Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 560
JAMES YOUNG, an early and prominent citizen of Muscatine County, residing on section 2, Wilton Township, was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1829, and is the son of Robert and Lydia ( Burr ) Young. His father who was born in Middletown, Conn., April 23, 1793, removed to Sullivan County with his parents in 1806. His grandfather, Capt. Robert Young, served with distinction in the Revolutionary War, and his father fought the British in the War of 1812. His wife who was born Dec. 30, 1793, in Connecticut, was a relative of the famous Aaron Burr. Their union was celebrated Nov. 4, 1814, and to them were born a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters, of which number three daughters and two sons are yet living, namely : Anna B., who married William M. Vandemark, died in Sullivan County, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1864 ; Augustus is a resident of Wenona, Ill.; Eliza is the wife of Eli Robertson, of Tracy, Minn.; Emily wedded David Clements, of Liberty, Sullivan Co., N. Y.; Talcott B., who was a soldier if the late war, and served as commissary sergeant of a New York regiment, was taked prisoner and confined in the notorious Andersonville prison, where he was literally starved to death, dying, Aug. 31, 1864 ; Betsy died March 4, 1849, at the age of twenty-two years ; James is the next in order of birth ; Mary is the wife of Lancelette Drake of Damascus, Pa. The father of these children departed this life Nov. 14, 1865, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife survived him until Dec. 16, 1869, dying at the home of her son James in Wilton Township, where she was then visiting. Her body was taken by him back to the old home in New York for burial.

James Young, our subject, was reared to the occupation of farming, and when a young man learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, which he followed for many years. In 1852, before he had hardly been outside his native county, he decided to go West, but the means of travel were very slow, and he did not reach Muscatine until Oct. 26, 1852. The journey was made by rail to Buffalo, thence to Detroit, Mich. by steamer, then on the Michigan Central Railroad to Chicago and to Joliet, which was the terminus of the road. By canal he then went to LaSalle, Ill., thence to Peoria, on the Illinois River, whence he traveled by stage to a point on the Mississippi, where he boarded a steamer which landed him at Muscatine. The following year, in 1853, he entered land from the Government, but for some time followed his trade in the city before beginning improvements on his farm.

On the 29th of December, 1859, the wedding ceremony of James Young and Sarah S. Heinly was performed. The lady is a daughter of Peter and Kate ( Geringer ) Heinly, and was born in Pennsylvania, from which State she removed to Iowa with her parents in 1856. The family located in Wilton Township, where they resided for several years, then removed to Wilton Junction, and later to Davenport, where Mr. Heinly died Dec. 11, 1864. in the fifty-first year of his age. His wife is still living in that city. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are yet living --Mrs. Young and Solomon, who resides with his mother in Davenport. Five children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Young, four of whom are living : Lilliam K.; Oscar R.; Luella A.; and LeRoy E. A daughter, Mary E., died Aug. 10, 1888, at the age of sixteen years. She was an estimable young lady, and her death proved a sad affliction to the family. Mr. and Mrs. Young have given their children superior advantages of education, believing that knowledge is essential in life. Oscar R., the eldest son, graduated from Iowa State University, and is now engaged in civil engineering in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Lillian was a student for some time in the Davenport High School, and also attended the State Normal at Cedar Falls. Mr. Young has a fine farm of 100 acres on section 2, Wilton Township, which he has owned for a long period of thirty-six years, and his pleasant home with all its surroundings indicate thrift and prosperity. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Young are numbered among the highly esteemed citizens of Muscatine County, with which they have been identified for many years.

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