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 JOHN WATSON YERKES ERKES, JOHN WATSON, commissioner of internal revenue, chairman of the Republican state central committee of Kentucky, 1891-96; Republican nominee for governor of Kentucky, 1900, was born at Lexington, Kentucky, April 1, 1854. His father, Reverend Stephen Yerkes, D.D., a native of Pennsylvania, was a Presbyterian clergyman and for forty years a professor in Danville theological seminary, filling the chair of Hebrew and the oriental languages; "integrity, industry, hospitality, clearness and accuracy in expression" were among his characteristics. His mother, Amanda Lovell Yerkes, was a woman of principle, and left upon her son a strong impress for good. His early life was spent at Danville, Kentucky, studying at the preparatory school connected with Centre college. He was graduated from that college in 1873, and from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1877. Since 1880 he has been prominently identified with the legal, educational, commercial and industrial interests of his town and state.

Mr. Yerkes began the active work of life as a lawyer at Danville, Kentucky, and held the professorship of law at Centre college from 1894-1900. He was president of the state commercial and industrial convention held at Louisville, Kentucky; and a commissioner of the Chicago Columbian exposition in 1893, and of the Atlanta exposition in 1895. He was also twice appointed by President McKinley collector of internal revenue for the eighth Kentucky district, and in December, 1900, he was appointed by him commissioner of internal revenue. He is officially connected with various banking and commercial institutions. He has been commissioner of the State Deaf and Dumb Institution since 1897, and attorney for the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railroad Company since 1892 and of other corporations. In June, 1902, he received the degree of LL.D.

He is a Republican by choice and inheritance. He was for six years chairman of the Republican state central committee of Kentucky, and held that position when the state elected its first Republican governor. He has served eight years as a member of the