Bernard YAEGER, who is now living retired in Henry, was born in what is now Alsace, Germany, January 16, 1831, a son of France Antone and Katherine YAEGER, who were likewise natives of Alsace and were members of the Catholic church. The father followed the occupation of farming. In the family were six children, of whom Bernard YAEGER is the youngest. He was educated in the schools of his native place and there mastered both the French and German languages, after which he learned the trade of shoemaking. A consideration of the business outlook of that country led him to the determination to try his fortune in America, and in April, 1853, he came to the United States and settled in Chicago, where he remained until 1854, conducting a shoe shop there. There was an epidemic of cholera in that year and he removed to Henry, where he worked at his trade for two years. On the expiration of that period he established a saloon, which he conducted until 1867, when he opened a shoe store, which he carried on for two years. He then sold his store and in 1884 he retired, turning over his saloon to his son, since which time he has lived in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. In 1904 he bought out the Steam Soda Water Bottling Works and placed his .son in charge.
In 1857 Mr. YAEGER was united in marriage to Miss Katherine SCHICK, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1836 and came to the United States in 1856 with her parents, Frederick and Katherine Schick, who were pioneer farming people of Putnam county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. YAEGER were born two children: Henry, who is now conducting the. bottling works; and Ella, the wife of Joseph A. SCHAFER, who is a job printer of Peoria. The parents are members of St. Mary's Catholic church and Mr. YAEGER is a stalwart democrat, inflexible in his support of the party. He has served as a member of the city council and also as highway commissioner and he is a director of the Henry bridge board. He is numbered among the successful and enterprising business men of Henry and is now living on a competence in honorable retirement from further business cares. He made no mistake in his determination to try his fortunes in America, for in this country he has prospered and as the years have gone by has accumulated a goodly sum for the evening of life.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
