Jerome Yarbrough was born in December 1837 in Giles County, Tennessee. By 1850 he had moved to Greene County, Missouri. When the Civil War began, Yarbrough enlisted in the Greene County Home Guards. Mustered out of that unit, he enlisted on August 19, 1861, at Rolla, Missouri and was mustered into Company D, 24th Missouri Infantry as first sergeant on October 14, 1861, at Benton Barracks (St. Louis). He was promoted to second lieutenant on January 2, 1862, and to first lieutenant on March 1, 1863. There is some disagreement in the original records as to whether he was promoted to captain, but he did assume command of his company in July 1864.

The 24th Missouri Infantry fought in numerous battles during the war, including Pea Ridge, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Franklin, and Nashville.

Yarbrough was mustered out of the service on October 14, 1864, at St. Louis, Missouri. He died on June 7, 1894, in Greene County, Missouri.

Tintype by Unknown Photographer

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 01755-A