In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1862
From Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906)
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 Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.