Joseph C. Young Biography


	This biography appears on pages 765-766 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOSEPH C. YOUNG. - The subject of this review has had a varied 
business experience and his career demonstrates the fact that a man of 
intelligence and well balanced judgment may achieve success in more 
than one sphere of endeavor. Joseph C. Young, of Springfield, is a 
native of Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and the son of Noah W. and Mary 
(Purrinton) Young, the father born in New York, the mother in the state 
of New Hampshire. The Purrintons are one of the oldest and best known 
families of New England, being directly descended in one line from the 
Tabors who came over in the Mayflower, and they have figured in the 
annals of New Hampshire and other states since the early dawn of 
American history. Noah Young was a carpenter by trade and when a young 
man helped build the locks on the Erie canal, besides doing other 
mechanical work in various parts of his native state. In an early day 
he and his wife migrated to Wisconsin and were among the pioneer 
settlers of Waukesha county; after living in that part of the state 
until 1854 he moved to Fond du Lac county, of which he was also a 
pioneer, locating at Brandon, where he worked at his trade until 1861, 
when he changed his abode to Iowa county. After a residence there of 
about eight years he went to Brookfield, Missouri, where he spent the 
remainder of his life, dying in the year 1888, his wife preceding him 
to the grave in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents of four 
children, namely: Mrs. Almira Harker, of Brookfield, Missouri; Thomas 
W., a manufacturer, of Springfield, South Dakota; Joseph C., the 
subject of this sketch, and Martin L., of Bon Homme county and a 
painter by trade.  

	Joseph C. Young was born in the town of Eagle, Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin, in the month of March, 1853, and he grew to manhood in his 
native state, attending the common schools at intervals the meanwhile. 
In 1878 he came to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, and took up one 
hundred and twenty acres of land near Springfield, on which he lived 
during the ensuing five years, devoting his attention the meantime to 
the improvement of his farm. At the expiration of the period noted he 
began carpentering, which trade he had previously learned and the 
better to prosecute the same left his farm and took up his residence in 
Springfield. He followed contracting and building with marked success 
until 1890, when he discontinued that line of work and purchased the 
Springfield Times, a well established weekly paper, which he conducted 
for a period of seven years. Not finding journalism to his taste he 
sold the paper in 1897 and, resuming his trade, continued contracting 
and building until 1901, when, in partnership with Peter G. Monfore, he 
purchased the harness and furniture store which had formerly been run 
by George Mead & Son, one of the largest establishments of the kind in 
Springfield. The firm thus constituted is still in existence and at 
this time Monfore & Young carry a full line of harness and furniture, 
in connection with which they also conduct a well equipped undertaking 
establishment, the business in the different lines being large and 
lucrative and, as already indicated, their house is now the leading 
concern of the kind in the city, with a patronage much more than local.  

	In addition to his career as a mechanic, journalist and merchant, 
Mr. Young has had some experience as a civil engineer, to which 
profession he is now devoting considerable attention. In 1902 he was 
elected official surveyor of Bon Homme county, which position he now 
holds and in the discharge of his duties he is exceedingly painstaking 
and accurate, his record thus far being creditable to himself and 
eminently satisfactory to all who have engaged his professional 
services. Mr. Young has been more than ordinarily successful in his 
different enterprises and is today one of the financially strong men of 
Springfield as well as one of the county's progressive and public-
spirited citizens. His influence has always been on the right side of 
every moral question and he has encouraged every measure and movement 
having for its object the material advancement of the community and the 
social, educational and moral welfare of the people.  

	On December 25, 1875, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss 
Florence Britton, of Rock county, Wisconsin, a union blessed with four 
offspring. The oldest of these children, May E., married W. A. 
Schroder, of Yankton, South Dakota, and is now the mother of two 
daughters, Eva and Marie; Grace, the second of the family, lives at 
home and is bookkeeper for a business firm in Springfield; Florence, 
the third daughter, teaches in the public schools, and Myrtle, the 
youngest of the number, is a student as well as her mother's efficient 
assistant in conducting the affairs of the household.  

	In politics Mr. Young is a staunch, uncompromising Republican. 
His fraternal relations are represented by the Odd Fellows order and 
the Modern Woodmen and in religion he is a Congregationalist, having 
been a consistent member of the church for over a quarter of a century, 
during which time his life has been in harmony with his high calling as 
a faithful disciple of the Nazarene. Mrs. Young is also deeply 
interested in religious and charitable work, and is a consistent member 
of the same church with which her husband is identified.