The New York herald., 1878-11-30
OLDEST PRIEST IN NORTH AMERICA

FAMILY HISTORY OF THE LATE FATHER DOMINIC
YoUNG-IMPREssIoNs MADE ON THE YOUNG
cLERICs MIND BY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
The Dominican. Nicholas Dominic Young. who died
in Washington Wednesday, born the
mouth or the Pscataway River, Prince George
county. Nd the l1th of June, 1898.
His great grandfather was English Judge
sent ont here in that capacity. but on becoming a
Roman Catholic deposed. The ex-Judse bought
tract of land where stands the better
portion of the city of Washington. and
many n time did the old monk. in his
closing days wonder whether he wonld be permitted
breathe his last in that city where his father
born and where, when he became priest. he built
the specimen Of Gothic in this country tho
Church of st. Dominic on the very spot where stood
his great grandfather barn This the first church
built in Washington and the old priest remembered
it with pride. The domain fell to Motley Young the
grandfather Of Father Young and when General
Washington To lay ont the city he resided in the
elegant mansion OF Motley Young. which the finest
in that part of the country during the time of his
stay there. The General induced Motley Young to
give up his farm and the whole of Sonth Washing
ton which formed part Of tho Young farm. Gen.
erai Washington however. provided that the Young
mansion should not be torn down till after
the death OF its occupant. 1t stood Just
in the middle Of a street till after Motley
Young's death Nicholas Young. father Of the dead
priest, married one or the reuWlCks WHO were OF
the Lord Baltimore colony. founders Of Maryland.
He removed to Prince George county Nd. where his
wife owned a farm Of inheritance.
INVESTIGATING GENERAL WASHINGTON.
This right opposite Mount Vernon. the home
Of Washington, and frequently did Father Young
recount how, when he a boy, the whole family
would gather in the green Of morning and view
the General through spyglass as he paced
mp and down his veranda with his hands
Father Young used to say the General was in the
habit Of walking this way every morning. Father
when 9ans he ~ was child. and the . old priest priest
would tell the story. which he was often
When was about eight years old remember there
was to be parade not far from our place. 1t
announced that General Washington would be there:
but. bless you. that wasn't half the ndncement
TO lot of young shavers and myself that
we saw in the promise OF supply Of town
gingcrhresde However. when we got there the
6eneral va there and boys tremendously
impressed by his big cooked hat. That all the
grestness ~ We ssx about MN. ne ~ss tan man with
but made fellow feel you could not throw gravel
in his boots, like used to do to those other high
feathered chaps. thought he the greatest man
! ever saw. but didn't know why. All knew was
that he whipped the British, and everybody pointed
him out the chap that whipped the British /
could recognize him this moment though. he made
such an impression on me.
Father Young all the public from Wash
ington down. He recalled Jefferson. Madison and
Monroe riding around the race track in Washington,
and Henry Clay John G. Calhoun and some of the
first men Of the day were frequent guests at his
fathers house.
DISTINGUISHED CATHOLIC FAMILY
The uncle Of this remarkable priest. Edward
Dominic Fenwck, afferward Bishop Of Cincinnati
was one Of four sent out here to found
the Dominican order. Father Fenwick. being
the parent house of the Order. ST. Roses
Springfield Washington county. Ky. In 1905
Father Young was sent there to school and in ls0s
with Sam Montgomery another Montgomery, Miles
first Bishop Of Nashville. Tenn and Willet
prominent figures in the early history of Catholicism
in this country. entered the Order. Father Young
was ordained priest on the 18th Of December 1877
Tn ISIS Father Young and his uncle Fenwick were
sent into Ohio They bought farm in Perry
county and established house st. Joseph's
Father Young often boastcd that he rode $1,000
pleasant ride Of night from the convent
to Columbus. fifty miles and this through woods and
swamp to visit the sick In 1919 he established the
FIRST Roman Catholic church in Cincinnati, since
TO be one Of the greatest Catholic cities in th
country.
Father Young was the last Of that band Of sturdy
missionaries who, sixty years ago. were
men Father Young never tired Of telling
Of his early days IN the wild West Frequently
he was stopped by men and asked who he
American priest sent to preach the Word of God
Some would ask him to pray. some to read the
piled and being importuned to come that way again
Ire wonld do And do you know Father Young
wonld say. 4 reckon used 70 have about twelve
how they would come around and generally end mp
good tough Catholics. - Fta
It was difhcult to judge whether Father Young was
most priest Amsricsn-he pre-
crninent1y both short man, thick set. with voice
like the roar of bull he seemed TO have been born
specially the life he grandly filed He bent
o late years but always jokingy referred 10 his shak
ing OF the old white habit thirty years
hence He was gentle o. a child but could be
the sternest OF men, In his work a priest he knew
no opposition. the elements themselves he used to
eav he feared not He known throughout the
United States and spent his late years going from
one house another OF those of his Order in this
country.
He was an inveterate smoker. as was his uncle.
Bishop Fenwick The habit contracted while
travelling through the Western wilds. where lighted
cigar was great companion Of . dark night In late
years found the cigar beneficial because Of over
now of saliva
His laat visit to this city in the spring of 1877
He was a prominent figure Mt the installation of
Cardinal McCioskey and much beloved by His En-
incncc At his death he was the oldest priest in the
world except in South America.