IowaJones/Biographies/G. C. Yopst

G. C. Yopst–J. M. Young

G. C. Yopst
Born 1851

G. C. YOPST, restaurant, Olin; born in Missouri in 1851; came to Iowa in 1877. In politics, Republican; in religion, Methodist Episcopal. His wife, Amanda Coleman, was born in Cedar Co. in 1853; married September 16, 1877, and have one child—Pearley Leon. Wife is Free-Will Baptist.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 652.

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Silas M. Yoran
Born September 14, 1840

SILAS M. YORAN, farmer, Monticello Twp., Sec. 12; P.O. Monticello; was born in Herkimer Co., N.Y., in 1835; he came to Bowen's Prairie in September, 1855; during the following winter was engaged at Decorah in the interests of Eastern land purchasers; thence to Hopkinton, Delaware Co., where he was engaged in merchandising for about one year; in the spring and summer of 1857 was engaged at Sioux City, in the interests of land purchasers; in 1858, located at Sand Springs, Delaware Co., and engaged in a general business; in the spring of 1864, located where he now lives; his farm contains 110 acres. In the fall of 1877, Mr. Yoran was elected to the General Assembly of Iowa; was re-elected in the fall of 1879; he was a member of the Board of Supervisors for the years 1868-73. He was married to Maria L. Markell, of Herkimer Co., N.Y.; they have five children—Libbie, George, William, Darwin and Louise.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 688.

E. R. Young
Born April 24, 1872

E. R. Young, devoting his time and energy to agricultural pursuits, in which line of activity he is meeting with most gratifying success, was born in Jones county on the 24th of April, 1872, and is a son of James and Amanda (Prince) Young, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Reared under the parental roof he spent the period of his boyhood and youth amid the scenes and environment of rural life, and in the district schools near his home acquired his preliminary education, while later he supplemented that training by a course of study in a seminary at Epworth, Iowa. When not busy with his text-books he assisted his father in the operation of the home farm and early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the agriculturist. He gained thorough knowledge of the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and continued to give his father the benefit of his aid until thirty years of age, when he started out in the business world on his own account, operating one of his father's farms in the capacity of renter for about two years. He then purchased the farm and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of valuable land located in Madison and Scotch Grove townships. He follows up-to-date and progressive methods in the conduct of his farming interests and his affairs are wisely and carefully managed, his diligence and perseverance being salient elements in the gratifying degree of prosperity which he today enjoys.

It was in 1901 that Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Gowan, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, and was one of nine children born unto David and Elizabeth Gowan. The father is now deceased while the mother still survives and makes her home in Cherokee county, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Young were born three children, namely: Eloise; Elizabeth: and an infant son. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of which form the guiding influence in their lives.

In politics Mr. Young has followed the example set by his father and gives stalwart support to the prohibition party, doing all in his power to further its influence throughout the community. He is loyal and public-spirited in citizenship and is now serving efficiently as school director, while he has also served as county secretary, being elected on the prohibition ticket. Having passed his entire life within the borders of Jones county, he has gained an extensive circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and he has won the unqualified respect and good will of his fellowman by reason of his many excellent traits of character. He is indeed a worthy son of an honored father and the consensus of public opinion accords him a high place among its valued and representative citizens.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 249.

James Young
Born July 29, 1838

JAMES YOUNG, wagon and carriage maker, Monticello; is a native of Scotland, and was born July 29, 1838; when 17 years of age, he came to Canada, where he learned the business of carriage and wagon making; in 1860, he came to the United States; he came west to Iowa and located at Anamosa in February, 1865; he came to Monticello the same year, and since then has carried on his business here. He married Miss Margaret Rhea, a native of Scotland, January 28, 1867; they have four children—James, Ellen, Henry and Margaret.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 688.

James Young
Born January 14, 1841

James Young, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Madison township, Jones county, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of January, 1841, a son of David and Eliza (Davidson) Young, both natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Young family having been founded in America about the middle of the eighteenth century by William and Mary (White) Young, natives of Scotland. They came to this country from the north of Ireland, where they were wealthy landowners and where his ancestors were said to have been baronets. In their religious faith they were Presbyterians and they came to the new world in order to escape the persecutions to which they were subjected by the Roman Catholics. Mr. and Mrs. David Young, the parents of our subject, were married in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and in 1843, after selling their farm, came west to Iowa, making their way down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, and thence up the Mississippi to Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa. Mr. Young found a mill site on Brush creek, where he erected a mill and built a log house, with puncheon floors and clapboard roof held in place by weight poles, no nails being used in the construction of the cabin. The mill had but one iron wheel, the others being made of wood, the wooden cogs for which were boiled in lard three of four days. The father continued the operation of the mill until his death, which occurred in 1846. The mother died at the home of our subject in 1889.

Coming to Iowa when but two years of age, James Young has therefore spent almost his entire life in this state and is indebted to the school system of Jackson county for the educational privileges enjoyed. Under the parental roof he was reared to manhood and he worked in the mill until 1867, in which year he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Prince. In the spring of the following year he came to Jones county, locating in Scotch Grove township, where in company with a brother, David D. Young, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and eighty acres of timber land. This they operated in conjunction until 1870, when they divided the property, and our subject con tinued to reside upon his portion of the land until 1882. In that year he removed to his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Madison township, and he later acquired one hundred and thirty acres in Scotch Grove and Madison townships, which he recently sold to his son, E. R. Young. He had since devoted his energies to the development of his home farm, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation, and in his agricultural pursuits has met with marked success, becoming one of the successful farmers of his locality.

With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Young has been blessed with seven children, namely: Eliza M., the wife of Rev. A. B. Fickle, of Shellsberg, Benton county; E. Ray of Madison township, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume; Dr. J. M., practicing medicine in Center Junction; David L., an attorney of Boise City, Idaho; John Arthur, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Ridgeway, Iowa; William Harvey, who is attending Grinnell College; and T. Ross, who is still tinder the parental roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Young hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, on the official board of which, he has served for several years, while for many years he has been most active in Sunday-school work. He has served as justice of the peace for two terms, and in politics is strong in his advocacy of the principles of the prohibition party, for he fully realizes that the liquor traffic is one of the worst evils against which the country today has to contend. His entire career has been characterized by high ideals and noble principles and in every relation of life his record has ever measured up to a high standard of honorable manhood.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 408.

James Myron Young
Born August 29, 1875

Since 1903 Dr. James Myron Young has been one of the remarkably successful physicians of Center Junction. A native of this town, he was born August 29, 1875, his parents being James and Amanda (Printz) Young. The father is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Young family having been founded in America about the middle of the eighteenth century by William and Mary (White) Young, natives of Scotland. This couple came to this country from the north of Ireland, where they were wealthy landowners and his ancestors were said to have been baronets. In their religious faith they were Presbyterians and as they were living in the midst of a Catholic community they came to the new world in order to escape the persecutions to which members of their faith were subjected. Mr. and Mrs. David Young, the grandparents of our subject, were married in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and in 1843, after selling their farm, started upon their journey to Iowa. They traveled down the Ohio river to Cairo, Illinois, thence up the Mississippi to Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa, where they disembarked. On Brush creek Mr. Young found a site suitable for the erection of a mill and there built a log house with puncheon floors and clapboard roof held in place by weight poles, no nails being used in the construction of the cabin. The mill which he also built had but one iron wheel, the others being made of wood, the wooden cogs for which were boiled in lard for three or four days. Upon the site chosen when he came to Iowa, he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, the former continuing in the operation of the mill until his death.

As James Young, the father of our subject, was but two years of age when he came to Iowa, almost his entire life has been passed within its boundaries. He was reared to manhood under the parental roof, assisting in the work of the mill until 1867, when he married and engaged in agricultural pursuits, to which he has since devoted his life, having become with the passage of years one of the successful farmers of Scotch Grove township. Seven children were born to him and his wife, namely: Eliza M., the wife of Rev. A. B. Fickle, of Shellsburg, Benton county, Iowa; E. Ray, of Madison township, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work; James M., the subject of this sketch; David L., an attorney of Boise City, Idaho; John Arthur, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Ridgeway, Iowa, William Harvey, who is attending Grinnell College; and T. Ross who is yet at home. A consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the father has served on its official board for several years and at the same time has been most active in Sunday-school work. Politically he gives his support to the prohibition party and for two years served his community as justice of the peace. Characterized as his career has been by high ideals and noble principles, his life has been a constant example and inspiration to those who have borne his name.

James Myron Young was reared under the parental roof, on the farm, and he continued the education derived from the common schools through attendance at the Center junction high school. After the completion of its prescribed course he spent the year of 1894-5 at Epworth Seminary in Dubuque county, Iowa. The next two years, those of 1895-6, and 1896-7, he spent in teaching, later reentering Epworth Seminary, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899, having taken the Latin and scientific courses. In that year he decided to take up the profession of medicine, in which he had always been interested and had read to some extent. He entered the State University at Iowa City, from which he received his medical degree at the close of the school year of 1903. His graduation having taken place on June 19, the following day he arrived in Center Junction with the intention of going to his home to spend a week's vacation. However, a professional call awaited him in the town and his vacation was postponed. From that time to the present Dr. Young has enjoyed a career as a medical practitioner that has been singularly successful from the start. Always having a pronounced liking for the work, he prosecuted his studies with the enthusiasm of a man who knew what was his life's work.

On the 19th of August, 1903, Dr. Young wedded Miss Alice Dawson, a daughter of Thomas Dawson, of Center junction. Three children have been born to the couple: Roy D.; Esther M., deceased; and Ralph E. Fraternally Dr. Young is connected with the Modem Woodmen of America and with the Mystic Workers of the World, while he keeps in touch with the best interests of his fellow physicians through his membership in the Jones County and State Medical Societies and in the Iowa Union Medical Association. A skilled diagnostician and painstaking in his conduct of cases, Dr. Young has won a large competence from the citizens of Center junction. A more concrete idea of his success, however, may be gained from the fact that he owns a farm in Scotch Grove township, one in Idaho and considerable property in Center junction. While this indicates his worldly prosperity it fails to do justice to the respect of those to whom he has ministered-this he considers the greatest reward of his labor.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 395.