The Young Family of Ray County, Missouri

JOHN TAYLOR YOUNG.

Although the gentleman whose name heads this page has been dead for nearly twenty-seven years, the part that he so well performed in the early settlement and improvement of the county, justly claims a place in her history. John Taylor Young was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, January 12, 1800, and lived in his native state until he was about twenty-seven years of age, when he resolved to seek a home in Missouri, at that time comparatively a new state. He first came to Independence, in Jackson county, and remained there for about a year, when he removed to the Ray county bottom, and entering a small body of land, improved it and established his home, for a short time, upon it, In 1829, he removed about eight miles north of Richmond to a tract of about eleven hundred and sixty acres of land which he had acquired by entry and purchase. Here, after greatly improving his farm, Mr. Young continued to reside until the time of his death. He was married on the loth day of May, 1828, to Miss Louisa, daughter of John Sneed, Esq., of Clay county. Eight children were born to them, but only four are now living: Sebron, Ambrose, Eliza, wife of H. C. Kell, and Warren, who lives with his family on the old homestead. Mr. Young was, for a number of years prior to his death, a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died on the 7th of August, 1851, loved and honored by his children, and respected by his neighbors and friends.

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

SEBRON S. YOUNG.

This gentleman was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the Sth day of February, 1829, about two miles from the present town of Morton. Soon after his birth his father entered a large tract of land, something over eleven hundred acres, eight miles north of the town of Richmond, and moved upon it. Mr. Young received his education in the log schoolhouses of that primitive time in the manner common with the sons of farmers. He spent about sixteen years on the farm with his father, and then went to Richmond and began clerking in the dry goods store of J. S. Lightner. He remained in this position about three years, and then, in 1849, he went with a party of gold hunters to California. He lived in California only about a year, and then returned home to Ray county. His father and Isaiah Mansur formed partnership about this time, and began selling goods at Millville, and he was employed as clerk in their store. At this business he continued for about three years, and until the death of his father, when he gave his attention to farming, and this has been his principal occupation ever since. He has taught school some during the winter in connection with his farming. Mr. Young was married on the 16th of November, 1851, at Millville, to Miss Catherine C. Rainwater, daughter of Rev. Moses F. Rainwater, now of St. Louis. They became the parents of ten children, all but one of whom still live. He is a member of the order of Free Masons, and both himself and Mrs. Young belong to the M. E. Church South, at Millville. In 1862 he took the contract for carrying the mails between Richmond and Utica, which was, on account of the war troubles, a perilous undertaking, but Mr. Young accomplished the task, and discharged every duty in a manner highly satisfactory to the officials of the national postal service. Since the war Mr. Young has given his undivided attention to farming, and is to-day a prosperous business man and a useful citizen.

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

Ambrose Young was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the 16th day of May, 1831, and has always been a resident of his native county. He was educated in the common schools, often walking the distance of four or five miles to reach the school-house, and frequently not reaching home on his return until long after dark. Mr. Young lived on the place that his father settled until his marriage. He was married on the 29th day of September, 1853, to Miss Frances Graham, daughter of William Graham, Esq., a resident of Carroll county. Five children were born to bless this union; three boys and one girl are yet living. Odus G. Young, the eldest son, is a practicing attorney-at-law in Carrollton, Missouri, and Alonzo F., the second son, is in charge of his father's farm, both doing well. Mr. Young is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge at Millville, and both himself and his wife are members of the M. E. Church South at that place. He was for three years postmaster at Millville, and was also, during the same time, engaged with Fletcher Graham in merchandising there. His fine farm of three hundred acres of good land lies two and a half miles south of Millville, on the Richmond road.

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

Warren Young is the youngest living son of John T. Young, a pioneer settler of Ray county, whose biography is given upon another page of this work. He was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the 22d day of September, 1838, and received such an education as the schools of the times afforded. He early began work on his father's large farm, about eight miles north of Richmond, and has been all his life engaged in the same occupation. Mr. Young was married November 26, 1865, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Mr. William Foushee, now a resident of Richmond. The issue of this marriage was seven children, all of whom are now, April, 1881, living. Mr. Young's mother, now quite old, resides with her son on the old homestead, which he inherited from his father's estate. Mr. Young has been in every way successful in the management of his business affairs, and is doing a good work for the advancement and improvement of the agricultural interests of the grand old county of Ray.

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