Michael W. Young is a native of Europe, and was born August 17, 1831. He is a son of Michael Young, a native of Germany, born May 11, 1804. The mother of Michael W., whose maiden name was Dorothy Wander, is also a native of Germany, born in 1802. Our subject remained in his native. country until he was about four years of age when he came with his parents to the United States and first settled in Stark county, Ohio. After a short time his. mother died and he was hired out to work for his clothes and schooling. He continued to work in this way for ten years during which time he received his education and early training. He was then engaged in farming until 1858, when he was married to Miss Sarah Koons, who was born March 16th 1836, in New York. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. Doll, in Summit county, Ohio. Soon after his marriage he moved to Will county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming ten months, then returned to Summit county, remained on a farm four years and then returned to Will county, remained two years, and came to Daviess county, where be purchased a farm in Colfax township. He next moved to Hamilton, Caldwell county, Missouri, and engaged in making brick about four years, then returned to his farm where he remained two years, and then purchased a farm southwest of his home at that time, where he remained nearly two years. From there he moved to Gallatin, where he was engaged in making brick and farming for three years and returned to his farm in Colfax township where he now lives.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Young has been blessed with eight children; namely, Daniel W., born November 19, 1858; Isaiah A., born March 4, 1861; Calvin M., born July 14, 1863; William H., born October 12, 1865; Edwin M., February 27, 1868; Jessie A., born July 6, 1871—died November 30, 1873; Ella C., born November 27, 1873; Albert J., born May 11, 1878—died in December, 1880. Mr. Young is a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F.