Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A History of the Northern Peninsula and its People, Vol. 2 Alvah Littlefield Sawyer, 1911 [746-747] GEORGE WALTER YOUNGS. - Throughout the Upper Peninsula, the name of YOUNGS is synonymous with thrift, enterprise and prosperity, in the business circles of this section of the country standing pre-eminent, and GEORGE WALTER YOUNGS, a well-known capitalist, has such valuable and extensive interests in mines and real estate that, although a res- ident of Algoma, Wisconsin, he has to spend much of his time at Iron River, Iron county. A son of DAVID YOUNGS, he was born, February 7, 1850, in Racine, Wisconsin, coming from pure Scotch ancestry. His paternal grandfather, JOHN YOUNGS, was born and bred in Argyleshire, Scotland. In 1834 he came with his wife and son to the United States, landing in New York city. Proceeding to the western part of the state, he bought a tract of heavily timbered land in Niagara county, about six miles west of Lockport, known as Hess road. He was an early settler of that place, and there built quite a pretentious house for those days. A follower of ISAAK WALTON, he found pleasure not only with the rod, but with the gun, and being kept well supplied with money from home was enabled to enjoy his chosen sports of fishing and hunting to his heart's content. In 1836 he removed to Chicago, which was then a small village, and while there his wife, whose maiden name was JANE MacHUTCHEON, died, about 1837. He subsequently settled in Galena, Illinois, and while there secured title to an island in the Mississippi river. From Galena he went west, and was never again heard from, having, without doubt, lost his life on the plains. Born in Argyleshire, Scotland, DAVID YOUNGS was a very small child when he crossed the ocean with his parents. He was an only son, and after the loss of his father went to Racine, Wisconsin, and when a youth began to sail the Lakes, at the age of nineteen years being made captain of a vessel. He subsequently became owner of a line of boats, and was for many years engaged in the transportation business. Going to Algoma, Wisconsin, in 1855, he was one of the first settlers of that place, which was then and for many years thereafter known as Ahnepee. Embarking in the mercantile and timber business, he was thus actively engaged until his death, August 5, 1874. He married AMANDA HARKINS, who was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Her father, a native of Pennsylvania, was a pioneer of Racine, Wisconsin, locating there about 1828. She died in June, 1854, leaving three children, GEORGE WALTER, JANE and FRANK. The father never married again, de- voting his loving attention to the care of his children. GEORGE WALTER YOUNGS obtained his first knowledge of books, in 1857, in Algoma, Wisconsin, attending the school kept in a shack owned by his father, IRENE YATES, who afterwards became the wife of B. F. DEMMING, being the teacher. Beginning when quite young to assist his father, he obtained a practical business experience that proved of in- estimable value to him in his subsequent career. In 1867, his father gave him a saw mill located at the head of the Ahnepee river, and for over thirty years he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles. In 1876, in company with MR. FETZER, he built a grist mill at the head waters of the Ahnepee river. In the year 1897 he came to Iron River and engaged in the manufacturing of lumber and timber busi- ness. In the meantime he had become interested in the vast mineral resources of the Upper Peninsula, and in 1900 he opened the Hiawatha Mine, near Iron River. Since that time MR. YOUNGS has opened the YOUNGS Mine at Iron River, the Groveland at Randville, and the McDonald Mine at Crystal Falls, and still has financial interests in each of these properties, and retains the management. MR. YOUNGS likewise has mining interests in the west, a shareholder in Nevada and Colorado mines, and is president of the Battery Company of Milwaukee. MR. YOUNGS is an extensive dealer in real estate, being always ready to buy or sell, having usually upwards of ten thousand acres on hand for disposal. In 1909 he platted an eighty-acre addition to the town of Iron River, known as YOUNGS'S Addition, which will in course of time become an important part of the city. MR. YOUNGS married, December 18, 1874, KATE YATES, who was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where her parents, J. L. V. and JANE (AMES) YATES, were pioneer settlers, moving to that place from Syracuse, New York. MR. and MRS. YOUNGS are the parents of three children, namely: BELLE, DAVID and FRANK. BELLE married VOJTA KWAPIL, and has one son, WALTER Y. DAVID married IRENE LUCAS, and has one child, MARION. FRANK married JANE MYERS, and they have one child, DAVID M. Both sons are associated in business with their father, DAVID being bookkeeper at the mines and FRANK being superintendent. ===========================================================================