Annals of Iowa

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MRS. JANE (UNDERDOWN) YOUNG was born in the county of Kent , [ England ], in 1830; she died at the Battle Creek , Mich. , Sanitarium, September 7,1903 . She came to reside in Webster City , with her brother Daniel, a pioneer hotel-keeper, in the spring of 1857. On the 23d of September, 1858 , she was united in marriage with Kendall Young, one of the early merchants of that town. As a business man, Mr. Young was greatly prospered and became the principal founder of Webster City 's First National Bank. When he died in 1896, the people of that town were agreeably surprised to learn that his entire estate had been left to Webster City for the purpose of founding a public library. The only incumbrance that was attached to the will was a provision that Mrs. Young, who had been for some years an invalid, should be tenderly cared for during her life time, and that the town should not come into possession of the property until her death. The law would have given Mrs. Young a share of the estate regardless of any will that her husband might have left, but she "elected to take under and assist in carrying out the purpose of the will, rather than claim her statutory rights." In pursuance of this, she very generously gave the use, for library purposes, of their commodious home, one of the finest residences in the town, together with a certain part of the income derived from the estate, its accumulations being much in excess of her own needs. She also manifested a strong disposition to economize as far as possible in her expenditures so that more money could go into the library. She personally gave to the library trustees a stated sum per year, and this they wisely expended for fine art books. From that contribution a collection has grown of which all who are interested in the Kendall Young Library are especially proud. The matter was taken up in the district court upon the joint application of Mrs. Young and the executor, and it was ordered that her wishes concerning the provisions of the will be carried into effect. The trustees at once came into possession of the residence, with sufficient money to begin the purchase of books, and it was but a short time until the Kendall Young Library was in successful operation. The will provides for the appropriation of $25,000 for the erection of a library building. The whole estate will amount to from $200,000 to $250,000. The bequest is probably the largest and most generous ever made in the State for the purpose of founding a public library, and the project was equally approved by both husband and wife. Mr. Young appointed the first board of Trustees as follows: F. D. Young, W. J. Covil, J. W. Young, Samuel Baxter and E. D. Burgess, who will proceed at once to erect the library building. Mrs. Young's remains were brought back to Webster City and interred by the side of her husband. They were pioneers who builded wisely in their day and generation, and their munificent benefaction will keep their memories green.