Home < 1907 Bios

Greene County IAGenWeb

1907 Past and Present Biographies

Edwin S. Young

Edwin S. Young was born in Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, in 1853, being the son of Sheldon W. and Melinda W. (Greene) Young, both natives of Vermont and of Revolutionary stock, Mrs. Young having been a descendant of General Greene of the Colonial Army, while her husband’s Grandfather Hillard also fought for independence. Sheldon W. Young was a well known merchant, a man of strong and upright character, qualities which he inherited from his Scotch ancestry. He came to Iowa in 1852, locating in Tipton, and entered a tract of land in Cedar county, later buying and selling extensive tracts in that locality. He was a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political support was given to the whig party and afterward to the republican party, and he served as clerk of Cedar county and also as a member of the board of supervisors. He passed away in 1892 at the age of sixty-seven years, but his widow is still living in Jefferson at the age of seventy-nine. This worthy couple were the parents of two children: Agnes A., who married David M. Bossert, deceased, who was a merchant of Jefferson for a number of years and served as postmaster of that place during Cleveland’s administration. After his retirement from this oflice he engaged in real-estate business. Edwin S., the subject of this sketch, is the only son.

Edwin S. Young received his early education in the public schools, supplementing it with a course at the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Davenport, Iowa. His first work for which he received pay was as a clerk in Tipton. He subsequently accepted a position in a wholesale hardware store in Cedar Rapids, but removed to Jefferson in 1875, where he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Bossert, in the boot and shoe business, bringing his own enterprise and energy to the business which his brother-in-law had already made successful. Their patronage grew and they were known as a most reliable firm whose goods could always be depended upon. In 1885 Mr. Bossert retired, and John McCarthy entered into partnership with Mr. Young, so that the firm became known as Young & McCarthy. In 1895 Mr. Young sold his interest and entered the abstract office of A. S. Gilliland, for whom he clerked until 1893 [?], when he was appointed deputy clerk under S. S. Rutter, with whom he remained for three years. He had been interested in political affairs, having had a large acquaintance in the county because of his work in campaigns, and he concluded to run for the oflice of clerk of the district court and was elected by a large majority. He served in this capacity for three terms of two years each and when he retired from the office engaged in the real-estate and loan business, making his oflice with A. S. Gilliland, whom he assisted at times. He is a very successful business man, accurate, keen and far-sighted.

In 1877 Mr. Young was united in wedlock with Helen A. Stearns, a native of Saratoga, New York, born in 1854. Her parents, George L. and Helen A. Stearns, came to Iowa and located at Cedar Rapids, where Mr. Stearns was agent for the American and United States Express Companies. He was a most honored and respected citizen and a veteran of the Civil war, being a member of Company B, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Young have been born four children: Jessie H.; Nellie M., a teacher in the public schools; George E., a clerk; and Dora, who died in infancy.

Mr. Young is a Mason in various branches and has been a lifelong republican. At present he is trustee and secretary of the Carnegie library. It is but just and merited praise to say of him that as a business man he has ranked among the ablest, and as a citizen he is honorable, prompt, true to every engagement. He is unassuming in manner, sincere in friendship and steadfast and uriswerving in his loyalty to the right.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer