William H. Young

As printed in 1909

WILLIAM H. YOUNG.

William H. Young, who for more than a quarter of a century has been active in the practice of law at Dayton, is the second son of Edmond Stafford and Sarah (Dechert) Young, and was born in his home city, March 2, 1860. Upon his father’s death in 1888 he became a member of the well known law firm of Young & Young, in which he has ever since been, and still is, associated with his brother George R. Young. His education was obtained in the Dayton public schools, and upon leaving the high school he studied law in the office of his father and brother, being subsequently admitted to the bar in the year 1884 at Columbus, Ohio, after passing the examination prescribed by the rules of the supreme court. For many years after his admission he took a keen interest in politics, serving shortly after attaining his majority as president of the Blaine and Logan “First Voters,” and during this period he made many campaign speeches, some of which made so strong an impression that they are still frequently recalled and gained for him a wide reputation as a ready, eloquent and convincing speaker. At a later period he was often urged to become a candidate for the legislature or for congress, but, although possessing much personal magnetism and enjoying great popularity and being in all respects admirably fitted for public life, like his father and brother, he has continuously declined to enter politics.

When he was only about ten years of age Mr. Young suffered from a very malignant attack of scarlet fever, from which hip disease and other complications ensued, confining him to his bed for nearly four years, resulting in permanent lameness and causing a decided limp in his walk, but this disadvantage, which would have proved a serious handicap to many, has in his case, served only to add to his already marked personality, without detracting in any appreciable degree from his energy, his activity or his usefulness. In Dayton, his native city, he has long been a conspicuous and familiar figure, and his genial manners, unfailing good humor and buoyancy of spirits, together with his strong and unique personality, in many respects bearing marked resemblance to his father’s, have been such that it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that he has been known to almost every man, woman and child in the city. He has also a large circle of acquaintance throughout the state, not only among members of the legal profession, but including those who for the past twenty years have been prominent in political and official circles.

His personal characteristics are such that he is a good mixed and makes friends easily, and when once seen by any one he is rarely forgotten. He has, at various times, taken a leading part in public movements at Dayton, for the promotion of charitable objects and moral and civic reforms; and the removal from office, a few years ago, of an objectionable chief of police, who had obtained a strong and apparently impregnable foothold, was almost wholly due to his seasonable initiative and courageous, able and untiring efforts. His goodness of heart and sympathy with his kind are well known and constantly remarked upon, not only as exemplified by his devotion to his mother and brother, and to his sister, now deceased, but also by a broad philanthropy extending to persons in all walks of life which has earned for him the deserved gratitude of many who have been assisted by his timely advice and personal aid in hours of sorrow, sickness and adversity.

At the bar he has always borne a reputation as a strong jury advocate, and in this field, affording as it does, opportunity for the display of his attractive individuality, his sound common sense and great knowledge of human nature, his efforts have been attended by marked success. He is strong in his likes and dislikes and outspoken in his opinions, but while he is slow to forgive an injury or wrong, he never forgets a friend. While he gives close attention to professional matters, being an excellent judge of land values and experienced in matters of general business, he devotes a part of his time to the management of his own and his brother’s real-estate holdings, and to their other private interests.

Being unmarried, Mr. Young lives at home with his mother and brother in the family homestead, where his father formerly resided, spending part of the year at their country home near Dayton, whose beauty and popularity are largely due to his excellent taste and to his thoughtful care and attention.

As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.