YOUNG, William Melvin

YOUNG, COON, MALLETTE, GOODWIN, BRECKENRIDGE, CASEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 13:54:23

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 242-44. Chicago. 1915.

WILLIAM MELVIN YOUNG

William Melvin Young, a well known farmer and stock-raiser, owning and operating a fine farm on section 16, Garden Grove township, was born near Lake Erie, in the province of Ottawa, Canada, on the 20th of February, 1853. His father, William M. Young, was born in Onondaga county. New York, and the mother, whose maiden name was Miss Amelia Coon, was born in Connecticut. Both accompanied their respective parents to Canada in their youth and their marriage was celebrated in the Dominion. In the fall of 1865 they removed with their family to Livingston county, Illinois, where they farmed for a year, after which the family removed to Decatur county, Iowa. The father purchased a quarter section of unimproved land on section 16, Garden Grove township, from Retus Shaw, whose family had entered it at five dollars per acre. Mr. Young devoted his energies to improving his farm for many years and at the time of his death also owned land in Kansas and in the state of Washington. He passed away in Humeston, Iowa, at the home of a daughter, in December, 1898, when eighty-two years of age. In 1847, while living in Canada, he served as a Lieutenant in the Ninth Battalion of the Leeds Militia and aided in putting down the Fenian raid. His political belief was that of the republican party and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. His wife, who was also a communicant of that church, died on the home farm in Garden Grove township, November 24, 1893, when nearly seventy-three years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. William M. Young were the parents of eight children, of whom four survive, those besides our subject being: Abraham C, who was born in 1849 and who is now a lumberman of Tacoma, Washington; James D., born in 1857, who resides at Wallace, Idaho, and is a mine operator in the Coeur d'Alene district; and Mrs. Susan Mallette, twin of James D., who is the widow of Isaac Mallette and resides at Humeston, Iowa. Those deceased are Philip, Justin, John and David, the last named of whom died in infancy.

William M. Young was about thirteen years of age when the family located in Garden Grove township, this county and continued his education in the public schools here, studying under Professor Harkness and others. During his boyhood and youth he learned much concerning practical methods of agriculture and since reaching man's estate has farmed independently. He owns the homestead on section 16, Garden Grove township, and gives considerable attention to the raising of stock in addition to growing the usual crops.

Mr. Young was married at Hopkins, Missouri, in 1881 to Miss Jane Alice Goodwin, who was born in Clinton county, Missouri, on the 13th of March, 1866, of the marriage of Tobias and Cordelia (Breckenridge) Goodwin. The latter was a niece of the Hon. John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and her grandfather was in his day one of the largest slave owners in Clay county, Missouri. Her birth occurred in Missouri, where her people had settled on removing from Kentucky. The family came originally from England. Tobias Goodwin was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of five children: Grace D., who died at the age of eighteen years and who was a successful teacher; Dora, who died when seventeen years old; Bertha, who is assistant principal of the schools at Washta, Iowa; William M., who was sixteen years of age in March, 1915, and who is of the fourth generation of the family to bear the name of William; and Jessie Elizabeth, thirteen years old.

Mr. Young is a republican and has served in a number of local offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Le Roy and work for the moral betterment of their community. He has resided in Decatur county for many years and was the second man to ride on a train in the county, John Arnold being the first and the train being one used in the construction of the railroad. He also helped to put up the first telegraph line into Garden Grove and has many interesting reminiscences of the early days. The success that he has gained is well deserved and all those who have been associated with him hold him in high esteem.

NOTE: William's father, William Young was born December 6, 1871, and died December 4, 1898. William's mother, Amelia Young was born December 7, 1821, and died November 7, 1894. They were interred at Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove IA.

William M. Young died in 1935. Jane Alice (Goodwin) Young died in 1954. Grace D. Young was born February 31, 1884, and died Sepember 25, 1901. Dora Young was born January 17, 1885, and died September 20, 1902. Bertha (Young) Casey was born in 1891, and died Decembr 14, 1975. Bertha's husband, Otto Joseph Casey, was born August 17, 1886, and died December 12, 1970. Interments were made at Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014