The Young Families of Henry County, Iowa

NESTOR A. J. YOUNG.

Nestor A. J. Young, who has lived in Henry county for sixty years, a veteran of the Civil war, is now living retired in Mount Pleasant, having passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. He is therefore enjoying the rest which should ever come with advanced years, when life's duties at an earlier date have been ably and faithfully performed. He was born in Pennsylvania, October 22, 1828, his parents being Nestor and Abigail (Emerson) Young, both of whom were natives of Nerw Hampshire, where they were reared. The father was a house carpenter by trade and also became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1846, when his son, N. A. J. Young, was seventeen years of age the father came west to Iowa, settling in Heniy county on a farm three and a half miles northeast of Mount Pleasant. The land was then raw and unimproved, but he at once began its development and cultivation and made a good home for his family there. He engaged in preaching as a local minister of the Methodist church, devoting the week days to the labors of his farm, while on Sunday he took his place in the pulpit, thus continuing in active life until February, 1863, when he was called to his final rest. He was a gallant soldier of the war of 1812 and was always loyal in citizenship. In his political views he was a democrat until a short time prior to his death, when he became a republican. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow and both he and his wife were life-long members of the Methodist church. The death of Mrs. Young occurred in 1863. After their sons went to the war the parents returned to Cincinnati, where they had a daughter living, and both are buried in Spring Grove cemetery of that city. In their family were fourteen children, twelve of whom reached adult age, ten of the number being girls. The eldest child died unnamed in infancy. The others were: Charles F. C., a sailor; Elmira and Jane, twins, both deceased; Jonathan E.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM P. YOUNG.

AVilliam P. Young, who was formerly engaged in general farming in Henry county but now devotes his attention to the purchase and sale of wool in Mount Pleasant, where he is also known as a real-estate dealer, was born in Fulton county, Ohio, January 1, 1838, his parents being William and Esther (Stott) Young. The father was born in Belfast, Ireland, and when ten years of age was brought to Aemrica by his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania. There he was reared to the occupation of a miller in Pennsylvania, and he removed from the Keystone state to Fulton county, Ohio, where for twenty-five years he lived upon a farm. He was married to Miss Esther Stott, a native of Danville, Pennsylvania, and in the year 1855 they came to Iowa, settling first in Muscatine county, whence in 1856 they came to Henry county, locating in Marion township, seven miles north of Mount Pleasant, on a partially improved farm. The mother's death occurred on that farm in October, 188 1, and in 1884 the father was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Nancy Philips. Both parents of our subject were members of the Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania, but in Ohio became members of the United Brethren church. In his pohtical views Mr. Young was a democrat untilafter 1852;in 1856 he became a repubhcan and cast his ballot for Fremont, and continued to support that party up to the time of his demise. While living in Ohio he served as a school director, but he had no desire for the honors or emoluments of public office. The father died April 18, 1881. Both he and his wife were interred in Hickoiy Grove cemetery. In their family were nine children, of whom four are yet living: Charles S., who married Miss Johanna Williams, and resides in Fremont county, Iowa; Robert, who married Martha Nicholson and resides in IMarion township, Henry county; William P., of this review; and IMiller, who married Iowa 'ray and resides in North Liberty township, ten miles northwest of Iowa City.

William P. Young acquired his early education in the public schools of Ohio and following the removal of the family to Iowa he continued his studies in the Howe Academy, of Mount Pleasant. His present beautiful home is situated on the original site of that academy and the old well and cistern are still in use. After finishing his education Mr. Young engaged in farming with his brother Charles for two years, after which he put aside business cares in order to respond to his country's call for aid, enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, with which he served throughout the war, being granted a furlough of a month at the time of his re-enlistment as a veteran. He participated in twenty-one different engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg and the \\wilson raid. He was also in the last battle of the war at Columbus, Georgia, and was honorably discharged at Atlanta, while at Davenport, Iowa, he was mustered out, having served from October 9, 1861, to August 25, 1865. He was a brave and loyal soldier, always true to his duty on the picket line or the firing line, and with a creditable military- record he returned to Mount Pleasant.

Mr. Young soon afterward settled upon a farm near the city and was there extensively and successfully engaged in the raising of fine stock, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle for over thirty years, during which time he held twelve public sales and realized a good financial return upon his investment. He became known as one of the leading stockmen of this part of the state, and gained an excellent reputation as a judge of farm animals, which enabled him to make judicious purchases and profitable sales. In 1902 he removed to the city of Mount Pleasant. For seven years he has been engaged in handling wool and he also operates in real estate, having negotiated some important property transfers in this city and county. He is now interested in farm lands in Butler county, Missouri, where he owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres.

On the 8th of March, 1866, Mr. Young was married to Miss Mary B. Smith, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, May 30, 1846, a daughter of Adam and Lydia E. (Bruce) Smith, both of whom were natives of Virginia, the father born April 13, 1796, and the latter on the 22d of June, 18 12.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN R. YOUNG.

John R. Young owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred and eighty acres on sections 16 and 17, Canaan township, and is a thrifty and enterprising agriculturist. He was born in Somerset, Ohio, July 14, 1862. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1880 and in Henry county from 1881. His parents were John A. and Lucy (Dispennett) Young, the former a native of Somerset, Ohio, and the latter in Licking county, Ohio. He is of German descent, for his grandparents W'Cre George W. and Margaret (Ingmeier) Young, the latter also a native of the fatherland.

John R. Young began his education in the schools of Ohio and afterward continued his studies in Iowa. At the age of nineteen years he became a resident of Johnson county, Iowa, and began work on a farm, being employed in that manner for two years. He then removed to Henry county, where he worked by the month as a farm hand for four years, when, wishing that his labors might more directly benefit himself, he rented land and conducted "bachelor's hall" for two years. He then secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage on the 23d of March, 1887, to Miss Eva M. Crain, who was born in this county and is a (laughter of W. R. Grain, whose birth occurred in Somerset, Ohio. Her mother bore the maiden name of Hannah Griffith, and was also born in Somerset. Subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Young purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land on sections i6 and 17, Ganaan township. All had been placed under the plow. He has fenced this place and has also remodeled the house, which was on the eighty-acre tract. He has added good outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, has built a barn with granary forty by forty-two feet. He also built a large corn crib, and the place is well tiled, so that there are no wet tracts of land which prove uncultivable. He tills the soil year after year, harvesting good crops and also raises cattle, horses and hogs, keeping a good grade of farm animals. In his business affairs he is quick to recognize an opportunity and foretell the outcome of any movement, and his labors have been intensely practical, proving resultant factors in the acquirement of success, wliich now makes him one of the substantial citizens of his community.

Mr. Young votes with the Republican party, but is not a politician in the sense of office-seeking, preferring to leave officeholding to others. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee since 1902, and the cause of moral development in his community is a matter of deep and sincere interest to him. Matters relating to the public welfare elicit his attention, and his co-operation is given to every movement which he believes prove of definite and immediate service or of permanent good.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.