Young, Benjamin F.

YOUNG

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2021 at 11:58:32

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.956

BENJAMIN F. YOUNG
One of the most prominent farmers of Lincoln Township is B.F. Young, whose home is on section 27, where he has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for several years. Almost his entire life has been passed in Warren County for he was only two years old when he arrived here in 1851. He was born in Shelby County, Indiana on the 12th of November 1849, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of that locality, his paternal grandfather having settled there at an early date in its development. There the father of our subject, David Young, was also born, his natal day being March 1, 1826. On arriving at manhood he married Margaret Ann Williams and they continued to make their home in Shelby County, Indiana, until coming to Warren County in 1851. Here the father entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land and opened up a farm, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred April 7, 1888. In this family were four sons and four daughters and with the exception of one son all reached years of maturity, but only our subject and his brother Wright are now living.
On the home farm in this county, B.F. Young grew to manhood and he early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, so that he was well qualified for his life work on leaving the parental roof at the time of his marriage. His literary education was obtained in the common schools. In 1876 he located upon his present farm on section 27, Lincoln Township, and after renting the place for several years he bought the property, consisting of eighty acres, which is conveniently located a mile and a half from Indianola. In his farming operations he has met with good success and his been able to add to his property, now owning a tract of fifty-four acres also on section 27, and one hundred and sixty acres of pasture land in White Oak Township. He has paid considerable attention to the raising, buying and feeding of stock, and in 1907 fattened fifteen carloads of cattle and hogs for market. Upon his home farm he has made many substantial improvements, which today stand as monuments to his thrift and industry and his place is well equipped for stock-raising being well supplied with water and all necessary conveniences.
On the 6th of March 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Young and Miss Ella J. Reynolds, who was born in this county on the 13th of October 1853, and died February 2, 1902. They became the parents of eight children, namely: Louisa, now the wife of Simon Richards, who has been engaged in the newspaper business for years and is now proprietor of the Graphic-Herald, of Webster City, Iowa; Andrew S., who is a merchant of Yarmouth, Iowa; Myrtle, the wife of George Price, a farmer living near Wick, Iowa; Amanda, at home; David R., a business man of Salt Lake City, Utah; Benjamin F. Jr., and John W. who assist their father in the work of the farm; and Gladys M., a student in the home schools.
Mr. Young has made two trips to the west, visiting Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and other cities on the Pacific coast and also British Columbia. He has always affiliated with the Republican Party since casting his first presidential ballot for General U.S. Grant in 1872, and has taken quite an active and influential part in local politics, filling a number of township offices, such as road supervisor and township trustee, while for six consecutive years he was a member of the county board of supervisors, being president of the board two years of that time and a member of the grand and petit juries. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his sterling worth and many excellent traits of character are widely recognized by his fellow citizens. Socially he is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and a fraternal insurance society.