Biography - William Young
HON. WILLIAM YOUNG, who for twelve years administered law as Justice of the Peace, and who in the early '50s, before the organization of the township, represented three counties in the Legislature, now resides upon his farm, on section 13, Hillsboro Township, Montgomery County. Our subject well illustrates the homely old proverb, "Where there is a will there is a way." He began life with but two valuable possessions a horse and a saddle. The broad well tilled and well-stocked farm which he now owns was gained by unremitting toil, patient saving and wise investment.
Mr. Young was born in Maury County, Tenn., October 5, 1810. His father, Henry Young, was of Scotch descent, but a native of Pennsylvania, in which State he received his early training. The mother of our subject, Sallie Fifer, was born in Germany, from which country her parents emigrated to America and located in South Carolina when she was about two years old. Henry Young and Sallie Fifer were married in North Carolina, and first settled in Roanoke County. From that State they removed to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee, where, upon a farm about fifteen miles south of Columbus, their son William was born.
The father died upon that farm at the age of sixty-four. His widow removed with her family to Montgomery County, Ill., in 1830, and lived there until her death in her seventy-eighth year. John and Sallie Young were the parents of twelve, children, all of whom reached adult age. Of this large family (eight daughters and four sons) but three survive: Lovina, the widow of Rev. C. C. Aydelott, resides in Donnellson, Montgomery County; Harriet, the widow of J. Harder, lives in Perry Township; our subject is the eleventh child and the youngest son. His boyhood was passed in his native place, and he was twenty years of age when he came to Illinois.
For a time Mr. Young worked by the day and month, but immediately following his marriage to Miss Jane Paisley, which event occurred March 1, 1832, he took up land west of Donnellson and located upon section 21, township 7, range 4. The four-hundred acre tract was a Government claim, and upon its broad surface not even a sod had been broken. A small log-house, 16x16 feet in dimensions, entirety destitute of windows, and with a puncheon floor, was the home of the newly-wedded pair. For furniture they had two split-bottom chairs, a table made of split walnut logs, and a bedstead of the same. These articles were not handsome, but they served their purpose and were highly valued by the good lady of the house.
Mr. Young cleared the place, and made miles of rail fence to enclose it. He hauled his grain to St. Louis, the nearest market, and there exchanged it for groceries and other necessities of life, receiving according to market fluctuations from twelve and a-half to eighteen cents per bushel. For fifty years our subject remained upon that farm, but in 1880 he bought two hundred and fifty-two acres, upon which he now resides, and which is under high cultivation. Mr. Young also owns ninety acres on section 24, three hundred acres in township 7, range 3, sections 16 and 17; six hundred acres in township 8, range 3, sections 29, 30 and 32. This large body of valuable land (twelve hundred and forty-four acres) is all situated in Montgomery County. A tract of two hundred and forty acres in Butler County, which our subject formerly owned, has recently been disposed of.
Our subject was twice married. His first wife, who died in 1851, was the mother of nine children, three surviving her: John, William A. and Harriet M., widow of William McCulloch. All reside in Montgomery County. Three of the family died in infancy; James J. died in 1889; Sarah Jane and Samuel died when they had reached mature years. Mr. Young's present wife was a native of North Carolina, and came to Montgomery County when she was sixteen years of age. She is the mother of three children: Francis H.; Anna, the wife of Charles Linxwiller; and Jacob, who resides with his parents. Mr. Young cast his first vote for Jackson and abides by his early convictions. As an official, he made an excellent Justice of the Peace, and ably represented the counties of Montgomery, Bond and Clinton in the Legislature of 1851.
Extracted 04 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 194-195.
