YOUNIE, ALEXANDER

YOUNIE, LANG, ELLIOTT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/16/2004 at 14:20:48

Biography reproduced from page 404 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

In 1870 a brick hotel, which went under the name of the Russell House, was erected opposite the court house. It was under the management and direction of several landlords until 1879, when G. H. Hancock became the proprietor. In February, 1883, Alexander Younie became owner and proprietor. The building was 66x90 feet in area, two stories high, and well constructed of brick. The ceilings were twelve feet high, and the house contained twenty-five good rooms, well furnished, comfortable and good accommodations, and an affable landlord. What more could the tired guest ask? Mr. Younie is considerable of a capitalist and real estate owner, and is one of the solid men of his community. This hotel burned down late in the winter of 1883.

A. Younie, formerly owner of the Hancock House, is a native of Quebec, Canada, born Feb. 22, 1841. He was there reared and educated. His parents, Alexander and Isabella (Lang) Younie, were natives of Scotland. His father was an old soldier, and was in the British service during the Napoleon Wars. He died in 1857. Alexander is the eighth of a family of nine children. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Younie went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and after a short residence there, went to Montana territory. In December, 1865, he returned to Fort Dodge, spending the summer of 1866 in Kansas and Missouri. In the fall of that year he engaged in farming in Humboldt Co., Iowa, and in the spring of 1870 he went to Palo Alto county, being engaged in farming and stock raising. In February, 1883, he became proprietor of the Hancock House at Algona, Iowa. Mr. Younie was married Jan. 26, 1870, to Laura E. Elliott, a native of New York. They have three children—Nettie, Isabella and William A. Mr. Younie was a justice of the peace, a notary public, and a member of the board of supervisors, while a resident of Palo Alto county. He was admitted to the bar in Humboldt county, and in 1876 practiced at Roth, Iowa.