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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Noble
County, Ohio
with portraits and biographical sketches of some of
its pioneers and prominent men.
Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co.,
1887
For Reference: Noble County was formed in 1851
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Wm. J. Young |
HON. WILLIAM J. YOUNG
- Hon. William J. Young, one of the
prominent and successful men of Noble County, was born in a
little village called Lippit's Factory, six miles from the
city of Providence, R. I., in the year 1815, Mar. 27.
His father, William Young, was a
manufacturer of cotton goods, and was an operative in the
first cotton manufactory erected in the United States.
His father was of Scotch nativity, and the progenitor of the
Young family in this country, whither he
immigrated some time before the war of the Revolution,
settling in Rhode Island. In 1825 William
removed to the "Ohio country" with his wife and seven
children. He settled in what is now Stock Township,
where he entered a section of land. The early life of
the family in the new country was replete with privations
and hardships, which was attributable, in a measure, no
doubt, to their being destitute of any knowledge of pioneer
life or agricultural operations. William J.
at the time of the family's emigration, was a strong, robust
lad of ten years; he was possessed of a large amount of
vitality, and even then evidenced the possession of those
qualities which in after years contributed so largely to his
success. Up to the age of twenty-two he had formed no
definite plans for the future, turning his attention to
whatever venture presented itself, and invariably he was
successful. He was principally engaged, however, in
farming and stock dealing during his residence in Stock,
where he lived until 1845, when he removed to Sarahsville,
where he engaged quite largely in merchandising and the
tobacco trade. In the latter he was very successful.
He was a man of sound judgment and keen perception, with
confidence in his own ability, and all his undertakings were
financial successes. In a few years he found himself
possessed of a competency, which afforded him an opportunity
for relieving the wants of his less fortunate neighbors, and
for a time he did an extensive business as a broker, and it
can be said to his credit that he never took an advantage of
a distressed debtor. Shortly after the erection of the
county he began to take quite an active interest in
political matters, and soon became one of the leading
members of the Whig element of the county. Upon the
formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, but
in 1861 he became a pronounced Democrat, and was an
influential member of that organization until his decease.
He was not a politician, however, in the present definition
of the term; he did not court political preferment, his
efforts were solely for what he deemed to be for the best
interests of the people. He was one of the leading
spirits in what is now known as the People's Convention,
held in Sarahsville, in 1851, which was the first political
movement of prominence after the erection of the County of
Noble.
During the war of the
Rebellion he took a deep interest in the cause of his
country. His money and time were always at command in
the furtherance of any war measure or in the raising of
volunteers. Neither did he forget the "brave boys in
blue" after they had left their homes, but with a fatherly
care he looked after the interests of their families.
In 1872 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent
Noble County in the convention to revise the State
constitution. As a member of this convention he
evidenced that tact, judgment and sterling good sense which
were the salient features in everything he undertook.
Judge L. D. Campbell, of Hamilton,
Ohio, one of the prominent members of that convention, spoke
of him as "one of the useful and efficient members of that
body." Mr. Young was married, in
1836, to Miss Jane McCann. The result
of this union was a family of thirteen children, of whom ten
are living: Simon K., Martha (Dudley), Elizabeth (Danford),
Mary (Ijams), Sarah (McGuire), Nancy
(Berry), Jane (Finley), Ella (Ijams), Charles and
Maria (Brown).
William J. Young was in many respects a remarkable
man, physically as well as mentally, and had he had the
advantages of education and the adventitious aids accessible
in an old country, would have made his name illustrious in
almost any calling. He was possessed of a large amount
of versatility. While he never studied law, he was a
lawyer. He never had the benefit of a business
education, either theoretical or practical; still, he was a
business man in all that the word implies. Uneducated,
still but few men had a larger share of general information.
He was finely poised; his brain was a massive as his body.
He was a man of powerful physique and fine presence.
Socially he was extremely affable and agreeable, and never
failed to interest a large circle of listeners. He had
a large personal following, which was attributable largely
to his broad charity and kindness of heart, and his death,
which occurred May 25, 1882, was everywhere regarded as an
irreparable loss.
HENRY J. YOUNG was born at
Lippet's Factory, R. I., Oct. 12, 1819, and came to what is
now Noble County with his father's family in 1825. His
youth and early manhood were spent in the wilds of the new
county. His father was in limited circumstances, and
he learned to rely upon his own resources at an early age.
By dint of energy and economy he acquired a sum sufficient
to purchase forty acres of new land, and soon after (1842)
he married Miss Mary A. Davidson, who is a
native of Washington County, Pa.
In 1846 he removed to the farm, where he now resides.
Mr. Young has been engaged in farming and
dealing in tobacco, and is one of the most successful men in
the county. In his religious affiliations he is a
Methodist, and for a time was a local preacher. He has
reared a family of ten children, seven of whom are living;
all have received liberal educations, three of the sons
being collegiates.
THOMAS J. YOUNG was born at
Lippet's Mills, R. I., in 1813. He was the eldest of
the family of William Young, and immigrated
with the family, in 1825, to what is now Noble County.
In 1835 he married Miss Mary Stotsburg, and
commenced life on a small piece of new land, which he
improved. He was successful in business as a stock
dealer, merchant, and in the tobacco trade; in the latter he
was quite largely engaged. He was in trade in
Sarahsville until 1876. In 1857, through the perfidy
of a partner, he lost heavily. He died on his farm, in
Center in 1885. He was a kind father, a generous
friend, and a worthy citizen. His children were:
Adaline (Spriggs), Mary A. (Alexander), Margaret
(Teeters), Isabella (Michaels), Ellen (Young), Thomas H.,
Arnold, Edmund, and Dora.
Source:
History of Noble County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: L. H.
Watkins & Co., 1887~ Page 348 |
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
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