- Jacob Yoder
Jacob Yoder, pioneer, born in
Reading, Pennsylvania ,11 August , 1758 : died inSpencer County ,Kentucky ,7 April , 1832. He was of Swiss descent.After serving through the
American Revolutionary War in the Pennsylvania line, he built a large boat at Fort Red Stone (now Brownsville), onMonongahela River , which he freighted with flour and carried toNew Orleans in May, 1782. With the profits of this venture he boughtpeltrie s which he sold inHavana , investing the proceeds in sugar for the Philadelphia market. This was the first attempt to navigate the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for commercial purposes. Subsequently he settled in Spencer County, Kentucky, and took part in equipping and keeping in the field the military forces in the northwest territory.He is known for his invention of the
flatboat .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.