Even though he was the leading miller in Hays for decades, he was particularly remembered there for co-founding the short-lived United States Portland Cement Company and the associated townsite of Yocemento.

At the Centennial Exposition of 1876, Cody persuaded Yost to move to the then vacated Rome townsite and build a dam and flour mill there.

Yost drove Haworth out to the Ellis County Hog Back, the local name for the limestone bluffs a few miles west of Fort Hays.

Pooling their knowledge of geology and industry, the two partnered to found the successful but short-lived United States Portland Cement Company and the supporting town, Yocemento, at the base of the bluff.

The company made a rapid start, but struggled and failed under intense competition with established cement manufactures in Denver and Missouri.