JOHN S. YOUNG, of the firm of Young & Buss, dealers in fresh and salt meats, is a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., where he was born Oct. 25, 1851. His father, James Young, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, was born June 28, 1822, and was the son of James and Nellie (Peacock) Young, native of the same county, and of Irish ancestry. James Young, Jr., remained a resident of his native county until fifteen years of age, when, emigrating to America, he landed at Quebec, whence he went to Toronto, and from there to Herkimer County, N. Y., where he rented a tract of land, and engaged in the dairy business until about 1860. In the spring of that year he emigrated to this county, and located in Lena, where with his wife he spent his last years.

The parental household of our subject’s father included eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, ten of whom grew to mature years. James, Jr., remained under the home roof until a youth of sixteen years, accompanying his parents in their several removals. After coming to this county he established a meat-market, which he operated successfully until the spring of 1880. He was married in Herkimer County, N. Y., in January, 1848, to Miss Olive C. Sweet, a native of Norway, that county, and the daughter of Wanton Sweet, a native of Vermont. This lady became the mother of five children, and departed this life at the home of her husband in Lena, in 1856. The record of their family is as follows: Frances C. is the wife of A. P. Parsons, a resident of Lena; John S., of our sketch, was the second born; Helen A., Mrs. John Hill, lives in Butler County, Iowa; James and Olive are deceased, the latter dying in infancy. James Young, Jr., contracted a second marriage, in 1857, with Miss Julia Tapner, a native of New York State, who died in December, 1883.

Our subject was a child of two years when his parents came to Illinois, and was in his fifth year when they became residents of Lena, which was then a very small town. He remained under the home roof, and received a practical education in the public schools. With the exception of one year spent in Wisconsin, he has been a resident of this county for over thirty years, and during that period has securely established himself in the confidence and esteem of its people. He was married, in August, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth E. Pilson, a native of Peru, Ind., and the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Pilson. Of this union there were born six children, namely, Eva O., Maud M., Bertha E., Arthur L., John A. L. and Robert L.

Mr. Young established his present business in 1876, and five years later Mr. Buss became his partner. Their straightforward methods of dealing, and their excellent judgment in the selection of stock, have secured them the patronage of the best citizens of Lena. Mr. Young has given little time to matters outside his calling, but when exercising the right of suffrage, casts his vote in support of Republican principles.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)