Jacob Younce

**Jacob Lewis Younce** (April 5, 1844 – September 26, 1921) served as a sergeant in Company I, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.

## Personal life

Jacob Younce was born April 5, 1844 in Ashe County, North Carolina to Abraham and Eliza (Lewis) Younce. He married Louisa McBride (1845-1929) with whom he had 10 children.

## Civil War service

Younce first enlisted as a private in Company E, 37th North Carolina Infantry on September 18, 1861 in Boone, North Carolina for one year's service and was mustered in November 20, 1861 at Camp Fisher in Guilford County, North Carolina. He is described as 17 years old, 5' 9” tall, and by occupation a carpenter. In March or April 1862, he enlisted for an additional two years service.

He is listed as present for duty until August 17, 1862 when he was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 in Richmond, Virginia. Younce was discharged from the hospital on September 15, 1862. For November / December 1862 it was noted that he “Went home on sick furlough in Oct. Furlough expired.” Younce is further recorded as still being on sick furlough in January / February 1863; when he returned to the regiment was not recorded. On May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Younce was slightly wounded in action. He deserted on July 22, 1863 from Front Royal, Virginia.

Changing his allegiance, Younce next enlisted as a private in Company I, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry on September 22, 1863 in Washington County, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in November 8, 1863 at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. He was appointed corporal on October 1, 1863 by order of Colonel Miller, and appointed sergeant on February 1, 1865. Younce's father, Abraham, and first cousin, Solomon also served in Company I. His uncle, John, served in Company E.

He is described as 19 years old, 5' 9” tall, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and by occupation a farmer.

Younce is listed as present for duty for which muster rolls have survived.

Younce mustered out with the regiment on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville. It was noted that he had last been paid to August 31, 1864, owed $61.20 to the government for clothing in kind or money advanced, had received a $25 bounty, and was owed a $75 bounty.

## Post-war life

After the war, Younce was a farmer and a minister for Three Forks Baptist Church in Boone.

Younce applied for an invalid's pension on June 3, 1884. He died September 26, 1921 due to lobar pneumonia and “senile debility” in Macon County, North Carolina and is buried at Burningtown Baptist Church Cemetery in Burningtown, North Carolina. His wife applied for a widow's pension on December 8, 1921.

His obituary states: “There never was a man that worked harder for the salvation of souls than he did. He said people must bear what was put on them with patience and kindness, and was never heard to complain during the month of his sickness, but waited patiently for the summons to take him to his home on high”.

In a later memorial, he was remembered as “Perhaps no man in Watauga County was better known than Jacob Younce, stalwart, robust, a giant in strength, generous, easy approached. He was one of the many that contributed to the fame of the noble sons of Watauga county. At the age of 16 he joined the Baptist Church and later entered the ministry. This high commission he held until death. For many years he was clerk of the Three Forks Baptist Association. About the year 1897 he moved to Macon County, N, C. to labor in the Southern fields for the master, Yet Brother Younce never forgot the friends and kindred ties of the mountains, as most every year he visited the people up in Watauga and Avery Counties. In the demise of Brother Younce a great man in Israel has fallen.”

## Notes

1. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census, Burningtown Township, Macon County, North Carolina.
2. ↑ Standard Certificate of Death, North Carolina Board of Health.
3. ↑ *Watauga Democrat*, October 13, 1921, p. 3, c. 3.
4. ↑ *Watauga Democrat*, December 1, 1921, p. 2, c.1.