ROBERT T. YOUNG
The first business man to establish himself at this point was Robert T. Young, who, in December, 1872, commenced to buy grain here [Wiota]. He continued in this business until February, 1884, when he discontinued it, although he still owns one of the elevators.
Robert T. Young, of Wiota, was the first man to engage in business in this village. In December, 1872, he commenced buying grain at this point. At that time the only building on the present village plat was a dwelling house just east of the present hotel. The second building was moved here by Frank Whitney during the same winter, from Atlantic, in which Mr. Young stored his grain. He continued in the grain business until February, 1884, and still owns one of the elevators here. He established a lumber and coal trade in 1873 in which he is still engaged. He also bought and shipped the first live stock. Mr. Young is a native of Cortland county New York, where he was born in 1838. He removed when a child with his parents to Pennsylvania, and afterwards to West Virginia, thence to Illinois, where his parents still reside. He was married to Lamira Soul, a native of Vermont, and has always been actively engaged in business.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 803.
