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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1911)
y00acoooooeeoo;cocoacc 5 S PHI OF M EARLY SETTLERS Sketches of the Lives of Lewis Harvev Young and His Wife, Mrs. Sarah Young. 5 mvio..., ,i- I.nl.'f ItHsll S. IUiiiM'1'. sslslel by their n. Jhmht M. Vouiml X DIKD Al his home in plallsmoulh, Cass fount y, Nebraska, on November 29, I'll) 1, at 7 o'clock a. mi., of u general breaking down of Hie system. 1 1 m-i 1 1 1 to olil aye, Lewis Harvey Young, aged 8(1 years 5 1 1 h n 1 1 1 s and 25 days. for an octogenarian, Mr. Young ha- always been i paralivcly, free from sickness until N'ovi m bcr 19. 1903, while temporarily visit iitif al Carroll, Wayne county, Nell., he suffered a stroke oT paralysis. From this he partial ly recovered and in February, lllOi, he was removed lo Plalls nioull), in the hope of being bene fitted by a change in medical treatment. For a I ime bis con dition improved until lie was able to walk around. Hut about the middle of last. November be be gan to row worse and it was soon apparent that from Hie effects of I be paralytic stroke and bis ureal weight of years, life with him was only a matter of a few days at v, ami City of o Vera A I the most. - : '': '"-" . I " - ' , , Lewis Harvey Young. His Early Life. Lewis II. Young was born in Floyd county Kentucky, on June 4, 182 i, being the seventh child of a family of fourteen children. His father ami mother were Charles and Margaret Young, ami bis early ancestors were among Ibe Hist settlers of Virginia, in common with others, braving all the perils and dangers of pioneer life among wild animals and even more savage men - the Indians. Mr. Young; remained in the county of bis birth until 1811, when 17 years old. In that year he accompanied his parents lo Matte county, Missouri, where the family settled on land belonging to what is known as the Plalle Purchase. Here he remained un til I In fall of IKti, when, in com pany with his mother and other children of the family, he remov ed to Nodaway county, Missouri, his father having died where the family llrsl settled in that slate, in the fall of I8t:i. At his home in Nodaway county, on a farm, Mr. Young remained until the year 1817, when tie enlisted as a soldier in the war with Mexico and served until (tie fall of 1818, when lie was mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. He re turned to Nodaway county, Mis ftnuri, where he improved and farmed a valuable Iract of land near While ('loud. Affected With Gold Fever. The California gold fever of 1810 had already affected Hie astern states, causing many to lake the overland trip to the Sacramento valley. II spread westward to Missouri and in 1850 caught Mr. Young, who, with nn ox team, crossed the plains and mountain for the New F.blorado. It was an all summer's trip, more than half a century ago, but with nhl-fashioned. pioneer grit our subject, after months of "rough iug it," finally landed on the golden shores of Hie Pacific in the early autumn of 1859. Hut the (fold hope proved ipiite different from the realistic, and in July, 1851, Mr. Young turned home ward by sail boat, being on the ocean some twenty-eight days, landing at Acapulco, Mexico. Al this place, with 'thirteen others, they chartered a pack train, then the principal meant of convey ance across rougn cm went overland to the Mexico ami from there Cruz bv freight wagons latter place Mr. Young, with his companions, took a sail boat, and after encountering numerous storms, dually crossed I he Culf of Mexico and landed at New Orleans. From t he latter place our sub ject traveled iv .steamboat up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and finally arrived al (Ilenwood, Mills county, Iowa, on November 7, 1 K r, 1 . I Miring Mr. Young's absence, bis family, in company with Isaac K. and Harvey Mcliroom, bad removed from Nodaway coun ty, Missouri, and located near (ilenwood, Iowa. Iuring Mr. Young's residence al, the latter place on March 15 and Hi, 1 K r i the confederate tribes of Indians Hie Omaha and Otoes ceded to the United Stales all their lands west of the Missouri river, except, a small reservation on the waters of the l!ig Hliie river. Our sub ject and his most estimable wife were present at Mellevue when Ibis treaty was signed, having crosed the Missouri river on a Hat, boat, then owned ami operated by Peter A. Sarpy, the noted French Indian trader. After the formal ities of the treaty were concluded Mr. Young' and bis wife returned to their farm near ('ilenwood, when' they remained until .June of I he same year 1851. At this lime Mr. Young recrossed Ho Missouri river at out Kanostia, a point a short distance south of the present village of Hock Bluffs, n Mil look up a timber claim some three miles from the river. Dur ing that summer fifty years ago --our subject erected a log cabin and broke out a few acres of land on bis claim, lie return ed lo his family in Iowa, where he remained during the winter of 1851-5, and in March following 1855, removed bis family lo their new home, when be commenced improving bis prairie pre-empl ion claim, known as "pre-emption certificate No. :t:i.' Upon this he made permanent settlement ami improvements, his first house being constructed of logs, the windows and doors ami nearly all the building material being brought from (Ilenwood, as there were no saw mills then in opera lion on the west side of Ibe Mis souri river. It was in Ibis pioneer home one or Hie llrsl in I. ass counlv, where Mr. Y'oung lived so many vears and where he reared his familv, and, in fact, where all ex cept the two eldest were born and grew lo manhood and womanhood. Joseph .Mcliroom, who were i among the early pioneer settlers To Ibis marriage seven chil dren were born Jasper M., born March IS. 185.1; Myron K., born November 11, 185 S, both sons born at (ilenwood. Mills county, Iowa. Hosa 11., burn September 28. 85ti; Joanna J., (now dead1, born November 15, 1858; Kddie, born December 8, 1 K 1 ; Luella A., born April ."Ml, 18t'(i; Jennie P., ' now dead I , born August 23, H7u. With the exception of tile two children first named, all the others were born on the old pioneer homestead between Hock Willi's ami the dace for many years known as "Three droves.' Itesides the live children nam ed, Mr. Y'oung left surviving, bis widow, Mrs, Sarah Young; two sisters, Mrs. Mary 1 5 u s I of Franklin. Franklin county, Ne braska, and Mrs. Clara Campbell of lllair, Washington county. Ne braska; ami one brother, Mr. Francis Young of Murray, Cass county, Nebraska. Last Sad Obsequies. On Thursday, December tlHli. al 1 1 o clock a. m., al amily home in Plat t smnul b ral services were held. Tin t. Hi.' fun-long resilience ol deceased mi (,ass county, his extended acquaintance and the universal esteem in which he was held, attracted large num bers, particularly of the old pioneer settlers, to pay their last tribute of respect and love to the honored dead. The d ased bad been for many vears a member of the Hen Franklin post, (irand Army of the Hepuhlic, at Franklin, Neb., and Ibe Ilelief Corps sent, most beauti ful floral tributes. Services at the house were con dueled by Hev. Charles W. Savidge of Omaha of Ibe People's church, assisted by Hev. David A. Youizy of the Christian church of Plalts inoiilh. Hev. Savidge delivered a most appropriate and instructive sei ner tioioe witti li'-i son, liyron K. Y'oung. al and for some time pi i.ius to her demise, at Carroll. Wayne counlv, Nebraska, and al though .-eve ral years past the octogenarian period, had general ly enjoyed fairly g I health until la-t February, when sin- was forced to surrender to the in firmities and weight of years. Hut with the aid of loving and devoted children. Mrs. Young was able to be up and around I be bouse tint il Auiiii-t I fill. I'M 1. when she was eon-pel live days peacefully into that slumber. to take her bed. where afterward she calmly. Ulsseil and hopefully mysterious. e l III e I : -. .... . ' - V .' ' C ' ' . I J r- , 5' ' ' '' ' ; ;!( : 1 'ii ' .' ''', . v" . families were carefully read by pan nt and ch'M. the Mcltrooin fa: i.. i i I . l siei.il a!t .-ntion to Ihe-e v rv ,n!e l l. ean- of education, so (bat lh- ehi'dren had i'i'!v -i h . en ic; : itmal ad van!. .v--' a- we: e pus -ibie in a wild, sparsely settled and unde veo,.i d eoiiiiiry. Hut these limit ed educational advantages were well i"-pi-oved by the M'-Hmom children to (be extent l:iat lln-y were eon- ider -il f.lirly well educated. ollsiib-ring Ibejr very limited advantages. Mrs. Young particularly showed in conversa tion how veil sin- bad improved her very limited educational ad vantages. She was in. I only a general reader, but a good n-ason- ei- ..- -.yell. Tin- writer recalls with much pleasure his first aeiuainlauce with Mr. and Mrs. Young and Hieir 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 v, lien .f lb est imable family. This was the winter of I8til-ti7. ! v. as -1 . -t 1 1 1 ed as teacher dist rict si hoot of I In- dis- Freighter on the Plains. In 185!) Mr. Young, in company with a number of other pioneer settlers, started on a freighting expedition lo Denver, Colorado, with horse teams. When llfty miles beyond old Fort Kearney less than half wav lo Denver the freighters became discouraged at the outlook ahead the ureal danger of losing freight and I en ins, as well as lives, by marauding Indians and returned home. During the winter of 1 802-3, Mr. Young, with others, again at tempted with horse teams to make Denver with freight, in which the parties were successful. Although hostile Indians were almost daily committing depredations on freight trains murdering and robbing: yet our subject with his companions, after a number of bad scares and nn row escanes. safely completed the round trip of about 1,200 miles in two months In the Indian War of 1864. During the year IRlH, and for some time previous, the indians became so dangerous to settlers and freighters that the First Ne braska militia was organized for protection of the frontier. In the organization of the militia. Com pany H was made a part thereof and Isaac Wiles, now residing near Plattsmonth at the ndvancet aged of 74, was made its captain I'mler Captain Wiles our subject served six months, when the In ill n n troubles having quieted down, the militia returned In their homes. Marriage. On May 3. 1819, near Savannah Missouri, Mr. Young was united in marriage lo Miss Sarah Mc- Hroom, daughter of Mr. and Mrs from Fphesians 5 : 1 (1. The Methodist choir, composed of Mrs. Ililt Wescolt, Miss Kdna Petersen, Messrs. C. S. Polk and C. C. Wescolt, most louchingly and impressively rendered the fol lowing beautiful selections; "(lather Homeward, One by One," "It Is Well With Mv Soul," "1 Love to Tell the Story." The pall-bearers, consisting of old-time, intimate and pioneer friends of deceased, were Messrs. Hasil S. Hamsey, Solomon Long, John Cory, Levi Churchill, Wil liam T. Cole and Columbus C. Despain, who sadly bore to the Young: cemetery I he family burial ground all thai remained mortal of their old friend. Here, surrounded by falling leaf, withered verdure and autumnal decay, typical of him w ho had just fallen in I he shadows of great age, in the pres ence of a large concourse of friends of deceased, the last scene of life closed amid profound sorrow and falling- tear. Closing Tribute. Lewis II. Young: had rounded out a venerable ag;e. lie had seen life in many of its various phases. A child pioneer in the wilds of Kentucky; a young man pioneer in Missouri and Iowa, and when near middle age, a pioneer settler in Cass county, Nebraska. A half century ago lie had seen the council of Omaha and Otoe Indians at Hellevue, when Ne braska became the properly of the pale face. During a half century he had lived to sec. he "old over land route to the Pacillc," trans planted by numerous railway lines and the old overland trip to the ocean . of months reduced to a few hours. He had seen Nebraska or ganized into territory into state hood, and Anally developed into one of the greatest slates in wealth, intelligence and power in the American union. Lewis II. Young; was of a most genial and social nature, an ideal husband and father, and a devoted Mrs. Sirah Young. Biographical. Mrs. Sarah Young was born near I'rcslnuburg', in Floyd coun lv, Kenluckv. mi February 2 "2 ml, 1825, and her maiden name was Miss Sarah McHroom. I!iv father. Joseph McHroom, was born December 2!Mh, IT'.M. in Virginia, and died September lllh, t8.;8. al Cra'-vfordsv ilie. Indiana. Her mother, Mrs. Phoebe Me Hroom. was born in Virginia Jan lar 22nd, 1 7H2, ami died al Ibe old Lewis Young farm, near Mur-i-iiv, Cass counly, Nebraska, Feb ruary !lb, 1805. In the order of birth, Mrs. Young's brothers and sisters are as follows: William Mc-lti-iiou), born April 28. 1815, and died October 25. 18'.):!, at Danv ille, Illinois. Hebeeca Young, born September 11, 1817, died al Hie old William Young farm, near Murray. Cass county, Nebraska. February 1ft, 18C)5. (Mrs. Hebeeca Young was the mother of David A. Young, now living near Murray, Cass county. Nebraska) . Andrew McHroom. born Decem ber i. 1811); died at Fort Larimie, Wyoming, September 2, 1851. John McHroom. born July 2(1, 1822; died at Fort Logan, near Denver, Colorado, January 15, 18111. Next in order of birth is Mrs. Sarah Young, the subject of this sketch. Isaac McHroom, born April 22, 18.'10, and now resides near Den ver, Colorado, lie is the only child of this interesting Kentucky pioneer family now living. lames II. McHroom was born February 18, 1835; died at Fort Logan, near Denvee, Colorado, September 18, 1888. Joseph McHroom and wife, Mrs. Phoebe McHroom. as slated, wert natives of Virginia and were born a few years after the close of the llevolutionary war. They grew up among the pioneer settlers of the dense forests and rugged hills of Old Virginia. A new nation the 1'niled Slates had only been founded on the great wesiern hemisphere n few years, but even then, "the star of empire was moving westward." Pioneer settlers of western Penn sylvania and of Virginia wen1 pressing westward into Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. The Mc Hrooins left their pioneer home in lover of home, and family. As a Virginia, crossed over into eastern neighbor and friend he was uni versally respected and loved. Scrupulously honest in all his dealings, he commanded implicit and universal confidence. Mr. Young was a Christian by alllliation and profession, as well as by nature. For more than forty years he had been an exemplary and devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and passed into his final rest with most implicit confidence and faith in the tenets of that church. DIKD At Carroll. Wayne counly, Nebraska, on Wed nesday, August Ifith, 11)11. at 8:30 p. m of intlrinities incident to old age, Mrs. Sarah Young, aged 8rt years 5 months and 21 davs. Mrs. Young had been making Kentucky and settled in Floyd county. Here the familv located. braving all the perils ami danger from wild animals and even wilder and more bloodthirsty savage In dians. Here, in the wild, dense forests of Floyd county. Kentucky nearly 87 years ago, Mrs. Sarah Young, Hie Hflti child of a family oT seven children, tlrsl saw the light of day, ami where she grew into that character of attractive and loveable young womanhood which, as years passed away, de veloped into that good and noble type of mature womanhood which attracts and makes friends with everyone. In her girlhood davs Mrs Young did not have the advant ages of an education in the free public schools. At that time free public schools in any of the I'nited State were almost unknown, and especially in Kentucky. Hut Hie few books owned by these pioneer tricl in which Mr. Young had laker Lis tiiiibe- claim in June, 185 'i, and upon which he bad built a i - -ufoi'lable pioneer borne ami win -e de family resided at that lime. This oin pioneer home is only a few miles southeast of Murrav Cass county. Nebraska, and about three miles from the old village of Kenosha, in the same county. The teacher at that time was usually paid so much in cash and "board around" free of charge, or paid the same price and board himself. The writer chose the former, and thus, at P-ast during the term of school, became a member of each family In tb dis trict, and where, wilhoul excep tion, he was alwavs received and treated wilh the greatest kindness, eonrlesv and hospitality. The home of the Young family was but a short distance front the old school bouse, and it is pos sible that the teacher boarded and lodged there more than the pro-nnt-t innate share of this family. Hut Ibe teacher never beard any complaints and was always given a cordial and hearty welcome to Ibis pioneer home, by both Mr. and Mrs. Young and the children. Of the latter. Jasper, Myron, Rosa, Joanna and Fiblie were at lending Hie school. It was in this pioneer home in Cass counlv, Nebraska. 45 years ago. that the writer formed an ac-nnaintam-e and friendship with this most estimable family that has remained unbroken, except bv death. It was in this home that. Ho writer lirst observed the noble traits of character, of woman hood, of wifehood, of motherhood, which adorned and made beauti ful Mrs. Sarah Young, the subject of this sketch. The writer also recalls Ibe many pleasant even i igs spent with Mr. and Mrs. Y'oung during the two winters 18(H')-ti7. 1 8()7-fiK he laugh! their district school and how he became deeply interested in listening lo Mr. and Mrs. Young lell of their obi respective pioneer homes in Floyd counly, Kenlucky, and in Cass county, Nebraska. Mrs. Young was especially in teresting, as she seemed lo have not only a retentive menfory. but could describe old pioneer life, with its manv (rials and scenes. in a way that most deeply in lerested the listener. Of course, at Ibis particular lime, Mrs. Yo'-'ur "as in Hie prime of life. liein-J1 onlv about It years old, and her husband a year older. Marriage. On May 3. 18111, at the aue of , Miss Sarah McHroom, near Savannah, Andrew county, Mis souri, was united in marirage to Mr. I.evvis Harvey Y'oung, who was then 25 years old, ami wim was also a pioneer of Floyd county, Kentucky, having been born in that counly on June 4, 1821. ro this union seven children were horn, in ine oruer oi nirui as follows: Jasper Marion, born March 19, 1853, near (Ilenwood, Mills coun ty, Iowa: married Martha K. F.st- lack and resides at Platlsmouth, Cass county, Nebraska. No issue. Hyron F... born November 13, 11151, near (Ilenwood, Mills coun ty, Iowa; unmarried and resides at Carroll. Wayne county, Nebraska. Hosa H.. born September 28, 185(i. on the old Young home stead, near Murray. Cass county, Nebraska: marriei' Kdwanl F.. IriOi; married Kuinia Heath and resides p.l Carroll, Wayne county. N.-l.. ;..-!;;?. Us,,, . ind Meii- i -e. who a: tv.i.is; Hernard, K- nest and Fd;rar. I. iella A., born April 3o. 1864, at the old Young home pear Mur ray; married William H. Olm slead and resides al Carroll, W ay in- county . Nebraska. No issue. J.-n-'ie P.. born August 23. 1870. at the old Young home near Mur ray. I lied :'(! eeiber 11, 1 872. Funeral Services at Carroll. On Friday, August 18, 191 '. at 12 o'clock m., short funeral services were liebl'at the home of per son. isyroit, ai i.arnui. tiev. Shacklock of the Methodist church at that place, delivered an interesting' and instructive ad dress on the life and chara'er of deceased. Tin- singing was by four little girls from 12 to It) years oh', and selei lions made by F.iblie Young and V,r. V. K. Olmslend. -r:isjsci of "Hock of Ages" ami "l Is Well Willi My Soul." Many "rrowing friends at tended and beautiful wreaths of flowers were placed upon the casket by four ili'Terent lodges, of which the sons and daughters of deceased respectively were members. These lodges were: The Odd Fellows, Modern Wood men, Hebeccas and lloyal Neigh bors. The pall-bearers at Carroll con sisted of Odd Fellows and per sonal friends of deceased ami her . children. They were: John Keslerson. Hubert Prichard. Wil liam Jones. Phillip Harris, Cass Heilford and William Thomas, ami they conveyed Ibe casket to the train for shipment to IMatts- inoulh, and from thence to Mur ray, Cass counly, Nebraska. Funeral Services at Murray. On Saturday, August 11). 1911, tnderfaker Michael Hild of Plattsmoulh, and family of de ceased met the train al Murray, from which the casket was taken to the Presbyterian church at that place for final services over the loved, cold form of mother, grand mother, friend. At 1 1 o'clock a. in. of I bat day services were conducted by Hev. W. L. Austin, pastor of the M. E. church of Plallsinoulh, assisted by Hev. Williamson, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Murray. The addresses of these clergy men were highly edifying, in structive and comforting to tlw sorrowing relatives and friends. The long, beautiful life-history of deceased was portrayed in well chosen words, and many useful lessons drawn Iherefrom. A large number altemled the obseiuies at Murray, among whom were a number who had known Mrs. Y'oung since early settlement on the old Lewis Y'oung homestead, near Murray. A quartet composed of Mrs. James W. Holmes, Mrs. Laura V. Kennedy and Messrs. O. A. Davis and Samuel d. Latta. with Mrs. Dr. (lilmore at the piano, most beautifully, louchingly and im pressively, rendered the follow ing: "Hock of Ages," "Jesus Lover of My Soul" and "Abide With Me." The pall-bearers, selected from old neighbors and friends, who had known Mrs. Young for many years, consisted of Humphrey L. Oldham, William A. Dull, Oscar (lupin, Charles II. Hoedeker, Frank Moore and Henry Creamer. After the conclusion of the ceremonies al the church the funeral cortege slowly moved to the Young cemetery, near Murray, where so many of that honored and pioneer name quietly rest in that long, dreamless sleep. Here, beside the husband, Lewis Harvey Y'oung, who had preceded her to the (lreat Heyond on November 29, 1901, all that remained mortal of an aged and noble womanhood, of a devoted wife, a loved and lov ing mother and grandmother and of a true and faithful friend, were solemnly and sorrowfully laid !o rest beneath verdure, vine ar.d flower. Pipps and resides al Pierce. Nebraska; Issue Herbert, I-'va and Pierce County (lertie, Harry l.essie. Joanna .!.. born November 15, 1858. at II Id Young home near Murray. Cass county, Nebraska; married Austin Johnson. Joanna has but one living child named Ora, who married Charles Man ners and resides at Platlsmouth. Nebraska. Joanna departed this life September 22. 1903. Kddie, born at Ibe old Young home near Muray, on December 8, Went to Mynard. A party of ten went to Mynard yesterday for special services in the evening at the MethndUt church. Andy Moore and Jessie Perry gave a special duet, and Miss Mollie (ioilwin contributed several musical numbers, The others in the party were: Mr. and Mrs. Trimpc. Miss Kthel Halanee, Miss Mildred Cook. Miss Amy Cook. Hugh Cecil and Will Clock. William Otterstein and son, Hichard, former residents of this city, but now residing on a farm in Kight Mile drove precinct, were Plattsmonth visitors Saturday. Mr. Otterstein took time to call at this' ofllce and renew hi? sub scription fo the Daily Journal for a year.