Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

YOUNG, HENRY
G.

p. 641

Surnames: YOUNG, ANCONA, COX, GEISS, GENDALL, HANNAH, HAWES,
HENNINGER, KLOPP, MILLER, RAHN, SHERMAN, SCHREFFLER, ZEHM

Henry G. Young (deceased) was a native citizen of Reading, son of
Jacob Young, and one of a family well known in this city.

The paternal grandparents were Jacob and Mary
(Schreffler) Young, the former of whom was a native of Reading. He
was a prominent brick manufacturer there, having established his
plant when the city was only a small town, and successfully
conducting it until his death in 1835. His wife survived him until
1854. They were the parents of the following children: Jacob (2);
William S.; Charles; Elizabeth, m. to George Geiss; and Maria, who
m. Peter Sherman, and had one daughter, Maria. Jacob Young was a
Catholic in religious belief, and his wife was a Lutheran. In
politics he was a Democrat.

Jacob Young (2), father of Henry G., passed all
his life in Reading, where he died at the home of his son, Henry
G., in 1893, aged eighty-one years less one month. His brickyard
was located where his son’s late home stood, and for thirty years
he was in the retail coal business. He was prominent in public
life, and was prison inspector twelve years, and county
commissioner three years. For many years he was a deacon in Trinity
Lutheran Church. He married Catharine Henninger, who died in 1883,
aged sixty-four years, and both are buried in the Lutheran cemetery
at Reading. Their children were: Henry G.; Jacob never married; and
Sallie married Joseph Klopp (deceased), of Reading. All three are
deceased.

Henry G. Young was born Dec. 28, 1838, and his
life covered a span of more than sixty years, being brought to a
peaceful close Jan. 9, 1900. His first experience in business was
with his father, a brick manufacturer, but after working for him a
while, he gave that up and secured a position in the Navy Yard,
where he remained for seven years. At the end of that time he went
to Kutztown, and in partnership with Fred Zehm, conducted a foundry
for a couple of years. Withdrawing from that enterprise he went
back to Reading, and once more went in with his father, for whom he
worked until 1896, in which year he was elected city treasurer. He
was still discharging the duties of that office when death claimed
him. For fourteen years Mr. Young also served as superintendent of
the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

In 1863 Mr. Young was married to Miss Hettie A.
Rahn, daughter of John Rahn, and a family of five children was born
to them as follows: Clara; Fred; Katie, m. to John Miller; Ida, m.
to Frank Gendall; and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Young belonged to Trinity
Lutheran Church in which he officiated as deacon for twelve years.
Both were active in various departments of the church work, and
were prominent among its members. Mr. Young likewise was connected
with several fraternal organizations, in whose aims and methods he
took much interest, belonging to the Masons, the Knights Templars
and the Odd Fellows. In politics he always supported the Democratic
ticket. Mr. Young was one of Reading’s prominent citizens.

William S. Young, brother of Jacob (2), was born
March 10, 1821. He first learned to make shoes, but as that trade
did not prove congenial to his tastes, he learned brickmaking, and
for many years was in the same line of business, that his father
before him had followed. For a long time he was located at No. 62
Spruce street, but later removed to the vicinity of the
Philadelphia & Reading depot, and remained there until he
retired from business in 1865.

William S. Young’s chief connection with public
life came after he retired. He had before the war served as market
commissioner, and was active in the Democratic party, but the
greatest service of his to the community came after his election in
1865 to the office of county commissioner. When he entered upon the
duties of that position the county was $600,000 in debt and Mr.
Young made it his chief aim to reduce this amount. In 1868 he was
re-elected to a second term of three years, and when he retired
from office in 1871, the county was not only free from debt, but
also had a balance in the treasury, a noteworthy achievement and an
illustration of what the application of business principles and
honesty can accomplish in the public service. In 1879 Mr. Young was
again nominated and elected county commissioner but he retired in
1881. He always received good majorities, and had the confidence
not only of his own party, in which he was for years a prominent
counsellor, but of the county at large. He was a good speaker and
during the campaign before the election of S. E. Ancona stumped the
county for him, while for years no county convention was complete
without him. No other man has held three times the office of county
commissioner for Berks county, and this fact alone, if proof were
needed, would attest the great personal popularity of Mr. Young.

William S. Young was united in marriage to Miss
Susan Geiss, and children were born to them as follows: Mary, who
married a Mr. Cox, and has two children, Drusilla and Ralph;
Hannah, widow of the late Thomas R. Hannah, and mother of one
daughter, Susan; Sophia; and William R., who married Sallie Hawes
and has four children, Paul, William, Mary and Helen. Mrs. Young
passed from this world Dec. 29, 1901. She belonged, as did her
husband, to Trinity Lutheran Church, and was an active worker in
it. Mr. Young was for many years an Odd Fellow, belonging to
Montgomery Lodge and to the Encampment.

YOUNG,
WALTER S.

p. 1315

Surnames: YOUNG, MOTER, TEED

Walter S. Young is a member of a family which has been closely
identified with the professional and manufacturing interests of
this section for several generations. He himself is a member of the
Bar of Berks county, as was his father, Samuel L. Young.
Grandfather Daniel Young was an ironmaster of Rockland and Oley
townships during his life-time, and was a prominent man, having
been associate judge for years. He also served a term as
prothonotary of the county.

Samuel L. Young was an active member of the Bar
for a period covering fifty-four years. He was appointed United
States commissioner by President Pierce, an office which he
administered until his death, in June, 1901, at the age of
seventy-nine years. He married Annie E. Teed, a daughter of Major
John Teed, of Reading, who was prominent in the war of the
Rebellion, and was for years connected with the postal service of
the city. He died in 1877. Of the six children born to Samuel L.
Young and his wife, all are living, as follows: Catherine L., at
home, a graduate of the high school; Mary E.; William J., a lawyer;
Thomas, of McKeesport, Pa.; Annie T., wife of Prof. Carl Moter, a
teacher of instrumental music, of Reading; and Walter S.

Walter S. Young was born July 13, 1870, at
Reading, where he was educated in the public schools, graduating
from the high school in the class of 1887. He entered first on a
business career, acting for several years as bookkeeper, during
which time he studied law with his father. His admission
certificate is dated November, 1894, since which time he has been
in active practice. Meantime he has been admitted to the Superior,
Supreme and United States District Courts. Young has for the most
part contented himself with private practice, but he was solicitor
to the Reading school board for a period, and he was also city
solicitor for one term. He is a Republican in politics, and a
member of St. Paul’s Memorial Reformed Church.

YOUNG, WILLIAM JACKSON

p. 811

Surnames: YOUNG, DUN, McKINLEY, ROOSEVELT

William Jackson Young, an attorney-at-law of Reading, was born at
Reading, Pa., Aug. 12, 1867, and was reared in this city. Here he
acquired his literary training, having been graduated from the high
school in the class of 1885. During a part of 1885 and 1886 he
taught school in Berks county, and then served as bookkeeper for
several large Reading business concerns, from 1887 until 1890 being
chief clerk for the R. G. Dun Agency. He then read law with his
father, the late Samuel L. Young, formerly a prominent member of
the local bar, who died Jan. 20, 1902.

Mr. Young was admitted to practice Nov. 10,
1890, later to the Superior Supreme and United States courts, and
through his ability secured an appointment as United States
commissioner, serving from 1901 to 1905, succeeding his late
distinguished father in this office. Mr. Young is located at No.
522 Washington street, Reading. In political affiliation he is a
steadfast Republican, and during the campaigns of late President
McKinley and of President Roosevelt he was very active, making many
speeches throughout Berks and Lancaster counties. He is a member of
St. Paul’s Reformed Church.

YOUSE,
ABRAHAM H.

p. 1381

Surnames: YOUSE, DeTURK, DEYSHER, GROSS, HAAS, LOBACH, REMACK,
SEYLER, WEIDNER, WEISER

Abraham H. Youse, of Oley township, Berks Co., Pa., is a native of
this township, where he was born July 16, 1860, a son of Levi and
Emma (Haas) Youse, and grandson of John and Esther (Weiser) Youse.

(I) John Youse, the originator of the family in Berks county,
located in Rockland township before 1800 and died there in 1823 the
year in which his will was probated. This will was made in 1820 and
is on record in will book C, page 276. The executor of his estate
was his eldest son, Adam. The children mentioned in the will are:
Adam, Jacob, John, Catherine and Maria.

(II) John Youse, grandfather of Abraham, and son of John, was a
native of Rockland township, where he lived, working as a laborer.
The grandmother of Abraham Youse was born May 4, 1788, and died
July 20, 1852, aged sixty-four years, four months and sixteen days.
She was a daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Lobach) Weiser, the
former born in 1741 and died in 1807, and the latter born in 1760
and died in 1812. Esther Weiser and her parents are buried on
private ground on Seth De Turk’s farm in Oley township.

(III) Levi Youse, father of Abraham, was a tailor by trade and
followed that calling at Friedensburg for many years. He was born
Sept. 24, 1819, and died May 6, 1898, aged seventy-eight years,
seven months and twelve days. He is buried at Friedensburg. His
wife was Emma Haas, a daughter of John Haas, and she was born April
2, 1822, and died Oct. 5, 1887, aged sixty-five years, six months
and three days. These two had children as follows, Naomi, born in
1843, died in 1853; Augustus is of Friedensburg; Harriet married
James Seyler; Esther, born in 1850, died in 1851; Mahlon, born in
1852, died in 1853; Emma married William Remack; Levi, of
Friedensburg, died in 1906, aged forty-nine years; Abraham; Mary
married John Gross; and Edward, of Reading, lives at 832 North 11th
street.

(IV) Abraham H. Youse was reared in Oley township, and secured his
education in the common schools and Oley academy. He learned the
carriagesmith trade, completing it when he was twenty-two years of
age. He followed this calling twelve years, and then for one year
clerked in a grocery store. His next work was huckstering produce,
but after two years he began to learn butchering, and followed it
with success for twelve years, building up a large business that
necessitated his keeping two wagons delivering. In August, 1908, he
resumed the business of butcher, which he is now conducting. At
present Mr. Youse resides in his pleasant home on the Main street
of Friedensburg, which he built in 1898. In addition to other
interests, he owns stock in the First National Bank of Oley. He is
a member of Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M., Reading, Castle No. 119,
K. G. E. and the Order of Red Men, both of Oley, Pa. He and his
family are members of the United Evangelical church of Oley, of
which he is a trustee, and was assistant exhorter for several
years.

On Jan. 24, 1888, Mr. Youse was married to
Hannah Deysher, a daughter of David G. and Malinda (Weidner)
Deysher, and granddaughter of Johanes Deysher of Oley township.
David G. Deysher was born July 25, 1831, and died May 10, 1902,
aged seventy years, nine months and fifteen days. His wife was a
daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Weidner, and she was born Sept.
29, 1836, and died Sept. 20, 1872, aged thirty-six years less nine
days. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Youse were: Luella, who has
taken a commercial course; Ivy; Tynes and Margaret. Mr. Youse is
very much interested in giving his children good educations. He is
active in church work and is a conscientious, Christian gentleman
and one who stands very high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

YOUSE,
CHARLES H.

p. 840

Surnames: YOUSE, ADAMS, BEHM, BREINIG, CROUNRATH, DAUNER, DIEHL,
DRY, ECK, FITZGERALD, FOLK, GLASE, HAYDT, HEIST, MILLER, REINERT,
SANDER, SASSAMAN, YEAGER

Charles H. Youse. inspector of engines for the Philadelphia &
Reading Railway Company, who is making his home on Twenty-third
street, Mount Penn borough, was born April 8, 1861, in Maxatawny
township, Berks county, son of John and Sarah (Heist) Youse.

Michael Youse, the grandfather of Charles H.,
was a native of the Fatherland, and came to this country when
fourteen years old, landing at New York, whence he came to Berks
County. He lived in the vicinity of Kutztown and Bowers, and spent
his life in agricultural pursuits. Michael Youse married Annie
Dauner, and to them were born the following children: Jonas,
deceased, lived for a time at Kutztown, and later at Reading, where
he died (he m. Maria Sander); William, a Civil war veteran, (died
when about forty-five years old from the effect of injuries caused
by his falling down a flight of stairs. Elizabeth m. Menasses
Sassaman, a stone mason who lived near Bowers; Charles, a carpenter
of Rockland township, m. Elizabeth Behm; and John.

John Youse was born June 27, 1840, in Oley
township, and died Oct. 20, 1873, in Maxatawny township, where he
had worked as a laborer. He married Sarah Heist, daughter of Henry
and Lydia (Breinig) Heist, and to them were born these children:
Charles H.; Edwin m. Louisa Miller, and resides at Bowers Station,
Pa.; Louisa, deceased, m. Samuel Eck of Mertztown, Pa.; Lizzie died
in her fifteenth year of smallpox; William m. Lydia Miller, of
Reading; and Mary E. died in infancy.

Charles H. Youse was reared upon the farm in
Maxatawny township, upon which he lived until about twenty one
years of age, and attended the public schools of that district.
When about twenty-four years old he learned the molder’s trade at
the Penn Hardware Company, where he worked for seventeen years, and
in April 1900, became a conductor on the Reading Traction Company’s
lines, continuing in that capacity for five years. In April, 1900,
he entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Company, as machinist’s helper, and from this position was promoted
to that of engine inspector, in which latter capacity he has since
served. In his political belief, Mr. Youse is an independent
Republican. He is a member of Reading Chamber, No. 26, Knights of
Friendship; and Reading Council, No. 46, Jr. O. U. A. M. Mr. and
Mrs. Youse are members of Faith Lutheran Church of Mount Penn. In
the fall of 1903 Mr. Youse built his present substantial brick
residence on Twenty-third street, Mount Penn, where he has since
resided.

On Aug. 13, 18882, Mr. Youse married Sarah
Louise Crounrath, daughter of Benneville and Rebecca (Dry)
Crounrath, and granddaughter of John Crounrath. Mrs. Youse’s
brothers and sisters were as follows: Wilhelmina m. Frank Diehl, a
stone mason, of Oley, Pa.; Elizabeth m. Isaac Haydt, deceased;
Hettie m. William Adams, a carpenter of Fleetwood; Caroline m.
Abraham Glase, a carpenter of Allentown; Catherine m. William Folk,
farmer of Oley, Pa.; Henry m. Sarah Yeager, and is a farmer of
Oley; Alice m. Frank Reinert, who is a carpenter of Ruscombmanor
township; Willie died in infancy and Amelia m. the late John
Fitzgerald.

To Mr. and Mrs. Youse there have been born these
children: William E., born Aug. 12, 1883, is a clerk in a large dry
goods store of Newark, N. J., having charge of the white goods;
Arthur W., born May 27, 1891, is a student in Reading; Charles H.
was born Nov, 12, 1893, and Earl L., May 17, 1895.

YOUSE,
EDWIN

p. 1173

Surnames: YOUSE

Edwin S. Youse, one of Reading’s hustling young business men, who
has won a substantial foothold in the commercial world through his
own energy, foresight, acumen and fair dealing, is engaged in the
automobile business at No. 46 South Fifth street. He was born in
Reading in 1875, son of Obadiah Youse.

Mr. Youse was educated in the common schools and
early showed a marked liking for business. He was only sixteen
years old when he took charge of the Wilhelm Bicycle Company’s
retail store, and so evident was his ability and his upright
principles that in a short time he was given full charge of the
company’s retail affairs, and he remained with that company until
it was merged into the Packer Cycle Company, when he was given
charge of the new company’s sales department. This responsible
position he held seven years greatly to his own credit, and to the
entire satisfaction of his employers. At the end of that time he
purchased the company’s interest, and devoted his attention to the
jobbing of bicycles for four years, when he added automobiles to
his stock, a line that proved so successful that he sold the
bicycle part of his business, and has since 1904 given his
undivided attention to automobiles. Of the automobiles of which he
is the exclusive agent for Berks, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Lancaster,
Dauphin, Perry and Cumberland counties are the Chalmers Detroit and
Hudson Cars manufactured by the Chalmers Detroit Motor Company, and
Hudson Motor Car Company, of Detroit, Michigan. These cars are
especially popular for mountain climbing and rough road use, being
constructed light and graceful, yet strong and durable, with many
styles, all of which, however, are remarkable for simplicity of
construction and attendant economy of fuel. Mr. Youse sold the
first automobile in the city, and operated the first garage.

In addition to the automobiles, Mr. Youse
carries on a wholesale auto sundry supply business, and employs a
salesman who covers the territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The specialties handled are known as “The Perfect Brand,” and
include an air coupling and a drag brake, both of which Mr. Youse
manufactures.

Mr. Youse is known as a hustler, and when he
started out he had not a dollar to help him, but he has been
attentive to business, courteous to customers, and withal has never
departed from the path of strict integrity. He has justly won the
high place he holds today.

YUNDT, HORACE
ARCHIBALD

p. 827

Surnames: YUNDT, BANKS, DIETRICH, KINZER, OTTO, SEIDEL, WELCHENS,
WEST, WITWER

Horace Archibald Yundt was born June 15, 1839 in East Earl
township, Lancaster county, Pa., son of Henry and Maria M. Yundt.

George Yundt, great-grandfather of Horace A.
came to Lancaster county from Switzerland, his native land, in
1749, and located near the village of Ephrata, where he purchased
land and engaged in husbandry. He was a Lutheran in religion, and
at his death was buried at Bergstrasse, in the Lutheran cemetery.

Andrew Yundt, son of George, was born in
Lancaster county, and passed his life there. He was a large
landowner and prosperous farmer. He married Barbara Dietrich, and
among his children were Allen, Archibald, George and Henry, the
latter the father of Horace A. Yundt.

Henry Yundt was born Dec. 1, 1798, on the old
homestead. He was reared and educated there, making it his home
until he was thirty-eight years old, when he moved to East Earl
township, where he died Nov. 29, 1878, at the age of eighty years.
He was a cattle dealer and engaged extensively in the business, in
the days when the only way of getting stock to market was by
driving them. He was engaged in this business for about forty
years, and for many years furnished the entire supply for the
Pottsville market. For a period of about thirty years he was
proprietor of the “Blue Ball” hotel, one of the oldest hotels on
the Lancaster pike–at that time a very lively thoroughfare. He was
a Whig, and went with that party into the Republican ranks when the
new party was formed. He was also postmaster of Blue Ball for over
thirty years. He married Maria M. Kinzer, by whom he had a family
of fifteen children, five dying when quite young. The ten who grew
to adult years were as follows: Anna Margaret, widow of M. R.
Witwer; Maria Louisa, widow of Reuben B. Seidel; Henrietta C., wife
of B. F. Kinzer; Elizabeth L., widow of Dr. Samuel Welchens;
Harriet C. unmarried; Emma, deceased wife of Bodo Otto; Edwin
Henry, a retired lawyer of Lancaster county; Horace Archibald;
Clarissa A., at home; and Winfield S., deceased, who was a
physician of New Holland, Lancaster county.

Horace A. Yundt was educated in the common
schools of his township and the New Holland Academy. This schooling
was supplemented by a preparatory course at West Chester Academy,
Chester county, after which he entered Franklin and Marshall
College, at Lancaster, September, 1855, graduating from that
institution in July, 1859. The two and a half years following his
graduation were spent in Mt. Joy and Paradise Academies as
instructor in the languages and higher mathematics. Mr. Yundt left
this work to enlist for service in the Civil war, in the 2d Pa.
Regt. of Emergency Men, when the State was invaded in 1862. He
later raised in Lancaster county Company B, 178th Pa. V. I., which
he took to Virginia, and which remained there, doing service on
garrison duty at Yorktown and Williamsburg, Va., and in the
campaign against Richmond in June, 1863. Part of this time he was
brigade inspector on the staff of General West, and also served on
a general court martial. The company was mustered out in July,
1863. He then located in Reading and began the study of law.

Mr. Yundt entered the office of Judge John
Banks, who had formerly been President Judge of the Berks County
Courts, and read law under his direction for one year, when he was
admitted to the Berks county Bar, Aug. 8, 1864. He has practised in
Reading since that time, engaging for a number of years in general
practice, but latterly confining himself to office business and to
cases in the Orphans’ court. During the forty-four years of his
practice he has been engaged in many noted cases. His shrewd
insight into character and the energetic manner in which he always
handled his client’s interests built him a reputation as one of the
most successful lawyers at the Bar.

Mr. Yundt is a Republican, and, when a younger
man, took an active part in politics. In 1878 he was the candidate
of his party for President Judge, but owing to the county being
strongly Democratic, he was not elected. He has traveled
extensively in Europe, having visited the British Isles and nearly
every country on the continent, and is an entertaining and
instructive companion. He has a rich fund of reminiscences and
experiences, and a charming and inimitable manner of relating them,
qualities which enhance the known breadth of his legal learning. He
has an exceedingly large circle of friends and acquaintances in
Reading and Berks county, who delight to testify to the universal
esteem in which he is held.