Young, Florington D.

YOUNG, HOPKINS, MCFARLAND, HUNTER, WELCH, WHITACRE

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/19/2009 at 13:09:00

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, p. 40

FLORINGTON D. YOUNG

Florington D. Young has figured conspicuously and honorably in trade circles in Webster City. He was for a long period connected with the lumber business and as the years passed his energy and capably directed efforts brought him success, permitting him at length to retire from active business connections. At the age of seventy six, therefore, he is spending his time quietly in Webster City yet keeps in touch with the general interests of the day and is thoroughly informed concerning the problems which are of vital significance to the individual and the community. He was born in Eden, Hancock County, Maine, October 1, 1836, the son of Elvin and Mary (Hopkins) Young. The father was a farmer and lumberman of the Pine Tree state, in which he spent his entire life, having been born and reared on Mount Desert island, now Bar Harbor. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years and his wife had also reached that age when she was called to her final rest. The latter was a descendant of the Hopkins family whose American progenitor came to the new world on the Mayflower.

Florington D. Young was educated at home save for six months spent as a pupil in the country schools of Maine. When he had attained his majority, in 1857, he began to learn the trade of house carpentering, serving his apprenticeship with a salary of twelve dollars per month. When the term of his indenture was over he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained for two years, working for a dollar or a dollar and a half per day until the fall of 1860, when he returned home. While in Boston he cast his first presidential vote, supporting Abraham Lincoln.

Following his return home Florington D. Young worked for his father in the lumber woods during the winter months and in the spring of 1861 went to Magdalen island for a boat load of herring. He then engaged in the fishing business, fishing for Porgies & Menhaden until September, 1862, when he put aside all business and personal considerations in order to actively engage in support of the Union cause. He enlisted for the war as a member of the Twenty- sixth Maine Volunteers and served for a year. On his return home he worked at the carpenter's trade, remaining in the Pine Tree state until the spring of 1874, when his uncle, Kendall Young, induced him to come to Webster City and erected a residence for him. F. D. Young arrived here on the 4th of June, 1874. In the fall of the following year he established a lumberyard under his own name and so continued until 1884, when he was joined by J. W. Young under the firm style of F. D. & J. W. Young. This connection was maintained uninterruptedly for eleven years, or until 1895, when the senior member sold his interest to his partner. In 1901 F. D. Young went to the south, spending a year in Louisiana and seven years in Texas, where he engaged in the cultivation of rice. He then disposed of his interests in that state and returned to Webster City, where he has since made his home. When his uncle, Kendall Young, died, he was made a trustee of the Kendall Young library under the provisions of the will, was chosen chairman of its board of trustees and still holds that position.

In February, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Young and Miss Mary J. McFarland, a daughter of Moses and Mary (Eaton) McFarland, of Hancock County, Maine. Her father was a ship carpenter and took part in the Aroostook war in Maine, being captain of his company and receiving from the government in addition to his pay a grant of land in Iowa, which he converted into money. Kendall Young, however, who was in the same company, retained his allotment of land, which in time proved to be very valuable and is now the property of the library board according to the terms of the will which he left. Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Young became the parents of three children. Arietta, who married W. F. Hunter, of Webster City, died in 1891. Elvin A., born January 22, 1872, married Esther Welch and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, being editor of the Kansas City Weekly Journal. During the Spanish-American war he served as a member of the Fifty-sixth Iowa Volunteers. Alene, born June 11, 1884, is the wife of Max Whitacre, formerly of New Sharon, Iowa, but now of Des Moines, where he is connected with the Des Moines Bridge & Iron Company. They have one daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Young make their home at No. 1201 Des Moines street. Mr. Young figured for many years as a prominent business man. He did not allow commercial pursuits to monopolize his time to the exclusion of all other interests and duties. He was at one time captain of Company C of the Sixth Iowa National Guard, now the Fifty-sixth Regiment. He has been very prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M.; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M.; and Triune Commandery, No. 41, K. T. He is a past master of the lodge, past high priest of the chapter, and past eminent commander of the commandery. He is also a member of Elmo Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed through all the chairs. He belongs to the Country Club and is one of Webster City's valued and esteemed residents who for thirty- eight years has made his home here and throughout the entire period has enjoyed the good-will and confidence of his fellow townsmen. His has been a well spent life in which activity and enterprise have led the way to prosperity.

Hamilton Biographies maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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