BIOGRAPHIES: Rufus L. YOUNG, Rice Lake, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== 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, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 8 November 2000 ==================================================================== Rufus L. Young, veteran of the Civil War, pioneer farmer, veteran Mason, and former storekeeper and restaurant man, now living retired in Rice Lake, was born in Oswego County, New York, June 11, 1839, son of Isaac and Rose (James) Young, natives of New York State. After the mother died, the father came to Illinois in 1870, and there farmed until his death, two years later. Rufus L. came west in 1859 and located at Fort Atkinson, Wis. As a young man he became a cooper by trade. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. I, 32nd Wis. Vol. Inf., and served until his discharge in 1865. He entered as a private and was promoted successively to corporal and sergeant, and accompanied Sherman on his famous March to the Sea. It is interesting to note that just before he enlisted, Mr. Young joined Kane Lodge, A. F. and A. M., at Neenah, Wis., so that he has now completed nearly sixty years of membership in that Order. He located in Barron County in 1872, in the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. The next year he secured 160 acres in Section 6, Township 34, Range 11. This was all wild land. He cleared a part of the land, erected a good home and outbuildings and successfully farmed for many years. During this period he was clerk of his school board from 1873 to 1900, nearly thirty years, and road supervisor from 1892 to 1898. In 1900 he traded his farm for property in Rice Lake, consisting of a residence and a store building. He opened a store and restaurant, which he conducted until 1907, in the meantime making several improvements. In 1907 he sold the property, and purchased his present residence at 307 West Marshall Street, where he is now living retired. He has remodeled the house and greatly improved the property by erecting additional buildings, planting fruit trees, and doing some grading. He is one of the stockholders in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. He belongs to the G. A. R., as well as to the Blue Lodge and the Eastern Star of the Masons, and his wife is a member of the Relief Corps and of the Eastern Star. Mr. Young was married Oct. 27, 1861, at Clayton, Wis., to Mary A. Brown, who was born Oct. 17, 1846, daughter of Chester F. and Martha (Smith) Brown, residents of Neenah, Wis., the former of whom was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in Co. K, llth Wis. Vol. Inf., for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Young have had six children: Hattie E., born Dec. 26, 1866; Frank A., born Feb. 2, 1868; Marietta, born July 11, 1876; Rufus E., born Aug. 4, 1880; William L., born Nov. 27, 1885; and Mertie M., born Nov. 3, 1887. Hattie E. was married in Rice Lake, Feb. 15, 1882, to John Dietz, and they have six children, Harry, Clarence, Mira E., Lester, Helen and John. Frank A. lives in Rice Lake. He married Emma Todd, and has seven children, Irene, Blanche, May, Emma, Ruth and Ruby (twins) and Marshall. William L. married Alma Lee, and they have three children, Rodney, Inda and Loren. Mertie M. married Frank Gaylord, and they have one child, Gale. One of the bright days of the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Young was the celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Oct. 27, 1911. Their friends of all ages, including their fraternal and church associates, gathered at the Rice Lake Armory, to do them honor, and after an evening of good cheer, the happy couple were presented with a purse of gold. Talks were delivered, showing the high esteem in which they are held in the community. It is interesting to note that at the affair, five generations of the family were represented. Mr. and Mrs. Young delight in keeping open house to their friends and neighbors. They are spending the afternoon of life in quiet and contentment, after worthy years well spent. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 321-322.