David C. Yakey

American politician

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David C. Yakey

Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Vernon 2nd district
In office
January 5, 1880 – January 3, 1881
Preceded by| Roger Williams
Succeeded by| Allen Rusk
Personal details
Born| (1830-05-31)May 31, 1830
Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S.
Died| February 23, 1908(1908-02-23) (aged 77)
Vernon County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place| Salem Ridge Cemetery, Avalanche, Wisconsin
Political party| Republican
Spouse|

Julia Ann Adams

(m. 1867⁠-⁠1908)​

Children| 8
Occupation| farmer
Military service
Allegiance| United States
Branch/service| United States Army
Union Army
Years of service| 1862-1865
Rank| Sergeant
Unit| 25th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars| Dakota War of 1862
American Civil War

* Siege of Vicksburg
* Atlanta campaign
* Savannah campaign
* Carolinas campaign

David C. Yakey (May 13, 1830 - February 23, 1908) was an American farmer and Union Army volunteer in the American Civil War. He later served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

## Early life and career

[edit]

Yakey was born on May 31, 1830, in Loudoun County, Virginia, but at age 2 moved with his parents to Ohio. He grew up in Muskingum County and Perry County, where his father owned a farm.[1] In 1856, he came to Wisconsin, settling in Vernon County (then known as "Bad Ax County"). He was employed as a teacher for several years--one of the first teachers in southwest Wisconsin--and in 1861 was elected superintendent of schools for the town of Clinton. However, shortly thereafter, he enlisted for service in the American Civil War.[1]

## Civil War service

[edit]

Yakey joined up with a company of volunteers and proceeded to Camp Salomon in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where they became Company A of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The 25th Wisconsin mustered into service September 14, 1862, and were ordered to proceed west and report to General John Pope in Minnesota to assist in the ongoing Sioux uprising.[2]: 735

After brief service in Minnesota, the regiment was ordered south to attach to XVI Corps for service in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. They joined the Siege of Vicksburg from June through July 1863, and were then assigned to guard duty in eastern Kansas.[2]: 736 The regiment suffered from a severe wave of disease during this summer, and ultimately lost over 400 men to illness.[2]: 745

In February 1864, they returned to Mississippi, and, in May, they joined General William T. Sherman's Atlanta campaign. They remained with Sherman's army through the subsequent Savannah campaign and Carolinas campaign. With the war ended, the regiment returned to Washington, D.C., where they participated in the Grand Review of the Armies.[2]: 744 Yakey mustered out with the rank of sergeant, July 11, 1865.[3]

## Postbellum career

[edit]

After the war, in 1866, Yakey settled on a farm in the town of Clinton, in Vernon County, where he lived until his death.[1] He served on the Clinton town board and the Vernon County board at various times. In 1879 he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly on the Republican ticket.[3][4]

## Personal life and family

[edit]

Yakey married Julia Ann Adams in 1867. They had 8 children together. Yakey died on February 23, 1908, in Vernon County.[3]

## Electoral history

[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly, Vernon 2nd District Election, 1879[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
|

General Election, November 4, 1879
| Republican | David C. Yakey  | 977  | 62.51%  | +8.73%
| Greenback | G. W. Gregory  | 387  | 24.76%  | −21.47%
| Democratic | Henry O'Connell  | 199  | 12.73%  |
Plurality | 590  | 37.75%  | +30.20%
Total votes  | 1,563  | 100.0%  | -8.54%
| Republican hold

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Union Publishing Company. 1884. pp. 500–501. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
2. ^ a b c d Quiner, Edwin Bentley (1866). "Regimental History-Twenty Fifth Infantry". The Military History of Wisconsin. Clarke & Co. pp. 734–745.
3. ^ a b c d Warner, Hans B., ed. (1880). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 525. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
4. ^ "David C. Yakey". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-12-26.

Wisconsin State Assembly

Preceded by

Roger Williams

|  Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Vernon 2nd district
January 5, 1880 - January 3, 1881  | Succeeded by

Allen Rusk
*[m.]: married