Biographical Sketch of Thomas Young, Center Township, Buchanan County, MO >From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri. ********************************************************************** Thomas Young, farmer and stock raiser, section 4, post office St. Joseph, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 6, 1817, and until four- teen years of age spent his time on a farm, attending the school of his neighborhood. For a short time he was employed as clerk in a wholesale liquor establishment, and afterwards removed to Belfast. In 1832, when but fourteen years old, he emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore in September. He went at once to Wheeling, West Virginia, and found employment with R. H. Sweeney & Co., in the iron and glass manufacturing business, for ten years. In 1842, he went to New Orleans, and contrary to his intention upon starting out, came to Missouri, arriving in St. Louis in the fall of 1842. He returned to Wheeling, and afterwards settled in this county in that same year. In the spring of 1840, he had preempted one hundred and sixty seven acres of land, where he has since made his home. Two or three years after coming, he was chosen justice of the peace, and filled that office for twenty two years. He has been school director over thirty years. During the late war he was a strong Union man, and had two sons in the service. They enlist- ed in Company A, Twenty fifth Missouri Militia, serving on the mounted militia. His eldest son remained four years, taking part in all the battles of the Mississippi campaign, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Mr. Young owns a farm of 211 acres, well stocked. On July 27, 1837, he was married to Miss Jane Greer, a native of Ireland. They have eight children: James G., John H., Robert I., Harry H., Margaret I., now Mrs. Robert Hensley; Eliza Ann, now Mrs. Henry Knight; Mary, now Mrs. Cure, and Kittie, wife of Captain J. E. Dickinson, of Kansas. For two years previous to the war Mr. Young served as assessor of the county, and since the war, for a like period, acted as county coroner. He has been twice nominated for county judge by acclamation, but private affairs prevented his accepting the honors. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================