BIOGRAPHIES
* Source:
Portrait & Biographical Record
of
City of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company
1895
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JAMES ANDERSON YOUNG
has been manager of the Toledo branch of the New York Life Insurance
Company since April, 1891, his territory covering one-fourth of the
state of Ohio. Since his connection with the company, he has
greatly increased the volume of their business in northwestern Ohio.
The New York Life Insurance Company was organized in 1843, and
embarked on its successful career two years later, and now has the
reputation of being one of the stanchest and most reliable companies
in the United States.
The birth of James A. Young occurred Dec. 1,1849, in Waveland,
Montgomery County, Ind., he being the fifth of eight children, six
of whom are living. The parents were John Bryant and
Martha Woods (Galey) Young. John B. Young was born
in Kentucky, and was a son of Thomas Young, who was of
Scotch descent.
The boyhood of James A. Young was passed on his
father's farm in Fountain County, Ind., where the family removed
when he was four years of age. He received the advantages of a
district-school education, and was moreover assisted in his studies
by his father, who was a man of large intellectual attainments, and
had been a teacher for a number of years. AT the early age of
fifteen years, our subject began teaching in country schools, and
was thus occupied during the winter months for several years, at the
same time continuing his private studies. He made good
progress and entered the Freshman class of De Pauw University at
Greencastle, Ind., at the age of nineteen.
After one year in college, Mr. Young was made
Principal of the Covington (Ind.) schools, in 1871. In 1873 he
was elected County Superintendent of Schools for a term of two
years. During this time, he graded the country schools so
effectively, that he was appointed by the State Board of Education
to prepare a plan for grading the country schools of the state.
His system was adopted by a state convention of County
Superintendents in 1875, and has since been in use throughout the
state of Indiana.
In 1875 our subject removed to Indianapolis and two
years later entered Butler University as a student, where he
graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1879, and received the degree
of A. M. by examination and thesis in 1880. He was made Tutor
in Ancient History immediately after entering Butler University, and
held the position until he graduated. He was made Professor of
History in that institution in 1880, but resigned the same in 1882,
accepting a position with D. Appleton & Co., in their
cyclopedia department. Early in 1887 Mr. Young resigned
this position and became city agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company, in the city of Cleveland, and remained with that
company until 1889, when he transferred his allegiance to the New
York Life, as superintendent of agents for northern Ohio. On
the 7th of April, 1891, he located in Toledo as manager for
northwestern Ohio.
In 1892 Mr. Young started an agitation against
the wasteful and harmful methods of charity work as done throughout
the city of Toledo. He pointed out the fact that Toledo was
almost a paradise for the tramp and professional beggar. So
much had the sentiment changed through his efforts, that in 1893 he
induced the Humane Society, through the Hon. J. M. Brown the
President, to change its articles of incorporation, and establish a
Department of Associated Charities. The active work of the
department did not begin until December of that year; but its
efficiency was not surpassed in the United States during the winter
of 1893-94.
It was through Mr. Young's activity and
knowledge of the system, assisted by his wife, that every department
of the associated charity work was organized, and achieved such
signal success in one year that it was known throughout the country.
The extraordinary relief given that winter to some ten thousand
people was the joint work of the Humane Society and a committee of
citizens, to whom all possible praise is due. But the system
which goes on caring for those that have made a failure in life,
lifting them up, rekindling hope and self-respect, putting them in
the way of helping themselves and stimulating them to renewed
effort, is due to our subject's sacrifice of time and personal
comfort.
Mr. Young is an active member of the Ohio State
Conference of Charities and Correction and is now President of that
body. He is a student of social questions, and is active in
all movements that look to the progress of the race, bettering the
condition of the laboring classes, rescuing children from pauperism,
clean political methods and reform, and economy in civil
administration. He was one of the charter members of the New
Chamber of Commerce, and has enthusiastic faith in the future of
Toledo.
In October, 1887, Mr. Young was married to
Miss Marie Le Monde, of Indianapolis, a lady of superior
attainments and culture. She is an enthusiastic student of
social and ethical questions, and co-operates with her husband in
his studies as well as his benevolent work. They are both
members of the first Congregational Church, and regular attendants
at church services.
Mr. Young is a close student and has done a good
deal of literary work for newspapers and magazines, having been
admitted to the pages of several of our best magazines, as well as
those of the "Edinburgh Review." He is also a member of the
Toledo Club, and helped to organize the Round Table Club, a group of
the brightest men in the city, and is active in all its
deliberations.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of City of Toledo and Lucas
and Wood Counties, Ohio. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895 -
Page 323 |
James A. Young |
JAMES ANDERSON YOUNG has
been manager of the Toledo branch of the New York Life Insurance
Company since April, 1891, his territory covering one-fourth of the
state of Ohio. Since his connection with the company, he has
greatly increased the volume of their business in northwestern Ohio.
The New York Life Insurance Company was organized in 1843, and
embarked on its successful career two years later, and now has the
reputation of being one of the stanchest and most reliable companies
in the United States.
The birth of James A. Young occurred Dec. 1,
1849, in Waveland, Montgomery County, Ind., he being the fifth of
eight children, six of whom are living. The parents were
John Bryant and Martha Woods (Galey) Young. John B. Young
was born in Kentucky, and was a son of Thomas Young,
who was of Scotch descent.
The boyhood of James A. Young was passed on his
father’s farm in Fountain County, Ind., where the family removed
when he was four years of age. He received the advantages of a
district-school education, and was moreover assisted in his studies
by his father, who was a man of large intellectual attainments and
had been a teacher for a number of years. At the early age of
fifteen years, our subject began teaching in country schools, and
was thus occupied during the winter months for several years, at the
same time continuing his private studies. He made good
progress, and entered the Freshman class of De Pauw University at
Greencastle, Ind., at the age of nineteen.
After one year in college, Mr. Young was
made Principal of the Covington (Ind.) schools, in 1871. In
1873 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools for a term of
two years. During this time he graded the country schools so
effectively, that he was appointed by the State Board of Education
to prepare a plan for grading the country schools of the state.
His system was adopted by a state convention of County
Superintendents in 1875, and has since been in use throughout the
state of Indiana.
In 1875 our subject removed to Indianapolis, and two
years later entered Butler University as a student, where he
graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1879, and received the degree
of A. M. by examination and thesis in 1880. He was made Tutor
in Ancient History immediately after entering Butler University, and
held the position until he graduated. He was made Professor of
History in that institution in 1880, but resigned the same in 1882,
accepting a position with D. Appleton & Co. in their
cyclopedia department. Early in 1887 Mr. Young
resigned this position and became city agent of the Northwestern
Mutual Life Insurance Company in the city of Cleveland, and remained
with that company until 1889, when he transferred his allegiance to
the New York Life, as superintendent of agents for northern Ohio.
On the 7th of April, 1891, he located in Toledo as manager for
northwestern Ohio.
In 1892 Mr. Young started an agitation
against the wasteful and harmful methods of charity work as done
throughout the city of Toledo, he pointed out the fact that Toledo
was almost a paradise for the tramp and professional beggar.
So much had the sentiment changed through his efforts, that in 1893
he induced the Humane Society, through the Hon. J. M. Brown,
the President, to change its articles of incorporation and establish
a Department of Associated Charities. The active work of the
department did not begin until December of that year; but its
efficiency was not surpassed in the United States during the winter
of 1893-94.
It was through Mr. Young’s activity and
knowledge of the system, assisted by his wife, that every department
of the associated charity work was organized, and achieved such
signal success in one year that it was known throughout the country.
The extraordinary relief given that winter to some ten thousand
people was the joint work of the Humane Society and a committee of
citizens, to whom all possible praise is due. But the system
which goes on caring for those that have made a failure of life,
lifting them up, rekindling hope and self-respect, putting them in
the way of helping themselves and stimulating them to renewed
effort, is due to our subject’s sacrifice of time and personal
comfort.
Mr. Young is an active member of the Ohio
State Conference of Charities and Correction, and is now President
of that body, he is a student of social questions, and is active in
all movements that look to the progress of the race, bettering the
condition of the laboring classes, rescuing children from pauperism,
clean political methods and reform, and economy in civic
administration. He was one of the charter members of the New
Chamber of Commerce, and has enthusiastic faith in the future of
Toledo.
In October, 1887, Mr. Young was married
to Miss Marie Le Monde, of Indianapolis, a lady of superior
attainments and culture. She is an enthusiastic student of
social and ethical questions, and co-operates with her husband in
his studies as well as his benevolent work. They are both
members of the First Congregational Church, and regular attendants
at church services.
Mr. Young is a close student, and has
done a good deal of literary work for newspapers and magazines,
having been admitted to the pages of several of our best magazines,
as well as those of the “Edinburgh Review.” He is also a
member of the Toledo Club, and helped to organize the Round Table
Club, a group of the brightest men in the city, and is active in all
its deliberations. Mr. Young is a Republican in
politics, and a strong politician, except in local affairs.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of City of Toledo and
Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company,
1895 - Page 353 |
Samuel M. Young |
SAMUEL
M. YOUNG. Few of the residents of Lucas County have
been citizens thereof for a longer period of time than the venerable
gentleman of whom we present this biographical sketch. Since
1835 he has lived here, an interested witness of the advancement of
the county which has been so transformed by the energetic pioneers
and their descendants as to bear not the slightest resemblance to
the original unoccupied tract of land. In this development
Mr. Young aided, and may feel a pardonable pride in the result
of his efforts.
From 1835 until 1860 Mr. Young made his home in
Maumee, whence, during the latter year, he removed to Toledo, and
has since been a resident of this city. He is a native of New
Hampshire, and was born in Lebanon, Dec. 29, 1806. His father,
Hon. Samuel Young, was a leading architect and builder of
Lebanon, and represented his district in the State Legislature,
being one of the most influential men of his locality. In the
common schools and academies Samuel M. laid the foundation of
the excellent education he afterward obtained, principally by
self-culture.
Upon completing his studies our subject turned his
attention to the legal profession and conducted his studies in the
office of John M. Pomeroy, of Burlington, Vt. Upon
being admitted to the Bar he came West with a view to selecting a
suitable locating, and in May, 1835, opened an office at Maumee,
where he began the practice of his profession upon a small scale.
It happened that his advent here was made during the memorable
controversy known as the "Toledo Bar." His location at Maumee,
outside the disputed territory, relieved him of personal
participation in that contest, but upon the organization of Lucas
County, the same year, he was appointed its first Auditor, which
position he held for two years.
In 1838 Morrison R. Waite, who afterward became
Chief Justice of the United States, then recently graduated from
Yale College, came to Maumee from Lyme, Conn., and entered the
office of Mr. Young where he studied law for one year.
After his admission to the Bar, the firm of Young & Waite
was organized, and at once gained prominence through the ability of
its members and their well known success as advocates. In 1850
an office was opened at Toledo, to which point Mr. Waite
removed. Mr. Young remained at Maumee, continuing his
practice at that point, but in 1852, when the county seat was
removed from Maumee to Toledo, the office was also brought to this
city. In 1856 Mr. Young, with others, in 1855 purchased
the Bank of Toledo, a branch of the state Bank of Ohio, with which
he was connected until it was reorganized under the National Banking
Law in 1865 as the Toledo National Bank. He was chosen
President of the newly organized concern, and remained in that
capacity until January, 1895. In 1860 he purchased a
commodious residence on Madison Street, between Thirteenth and
fourteenth Streets, and here he has since made his home. In
his declining years he is surrounded by all the comforts of life and
ministered to by his devoted family.
Associated with Abner L. Backus, under the firm
name of Young & Backus, our subject in 1862 built the large
elevators on water Street, near Adams, designed especially for canal
grain-traffic. This firm, after eighteen years, was succeeded
by that of A. L. Backus & Sons. In the practice of the
law Mr. Young gained prominence in an early day, and was for
years recognized as one of the leading members of the Bar of
northwestern Ohio. His enviable reputation as an attorney was
largely due to his thorough knowledge concerning all legal
technicalities, his painstaking care in the preparation of cases,
and his broad knowledge of the law. For some time he was
interested in the toll-bridge crossing the river, connecting Maumee
and Perrysburg, which, from repeated, severe damages from floods, in
time fell wholly into his hands, costing altogether about $36,000.
In 1877 it was purchased jointly by the counties of Lucas and Wood.
In 1852 Mr. Young became identified, as
stockholder and Director, with the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad, then
in process of construction, and continued as such until the road was
merged into the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. As a
stockholder and Director in the Columbus & Toledo Railroad, he
continued until that road was consolidated with the Columbus &
Hocking Valley railroad and the organization of the Columbus,
Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad. In 1866 he bought a large
part of the stock of the Toledo Gas Light and Coke Company, later
assisted in its reorganization and the extension of its business,
having been its President for some time. In 1870 he aided in
the organization of the Toledo Hotel Company, which two years
afterward completed, and which still owns, the
Boody House, on the
corner of Madison and St. Clair Streets. In August, 1870, he
was chosen President of the company, and served in that capacity for
some time, but at this time holds no stock in the concern.
During the days when the Whig party was under the
leadership of such noted statesmen as Clay and Webster, Mr. Young
became an advocate of its principles, which he continued to support
until the disintegration of the party. Since that time he has
uniformly supported the Republican party. The only money he
ever received as a public official was for his service as County
Auditor from Sept. 14, 1835, until June 9, 1837, for which he was
paid $361.63. He is an attendant at the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and a generous contributor to religion and benevolent
enterprises. Now, at the age of eighty-nine, he is well
preserved, hale and hearty, and daily goes down to his office to
attend to his business affairs.
The marriage of Mr. Young occurred June 29,
1841, at which time Miss Angeline L. Upton step-daughter of
Dr. Horatio Conant, of Maumee, became his wife. Six
children were born of the union, namely: Horatio S. and
Frank I., both now deceased, who constituted for some years the
firm of Young Bros., produce and commission merchants of
Toledo; Helen E., wife of Francis B. Swayne an
attorney of Toledo; Morrison Waite, the only surviving son,
also of this city, and who looks after the business of his father;
Elizabeth who died at the age of two years; and
Timothy who died at the age of six years.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of City of Toledo and Lucas
and Wood Counties, Ohio. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895 -
Page 183 |
| |
GEORGE ZELLER,
a prominent stone contractor and builder of Maumee, is a native of
Ohio. He was born Jan. 24, 1855, in Maumee, and is the eldest
in a family of six children born to Leo and Mary (Stewart) Zeller.
His parents were both natives of Germany, the former born Mar. 14,
1826, and the latter in 1830. Leo Zeller was reared and
educated in his native land, and in his youth learned the tanner's
trade. After coming to this country he engaged in the same
occupation, and continued in the business until his death, which
occurred Mar. 14, 1877. The mother passed away June 1, 1889,
at the age of fifty-nine years. Both were exemplary members of
the Catholic Church, and were highly esteemed by their many friends
and neighbors.
The subject of this sketch remained at home with his
parents, and attended the public schools of Maumee. After
leaving school at an early age he learned the tanner's trade.
He worked at ditching about two summers, but spent the winter months
at his trade in Maumee. He also speculated in wood and timber
for a time, and was successful. Determined to try something
else whereby he might still further better his financial condition,
in 1877 he purchased a canal-boat with which he went into business
for himself. He also became interested in a stone quarry at
Waterville, Ohio, and was soon enjoying a large and lucrative trade
in that line. He started out on a small scale, but increased
his facilities for business as his trade increased, and at the
present time is doing an extensive business in crushed stone for
building roads. He is a first-class business man, and has the
respect and confidence of the entire community.
On the 24th of June, 1888, Mr. Zeller was
married to Miss Minnie Kesler, and this union has been
blessed by the birth of one child, a lovely little daughter,
Mary, born June 9, 1891. Mr. Zeller is a stanch
Democrat in his political views, and takes a great interest in local
politics. He is an active worker in his party, but has never
aspired to public office. Fraternally he is a member of the
Knights of Pythias, being identified with Perrysburg Lodge No. 554.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of City of Toledo and
Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company,
1895 - Page 402 |
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