Richard Yow was born in 1844 in South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Anderson Yow and Melissa C. Dean Yow of South Carolina. The family moved to Franklin County Georgia in 1851. Thomas Anderson Yow ran a general merchandise store and was elected surveyor of the county. Both Thomas and Richard enlisted into military service during the Civil War. Richard Yow served in the 1st GA Regt. Vols. during the war. Thomas Yow did not surve the war, dying of sickness at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

Richard Yow was a prominent land owner who ran several stores and mills after his father's death. Later he was elected a state senator and became a mason. Richard's son, Samuel B., ran a cotton seed crusher mill and inherited his land and stock. Richard Yow is buried in the Martin Community Cemetery in Stephens County, Georgia.