JOSHUA YELL is a son of James Yell, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee with his father when young, locating in Rutherford County. He was married to Jerusha Barton, daughter of William Barton, and by her became the father of twelve children, only seven of whom lived to maturity. Archibald Yell, brother of James Yell, was governor of Arkansas two terms previous to the Mexican war, and was killed in that war while commanding the Arkansas troops.
The subject of this sketch was born September 15, 1832, and spent his boyhood days on a farm and in attending the common schools. He was married October 2, 1852, to Miss Rebecca A. Waite, and ten children were born to them: Nancy B. (deceased), A. D., James A., Annie, Benjamin, G. E., Bettie, Joshua, Adah and Charley. In 1879 Mr. Yell removed to his present farm of 200 acres. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are church members.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.