Greene County Biography of John S. Young

JOHN S. YOUNG, one of the representative citizens and an honored pioneer of Clarke County, Iowa, residing on section 24, Liberty Township, was born in Greene County, Indiana, November 15, 1819, a son of Jacob and Martha (Storm) Young, the father a native of Maryland, and the mother born in Virginia, but reared in Kentucky. They were married in Indiana, and were among the early settlers of Greene County, that State, where they made a home in the wilderness, living there till their death, the mother dying in 1851, and the father about eight years later. The father was of German descent. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Storm, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.

John S. Young, whose name heads this sketch, was the eldest of a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, as follows-- William went to Mississippi in 1840, and died there in 1844; Joseph W. was a soldier in the Mexican war, and also served in the war of the Rebellion, being Captain in the Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Lookout Mountain; Littleton participated in twenty-seven battles during the late war without injury, but died at home of disease contracted while in the service; Henry C. also died of disease contracted while in the service; John H. died of typhoid fever about the commencement of the war; Martin died in infancy; Mrs. Ann Floyd, of Greene County, is the only member of the family beside our subject who still survives; Mrs. Elizabeth Carmichel died in Lucas County, Iowa, and Melvina died in early childhood.

John S. Young was reared to farm life, and with the exception of one year in the mercantile business he has always followed that avocation. He remained with his parents till twenty-one years of age, and until he was twenty-six years of age he devoted his entire earnings to their support. He went to Mississippi in September, 1840, returning to Indiana in May, 1841.

February 6, 1844, he was united in marriage to Mary Beem, who was born in Owen County, Indiana, October 14, 1820, a daughter of Neely and Leah Beem, her father dying when she was quite young, in Owen County, and her mother dying in the same county in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Young have eight children living-- Mrs. Adaline Fierce, living with her parents; Joseph T. of Lucas County, Iowa; Emma, wife of Aaron Lynn, of Adair County; William E., living on a farm near his father's homestead; Mrs. Cornelia Marquis, a widow, living near her parents; Mrs. Alicia Hamilton; Mrs. Lucy Hamilton and Love, all living in Montana, Cornelius died in infancy.

Mr. Young lived on his farm in Greene County until 1856, when he sold his property in Indiana and came with his family to Iowa, locating in Otter Creek Township, Lucas County, where he remained until the spring of 1869. He then sold his farm of 240 acres, buying the farm which he now owns and occupies in Liberty Township. He has met with good success in his agricultural pursuits, and besides his home farm, which contains 160 acres of valuable land, he also owns forty acres of timber land in the same township.

In politics Mr. Young is identified with the Republican party, although in earlier years he was an old-line Whig. He and his family are Methodists in their religious belief. Mr.. Young has experienced all the trials and hardships incident to the life of a pioneer, locating in the county among the early settlers, and has witnessed the many changes that have taken place, having done his part toward building up the material interests of this part of Clarke County.

Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record by Lewis Publishing, 1886. p. 86

Last updated 22.10.2009