C. W. Young

C. W. Young, retired merchant, was born in Washington county, Md., in 1825, of which state his parents, William and Mahala (Roby) Young, were also natives, where the latter died about 1833. In 1838, before Stark was organized, Mr. Young, with his five children, located in Peoria county, Ill., and died there in 1844 in his fifty-first year. Of his children who accompanied him to Illinois, H. S. is in Minnesota, Dorcas is deceased, C. W. resides here, Mary in Missouri, and Amanda, of Princeville, Illinois. William, Nelson and Charlotte remained in Maryland for some time, but ultimately came here. William now resides in Iowa, while Nelson and Charlotte are among the dead. C. W. Young was in his thirteenth year when he came to Illinois, he passed through all the pioneer vicissitudes of those times. In 1851 or 1852 he engaged in business at Kickapoo town, Ill., and in 1853 opened a general store at West Jersey, where his family settled in 1854. For twenty years he carried on large trade here and was successful in every enterprise he touched. In 1855 he was appointed postmaster,which office he held until 1872. For twelve years he was justice of the peace and school treasurer here, also served as assessor, and a member of the Republican Central Committee of Stark county. He owns two hundred acres on section 16, all well improved and highly cultivated. Since 1872 he has abandoned many business cares, now devoting himself to the care of his landed property. Mrs. Young, an old member of the M. E. church, died here in 1883, aged fifty-four years. In 1885 he married Mrs. Martha A. (Heaton) Swank, who is also a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Young's life has been eminently active and successful.