BIO: Robert J. YOUNG, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ROBERT J. YOUNG, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Snow Shoe, Centre county, was born January 15, 1862, in Broomhill, Northumberland, England, a son of Thomas and Isabella (Wood) Young, natives of Scotland and England, respectively. The paternal grandfather, James Young, a tailor by trade, spent his entire life in Scotland. Thomas Wood, the maternal grandfather, was a mountaineer, living among the Cheviot Hills, on the dividing line between England and Scotland. Throughout life he principally engaged in cattle dealing. In Kelso, Scotland, was celebrated the marriage of the parents of the Doctor, who brought their family to America in 1883, and located at Snow Shoe, where the father died in the spring of the following year, at the age of forty-six. The mother, who was born in 1834, now makes her home in Punxsutawney, Penn. As was her husband, she is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and highly respected by all who know her. In their family were five children, namely: James, who was born in 1859, and died at the age of eleven years; Robert J., of this sketch; Thomas, a coal operator of Oshanter, Clearfield Co., Penn.; William, an engineer of Punxsutawney, who resides with his mother; and Elizabeth, wife of Frederick Wilson, also an engineer of that place. In the land of his nativity, Dr. Young attended a high school, where he acquired a good practical education. At the age of nineteen years he crossed the Atlantic, locating at Irwin Station, Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1881. For some time he was engaged in mining and at various other occupations by which he could earn an honest dollar, until 1886, when he began reading, medicine with Dr. L. C. Harmon, of Philipsburg, Centre county. At the end of two years he attended the University of Maryland for one session, and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. He at once "hung out his shingle" in Snow Shoe, where he now has a large and lucrative practice. His thorough knowledge of medicine, and his skill in surgery have won for him the confidence of the people, and he therefore enjoys an excellent patronage. Dr. Young was married in Baltimore, January 20, 1891, to Miss Minnie M. Yarnell, who departed this life February 17, 1895. She was a native of Centre county, born October 15, 1871, and was a daughter of James I. and Barbara R. (Fetzer) Yarnell, also natives of Centre county, who now reside in Snow Shoe, where the father served as postmaster from 1888 to 1893. He is a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Akley) Yarnell, early settlers Of Centre county, where were born John A. and Mary A. Fetzer, the maternal grandparents of Mrs. Young. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell: John T. and Jesse B., lumbermen, who are living with their parents in Snow Shoe; Nora M., who died November 17, 1895; and Minnie M. Fraternally, Dr. Young is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both of Snow Shoe; politically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party. He is a COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 263 progressive physician, possessed of that true love for his work, without which there can be no success; is constantly improving on his own and others' methods, and gaining further encouragement and inspiration from the performance of each day's duties.