The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-07-04
A NOTED CITIZEN GONE.
Grove YOung's Death and Burial-a
Short Account of His Inter-
esting Career.

esting Career.
Grove Young, one of the wealthiest and
best known business men in all central
Missouri, died at Excelsior Springs last
Friday evening, after an illness OF two or
more years with Bright's disease. Though
anticipated, his death was nevertheless a
great shock to his large circle of friends
and acquaintance in this section OF the
state. He had been gradually failing for
weeks prior to his demise, but there were
many who believed that he might
ultimately regain his health, and to these
he announcement hat the end had
conn was particularly distressing. His
disease bafied the skill of the most noted
medical men OF the country. He had
visited all the celebrated sanitariums
where diseases of the character with
which he was afflicted are treated, but
though at times relieved to some extent
OF his sufferiugs it was evident that his
recovery could not be hoped for, and he
himself fully realized and declared that
his health could not be restored. For
som weeks previous to his death he had
been under the care of physicians at
OuL OhCy COulu uO ~
more than ease his sufferings and care for
him until the m came. He was
conscious to the last, and died while
seated in an arm chair, passing away
without the least indication of pain and
at peace with the world. In accordance
with his request the funeral orange
ments were simple in form, the remains
being conveyed by train to Kansas City
by his brother and a few friends from
Excelsior Springs, and deposited by them
in a vault at Oak Hill cemetery beside the
bodies of his wife and three children.
Funeral services were held at H~igginsville
yesterday, and were conducted by Rev.
Joshua Bsrbee, of the Christian church.
The deceased had become very much
attached to Elder Barbee during his
illness at Excelsior Springs.
Grove Young was a native of this
county, having been born in Freedom
township, August %, 1S43. His father,
Joseph l.. Young, was a farmer and
resided on a fine farm near Aullville.
Grove Young was also reared az a farmer,
but he was too ambitious to remain at
that vocation. He attended the district
hoo until he had acquired the
rudiments of an education when he went
to Richmond, Mo-, and there completed
his studies. About that time the civil
war broke out, and without hesitation he
cast his fortunes with the union cause.
He went to Leavenworth, Kas., and
enlisted as a private in the 9Th Kansas
Cavalry. He served three years and was
in many noted engagements. He left the
army with the epaulets of a second
lieutenant and with the warmest praise
of his superior officers. He was urged to
accept a majors commission, but declin-
ed, and was again offered a commission to
engage in the war against the Indians,
and again declined. In 1855 he visited
England, France and Germany, and after
returning to America he made a tour of
Mexico, Brazil and other Central and South
American countries. In 1886 he returned
to this county and settled upon his farm,
where he remained engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits until 1875, when he aban-
doned that business and tool up mer-
chandising in Aullville. He had at last
found the pursuit which of all others
best suited his genius and abilities, and in
a few years Grove Young was one of the
most prominent business men in this
part of the state. His store was crowded
daily with purchasers and his trade grew
so rapidly that when the G. & A. railroad
penetrated the county and crossed the
Pacific at Higginsville he saw his oppor-
tunity and at once moved to the new
town, where he extended his mercantile
business and engaged largely in real
estate transactions. He had the credit OF
having done more than any one man to
build up HigginsvilIe. He owned con-
siderable valuable property there, fine
farms all over this and adjoining counties
and valuable land In the vicinity of
Topeka, Kan. Much OF this latter was
entered by his father when Kansas was a
territory. Many estimates have been
made as to the amount of his wealth, but
all of these must necessarily be regarded
as mere speculation, as no one has yet
spoken upon this matter who enjoyed the
confidence of the deceased. He was kind
and courteous in his demeanor at all
times, hence his popularity among those
who knew him we'll. 1t would not be
safe to say, however, that he had no
enemies, but to a man OF his aggressive
nature, decided purposes and ~unfiinching
Poioiotehco III carrying oue MS unuoI-
takings, this would not be mex pected.
Yet he possessed in an exalted degree
many fiue traits of character, and though
not at all socially inclined, he was a man
who easily made and retained friends.
Politically he was a sterling democrat
and did all he could to advance the
of his party in the county and
state. His death was a serious blow to
and Lafayette county. He
was a man of strong character, highly
esteemed in business circles, OF strict
honor and great industry, n enterprise
ing and public spirited in a very high
degree, In his death the county has
sustained a great loss.