. Ida was born in 1862 in Indiana and died June 10, 1953 in Denver, Colorado. Elmer was a bookkeeper. They had no children. Elmer and Ida are both buried in Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, Lakewood, Denver Co, Colorado.