Samuel S. Yoder

Samuel S. Yoder (August 16, 1841 – May 11, 1921) was an American Civil War veteran, physician, lawyer, and Democratic politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1887 to 1891. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process during his service in the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses, representing the interests of his Ohio constituents during a significant period in American history.

Yoder was born on August 16, 1841, in Berlin, Ohio. He attended the common schools of his native state and pursued further studies at Wooster University in Wooster, Ohio. Seeking a more advanced education, he later enrolled at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated. His early education laid the foundation for a professional life that would span medicine, law, and public service.

During the American Civil War, Yoder enlisted in the Union Army on April 19, 1862, joining the 128th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Over the course of the conflict he rose to the rank of lieutenant and served until the end of the war. His military service during this defining national struggle marked the beginning of a lifelong engagement with public affairs and national service.

After the war, Yoder studied medicine and established a medical practice in Bluffton, Ohio. In addition to his professional work as a physician, he became active in local government and served as mayor of Bluffton from 1868 to 1878, a full decade of municipal leadership. His tenure as mayor reflected the confidence placed in him by his community and provided him with early executive and administrative experience.

In 1878 Yoder moved to Lima, Ohio, where he shifted his focus from medicine to the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1880 and commenced the practice of law in Lima. His growing prominence in legal and political circles led to his service as judge of the probate court of Allen County, a position he held from February 1882 until October 1886. During this period he was also active in party affairs, serving as a member of the Democratic State executive committee from 1883 to 1885. He resigned his probate judgeship in October 1886 after being elected to the United States Congress.

Yoder was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses, serving as a Representative from Ohio from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1891. During his two terms in the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and contributed to the legislative work of the period, representing the interests of his Ohio constituents in a time of post–Civil War economic development and political realignment. He chose not to be a candidate for renomination in 1890, thus concluding his service in Congress after four years.

Following his departure from the House, Yoder remained closely connected to the institution. He was elected Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and served in that capacity from December 8, 1891, to August 7, 1893. In this role he was responsible for maintaining order, overseeing certain administrative and security functions, and managing various operational aspects of the House, further extending his record of federal service beyond his tenure as a legislator.

In his later years, Yoder continued the practice of law and also engaged in the real estate business in Washington, D.C. He remained in the nation’s capital until his death on May 11, 1921. In recognition of his military service and long public career, he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, where his burial underscores his status as both a Civil War veteran and a former Member and officer of the United States House of Representatives.