Background
Yost, Jacob was born on April 1, 1853 in Staunton, Virginia, United States.
Yost, Jacob was born on April 1, 1853 in Staunton, Virginia, United States.
He attended the public schools and Mossy Creek Academy.
Later, he learned the printing trade and was associated in publishing the Valley Virginian. He also engaged in civil engineering. Yost was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election in 1884 to the Forty-ninth Congress.
He was elected mayor of Staunton, Virginia in May 1886 and served until January 1887, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress.
He was elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889) but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888 to the Fifty-first Congress. Years later, he was elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899) but he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1898.
After leaving Congress, Yost engaged in the management and development of iron ore and coal lands. He moved to Palo Alto, California in 1925 and lived there in retirement until his death on January 25, 1933.
He was buried in Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia.
Member Congress, 10th Virginia.