Martin Yewell, mayor of Owensboro, Ky., was born in Daviess county, of that state, Dec. 22, 1853, and is a son of Harrison and Sarah (Lewis) Yewell, both natives of Nelson county, Ky. The grandfather, Martin Yewell, was a son of James Yewell, whose father was one of three brothers who came from England at a very early date and settled in Virginia. Martin Yewell was a native of Virginia, but came in his early manhood to Kentucky, settling in Nelson county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and milling operations all his life. Harrison Yewell was also a farmer and miller. He located in Daviess county in 1840, and there followed these occupations until his death in 1885. During his life he was one of the well known and influential citizens of the county. His wife died in 1895. Both were members of the Baptist church and consistent practitioners of the tenets of their religious faith. They had the following children: Joseph and John, who both died in the Confederate service during the Civil war, the former at Tunnel Hill, Ga., and the latter at Bardstown, Ky. Thomas and Martha died in infancy; Linda is now living at Owensboro as the widow of H. M. Haskins; Nannie married William Mobbelly and is now deceased; Vardeman lives in Missouri; Martin is the subject of this sketch; Mary Belle is the wife of E. Rice, of Louisville; Sarah Todd is at home, and Robert Lee is a farmer in McLean county, Ky. Martin Yewell received a good common school education, studied law under Judge Yost, of Greenville, Ky,, and was admitted to the bar on April 20, 1880. He first began practice at Uniontown, where he was elected city attorney, but in 1881 came to Owensboro, where he has ever since practiced his profession until elected mayor in 1901. In August, 1882 he was elected county attorney of Daviess county and held the office for two terms of four years each. Mr. Yewell, until 1896, was an adherent of the Democratic party; since that time he has affiliated with the Republicans. He was elected mayor in November, 1901, and his term expires in December, 1905. On Jan. 7, 1885, he was married to Miss Mamie B., daughter of George and Volinda Taylor, and they have two children: Taylor, aged seventeen, and Martine, aged fifteen. Mr. and Mrs. Yewell are both members of the Baptist church.

Source: Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley, Federal Publishing Company, Madison, Wis., 1905