YOUNG, John S., Raleigh, N. C., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ******************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be Reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any Other organization or persons. Persons or organizations Desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent Of the contributor, or the legal representative of the Submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with Proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Return to the NCGenWeb Archives Table of Contents http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm#NC ****************************************************************** Young, John Smith, of Shreveport, was born near Raleigh, N. C., Nov. 4, 1834. His parents were John Y. and Eliza Henry (Jones) Young, the former being a prominent physician. He removed his family to West Tennessee when the subject of this sketch was a mere infant, and when be was 13 years of age, they moved to what is now Columbia county, Ark. Both father and mother were born in North Carolina and came of old and highly respected families of that state. They were the parents of 8 sons and 5 daughters. At the age of 16 John Smith Young entered Centenary college, at Jackson, La., and graduated from that institution in the class of 1855. He then took up the study of law at Homer, La., under Judge W. B. Egan as his preceptor, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He at once entered into the practice of his profession at Homer, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. At the beginning of hostilities Mr. Young enlisted in company I, 2nd Louisiana infantry, under Col. L. G. De Russy, Capt. Andrews commanding the company. He was later appointed 2nd lieutenant. The regiment was ordered to Virginia, and on arriving there was stationed on the peninsula at Yorktown, and later at Williamsburg and other places. After taking part in the battle of Dam No. 1, near Yorktown, and while still in front of the enemy the regiment was conscripted, much to the displeasure of its membership, which upon reorganization dropped a large number of its officers, and Mr. Young was mustered out, after which he returned to his home in Louisiana. Soon afterward he reënlisted in a cavalry company which was later assigned to the 5th Louisiana cavalry commanded by Col. R. L. Capers. Mr. Young was made 1st lieutenant of company F, and later, Nov. 1863, was promoted to the rank of Major. Just after Bank's Red River expedition he was made lieutenant colonel. Col. Young participated in many of the engagements along the Mississippi and Red Rivers, and after a brilliant military record, was paroled at Shreveport, in 1865, after Lee's surrender. Col. Young returned to Homer, La., where he resumed the practice of law, and was associated with Judge W. B. Egan until the latter was elected to the supreme court bench. He was also associated with J. C. Egan, who afterwards served as attorney general of Louisiana. In 1878 he was elected to fill an unexpired term in congress from the 5th Louisiana district. He had served several years as parish judge in Claiborne parish, and after the expiration of his term in congress, resumed the practice of law at Homer, whence he removed to Monroe in 1880, and in 1881 removed to Shreveport. During the reconstruction days he was very active in the eradication of the "Carpet Baggers," who held the reins of government in the state at that time. In 1892 he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as sheriff of Caddo parish, and in 1896 was elected to succeed himself, filling this important office most acceptably for eight years. He was also a member of the school board, in both parishes of Claiborne and Caddo. Col. Young was conspicuous in the anti-lottery movement, and was chosen one of the five to decide the election contest, which upon his decision, the other four being equally divided, the Louisiana lottery became a thing of the past. In politics he has always been a stanch democrat, in church faith a Presbyterian, and fraternally a Knight Templar Mason and Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has twice been married. In 1867 to Fannie R., a daughter of Col. John L. Hodges, of Bossier parish. She passed away in 1891, leaving the following children: Edwin H., William L., John L., and Joseph B. In 1896 Col. Young married Mrs. Mattie H. Morrison, nee Hamilton, a daughter of Dr. D. B. Hamilton, of Minden, La. No children have been born to this union. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 479-480. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.