BIOGRAPHIES: Walter D. YOUNG, Galesville, Trempealeau Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb CC 19 February 2005 ************************************************************************ **Posted for informational purposes only. I am not related to the subject of this biography, nor do I have any further information on this family. Walter D. Young, proprietor of Decorah Valley Stock Farm, located in section 33, town 19, range 8, just outside the city limits of Galesville, formerly known as the Sterns homestead, was born in the town of Melrose, Jackson County, Wis., Aug. 22, 1865. He lived at the old home until 1891, when he was married to Miss Belle Baird, and they moved to their present home. Mr. Young is of German parentage. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Young, came to this country form Saxony Meiningen, Germany, in 1847. There were six children besides the prents when they came to America. They settled at Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wis., and took up farming, which was their occupation in Germany. They crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, which took 41 days. They did not purchase any land until they emigrated to Burr Oak, La Crosse County, Wis. At this time the six children - three sons and three daughters - were grown to manhood and womanhood, and all emigrated with their parents overland with oxen, driving their cattle with them, and loading all other belongings on the wagons drawn by four oxen each. It took them 14 days to make the trip. Yust D. Young, father of Walter D. Young, was born in Germany in 1837 and died at Melrose, Jackson County, Wis., March 14, 1897. He was the eldest son of Morris Young and a pioneer in this part of the country. After helping his parents hew out a home in the new country, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Williams, and in 1862 they started to build a home in the town of Melrose, Jackson County, Wis. Taking 80 acres fo land as nature gave it, they transformed it into a successful and prosperous farm home of 240 acres of additional purchases. Mr. Yust D. Young was a progressive farmer in his day. He was one of the first to adopt diversified farming and rotation of crops, and also owned one of the first twine binders, which was considered extravagant in those days, as it cost $265. Game being plentiful, it was his custom to kill a couple of deer each fall for his winter meat. He very seldom had to go more than a mile to get them. There were from four to twenty in a drove. Bear meat was also indulged in. He was a respected citizen and served his county in local affairs. His wife Elizabeth was born in Saxe Meiningen, Germany, Nov. 13, 1836. She came to America at the age of twenty, was married to Yust D. Young in 1862; she died Nov. 17, 1910. She was the mother of three children living: Walter D. Young, Milton M. Young and Libbie S. Petterson. She was a kind and good mother, always willing and ready to sacrifice herself for the good of others and did her work nobly in building a new country. Belle E. Baird, wife of Walter D. Young, was born Jan. 16, 1861. She is of Scottish parentage. Her father, John Baird, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 27, 1830. He came to America in 1852, locating in Pennsylvania, where he worked in the mines. Later he moved to Big Sandy, Kentucky, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Willson. In 1857 they moved to North Bend, Jackson County, Wis., and took up farming as their occupation, which Mr. Baird followed until several years before his death on May 1, 1910. He knew much of the trials of the early pioneer. Having followed mining until he was 27 years old, he had many difficulties to contend with in his new chosen field - farming. As a pioneer he was equal to the occation. He acquired a nice farm, which he sold to his youngest son, John Baird, at his death. He was an honored citizen, one of the charter members of the Presbyterian church at North Bend. He was noted for his musical talent and led the singing in church for years before either organ or choir were installed. Mrs. Elizabeth Baird was born in Scotland April 6, 1833, and came to America with her parents in 1841. She was the mother of six children and is still living at this writing, Sept. 1, 1917. She and her brother Willie Willson, six years her senior, have the distinction of being two of the old pioneers still living. She was a kind and loving mother and knows much of the early pioneer life. Walter D. Young and wife moved onto their present farm in the spring of 1891. The farm was badly run down. The soil had been depleted of its fertility by continuous cropping for over 30 eyars. The buildings were badly dilapidated, as it had been occupied by renters for most of that time. Mr. Young began at once to build up the soil by rotation of crops, including clover, feeding the same to stock, and also fattening sheep for the spring market, which practice he still continues. This farm is now considered one of the best in the town of Gale and the buildings are all modern, having been erected in recent years. Mr. Young has always taken a prominent part in church, school and local town matters, having held offices in the various organizations, but devoting his entire time in working hours to the management of his farm. He and his wife have five children: Roy D., Alvin W., Ralph E., Vilas D. and Hazel E. All have graduated from the Galesville high school but Hazel, who expects to graduate in 1920. -Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 544 - 545. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm