Yeoman -- besides

clever, tough, free, self-reliant, competent, patriotic, effective, farmer-type

-- that is farmer-type (as opposed to urban-type,
or simple as opposed to complex;
organic/natural as opposed to city-fied/techno;
or basic/self-taught as opposed to nicety/schooled);

-- imbued with moral virtues like trustful and trustworthy, loyal, reliant, rugged, 'can-do' all things/competent individual, but also:

freedom-loving, adventurous, inventive, engaged, self-taught problem-solver, strong, defense-minded, caring of neighbors, pitch-in-person, go-to-type, sturdy, common-sense populist, do-it-yourselfer who is

bent on growing economically but not at any cost.

We're talking Roman farmer as well as

(Frederick Jackson Turner) American cowboy and

(Thomas Jefferson) sod-buster and explorer --

The "English Shop-keeper" as well as the English colonial type who of course were the precursors to the 'Yankee-Ingenuity' type

all rolled into one attractive, mythical package -- one that often has direct links to the defining characteristics of Western Civilization.