The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-07-04
Major John Lewis Young.

dent of Leon for more than fifty
years, died at his home in this city
on Tuesday, June 25th, at the age OF
IS years, II months and rs days,
his death following an illness which
has extended over a period Of more
than year, but only for short
time before his death was he con-
fined to his home.
Major Young was the oldest prac-
ticing attorney in Decatur county
with the exception of Judge Samuel
Forrey, although both retired from
practice some years ago, having set
tied at Leon in the fall of 1859. He
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio,
June 80, 1888, and when quite small
removed with his parents to White
county, Indiana, where his mother
died in 1910 and his father the fol-
lowing year. After the death of his
parents he was bound out to a
farmer in Warren county, where he
rem aimed until he was fourteen years
of age, when, becoming dissatisfied,
he ran away and apprenticed himself
to the harness trade, at which he
continued for two years, when again
becoming restless under the re-
straints placed upon him, he LETT his
employer and resolved to go else
wherein fact, had started on his
journey when he was induced by a
brother to return to Independence,
Warren county, where he had work
ed. Up to this time he had received
but little opportunity for learning,
the extent of his education being his
ability to read little. 1t was then
he began to realize the Importance
of education. He worked at any
thing he could get to do that would
enable him to earn penny, even en-
gaging as bootblack and other
mental services. But, fortunately,
better opportunities were at hand
for him. The man to whom he had
been bound died suddenly, and his
widow a very estimable lady, and
possessed of wealth, continued to
manifest an interest in him, and pro-
posed to take him with her to King
ston, Ohio, whittier she had removed.
Here he received excellent advan-
tages, attending the academy at that
place two years, and making excel
lent progress. The lady desired to
have him study for the ministry, but
this course was not agreeable to him.
In the fall of 1852 he came west to
Oskaloosa, Iowa, and attended a
normal school for some time, en-
gaging as student and teacher until
1856, when he went to FIT. Madison
and secured position as clerk in
the penitentiary, and reading law at
the same time in the Office of J. NJ.
Read In March, 1856, he went to
P1nnno fol hn
and also read law in the Office of
1858, he was admitted to the bar in
the Supreme Court at Des Moines.
He opened an Office at Bloomfield,
where he remained until November,
1859, when he came to the then little
village of Leon, and formed part
nership in law with young attorney
named V. Wanright. June 10, 1861,
Edwards Border Brigade was organ
lied and Mr.. Young Joined this
brigade as private, making several
raids into Missouri, going once as
far as Hannibal. He was made
quart of this command, with
headquarters at St. Joseph. In No.
vember of the same year he enlisted
in Company \, 18th Iowa Infantry,
being the first man mustered in He
had raised tWenty-siX men for a Mis-
souri, cavalry company, but was pre-
vented from taking his men out of
the state, so Joined the Iowa regi-
ment. He served as a private for
three or four months, then came home
on recruiting service. He was very
successful in this undertaking, rails
ing 104 men in "a few days. When
the company was organized he was
elected captain, serving as such until
January 90, 1868, and participating
in the battles of Pennington and
1uka. At the last mentioned battle
a large part Of his regiment, includ-
ing the Colonel, behaved in a coward
ly manner. His company and one
other remained unbroken, and he
was ordered to take command Of
what remained of the regiment on
the field OF battle, and he acquitted
himself nobly on this occasion. The
Colonel was put under arrest, and
Major Young remained in command
of the regiment from that time, Sep
TENDER 18th, until the first of No
vember He commanded the regi-
ment at the battle of Corinth, where
it nobly redeemed itself from the dis
grace of Iuka. For his services on
this occasion he was highly compli-
mented by General Rosecrans. Jan
uary 20. 1868, on account of poor
health, he resigned and came home
In August of that year, having re-
covered his health, he raised COM
pany for the 9th Iowa Cavalry, was
made captain of the company, and
served in that capacity until Novem-
Der IS, 1865, when he was promoted
to Major. This was after the close.
of the war, the regiment being sta
toned at Fort Smith, in the border
of Indian Territory. While in the
cavalry service his command was
principally engaged in guerilla war
fare, in Arkansas, going, into Fort
Smith in September, 1865, where he
had command of all the cavalry, at
that point. He was mustered out at
Little Rock, February IS, 1866, and
returned to Leon and resumed the
practice of his profession. June %,
1868, he formed a partnership with
Judge J. w. Harvey, which continued
until 1869, when through Major
Young's efforts, a National Bank