WILLIAM K. YOUNG.     Among the most public-spirited citizens of Pitsburg, Ohio, may be mentioned William K. Young, general merchant.  He was born in Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1865, son of Jacob B. and Martha (Kentner) Young, the father born near Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1838, and the mother a native of Montgomery county, Ohio.  Jacob B. Young was reared on a farm, received a common school education, and at the age of eighteen years came to Dayton.  He found employment on a farm at fifteen dollars per month, and continued this occupation until he reached his majority.  He was married in June, 1860, and rented a large farm, which he operated a number of years.  In 1875 the crops were a failure on and the account of excessive rainfall, soon after which he sold his farm following spring located in Twin township, Darke county, Ohio, where he operated a rented farm nine years, and in 1882 purchased an eighty acre farm in Monroe township at a price of $6,500.00.  He remained three years longer on the rented farm and in 1885 moved to his own home, located near the present town of Pittsburg, then merely a railway station.  In the fall of 1888 he purchased a lot, 120 by 60 feet in Pitsburg, containing a residence and store building, and soon afterwards put in a stock of goods.  His son William K., worked in the store for a number of years and he himself continued farming.  In March, 1890, the father moved into town and William K., who in the meantime had married, moved to the farm.
     While engaged in mercantile business, Jacob B. Young saw the need of a hotel in Pitsburg, also a livery, and started both in connection with his mercantile business, this being the first hotel there.  After spending twelve years in mercantile business he sold his interest in his branch, but continued the hotel and livery business.  About five years after he had sold the store it was destroyed by fire, sweeping away the hotel as well and the following spring (1906) he erected the present beautiful and commodious two-story and basement white pressed brick hotel, 60 by 40 feet, equipped with a water system.  He continued in the hotel business until his demise, July 11, 1910, and his widow conducted the hotel until her death, Nov. 29, 1913.  Both are buried in Abbottsville cemetery.  Mr. Young was a lifelong Democrat and much interested in public affairs but never sought public office.  He and his wife were parents of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, viz.: Charles, a farmer by occupation, died Dec. 20, 1904, leaving a widow and two children; William K., the second child, subject of this sketch; Cora, of Pitsburg, wife of Allen Spitler, has no children; John is married and is a book-keeper employed in Kansas City; Jacob C., unmarried, who lost his eye-sight in a mine explosion in Colorado, and is now a business man in Pitsburg, Ohio; Mary, wife of William North, of Pitsburg, has one child; Joseph B., a farmer of Monroe township, married and to him were born six children; Levi died in childhood; Jesse died at the age of nineteen years; Ira O., of Greenville, is married and has one child.
     William K. Young worked with his father until his marriage, Feb. 9, 1890, to Miss Mary Katherine Tobias, of Twin township, born on a farm near Salem, Montgomery county, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1868, daughter of Frederic and Esther (Arnold) Tobias.  She was six weeks old when her parents located in Darke county.  After marriage Mr. Young remained four years on the home farm, and later returned to work inhis father's store in Pitsburg, eventually starting in mercantile business for himself.  In 1907 he erected his present commodious and convenient two-story pressed brick combined residence and store, with a basement under the entire building, and having 52 feet on the principal street and 60 feet extending east and west on Harrison street.  He has a complete water works outfit.  He has taken great interest in the progress of Pitsburg and has helped every worthy enterprise there.  He became a stockholder in the First National Bank which was promoted in 1909, and is always ready to give his aid in anything that he thinks will tend to better conditions in general in his vicinity.  He has never cared for public office but takes great interest in local affairs.  Like his father before  him, he is a Democrat in principle.  He does a large business and is one of the best known and most popular men in his part of the county.
     Mr. and Mrs. Young have one son, Ray E., born on the Young farm Mar. 1, 1892.  He has a good common school education and at the age of sixteen years, on first trial, passed the Paterson examination.  From boyhood he has helped his father in the store and now drives the wagon for days a week, which is an important part of the business.  He has inherited his father's business instinct and is a valuable assistance to his father.  The family have a large number of friends.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - pg. 442