Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-William Young
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
WILLIAM YOUNG, who owns a fine farm
of two hundred acres on section 35, Flora
Township, Dickinson County, was born
January 13, 1832, in the province of Quebec,
Canada, about forty miles northwest of Montreal,
where they marketed their farm products. His
grandfather was a native of Scotland, was a lace
manufacturer and a wealthy and influential man.
His father, William Young, Sr� was born in Fife
shire, Scotland, and for fourteen years served in
the British navy, participating in the battle of
Trafalgar and the bombardment of Barcelona. He
belonged to the "Billy Ruffians," which took two
French frigates. His brother served in the American
army during the War of 1812. After his
naval service, Mr. Young sailed on merchant-vessels.
He subsequently went to Canada, and, settling
in the wilderness, took up four hundred
acres of timber land, in the midst of which he
hewed out a farm. He built a log cabin and then
began the development of his land, which he
transformed into a good farm. In 1850, he left
that part of the country, having cleared two hundred
acres, and removed to within twenty miles
of Lake Huron, Ontario. His death occurred in
1854, at the age of seventy-two years.
When his parents removed to the province of
Ontario, the subject of this sketch and his three
brothers all took up farms and began clearing
their land. Our subject cultivated and improved his
until 1878, which year witnessed the arrival of Mr.
Young in Kansas. Coming to Dickinson County,
he located on section 35, Flora Township, purchasing
a half-section of land. Upon that raw
tract not a furrow had been turned or an improvement
made, but with characteristic energy
he began its development, and soon acre after
acre was placed under the plow. He now owns
three hundred acres of highly improved land, all
fenced, and the well-tilled fields and neat appearance
of the place indicate the labor he has bestowed
upon it and attest the fact of the careful
supervision and management of the owner.
In 1858, Mr. Young was united in marriage
with Miss Jane, daughter of George Watt, a
farmer of Huron County, Canada. Mrs. Young
died in 1867, and within a month four of their children
also passed away. The only remaining child
of that family, George Young, now resides in
Oklahoma. Our subject was again married, in
1870, his second union being with Miss Jennie,
daughter of William Robinson, also an agriculturist
of Huron County, Canada. The following children
have been born of their union: Agnes, a young
lady of nineteen years; John, aged seventeen;
Alex, fifteen years of age; Archie, aged thirteen
years; May, a maiden of eleven; Tom and Nichol,
lads of nine and seven respectively; and Ellen,
aged five years. The mother of this family was
called to her final rest in the fall of 1889, and
her death was deeply mourned by a large circle of
relatives and friends.
Mr. Young is a member of the Farmers' Alliance.
In his religious views, he is a Presbyterian,
and holds the office of Trustee in the church
to which he belongs. He has made all that he
now possesses by his own efforts, and his perseverance,
industry and good management have been
rewarded by a comfortable property, which is
well deserved. His life has been a busy and useful
one, and his upright and straightforward
course has won him universal confidence.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP