James Wilson Young, one of the old and representative citizens of Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, who has been identified with the development of the vicinity from its early days, was born October 2, 1847, at Smith's Falls, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada, and is a son of Gavin William and Ellen (Morrison) Young, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ontario, Canada.

Gavin William Young was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and learned the trades of miller and millwright. Upon coming to this country, at the age of 16 years, he located at Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York. From there he went to Canada, where he married Margaret Little, who at death left one son, William L., now a resident of Dover, Pope County, Arkansas. Mr. Young married for his second wife Ellen Morrison, who is a daughter of Archibald and Margaret (Fergerson) Morrison. Their children were as follows: Archibald M., of Neenah, Wisconsin, who has charge of the engines of Kimble, Clark & Company's paper mill; Mrs. Marion C. Hume, whose husband is division superintendent of the International & Great Northern Railroad, at San Antonio, Texas; James Wilson, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret A. Bishop, of Appleton, Wisconsin; David D., who is in the employ of Kimble Clark & Company at Neenah, Wisconsin; Mrs. Ellen W. Clark, of Neenah, Wisconsin; John C, superintendent of a paper mill at Ladysmith, Wisconsin: Harvey P., a paper-maker, located at Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Gavin W. manager and part owner of a paper mill at Neenah, Wisconsin; Henry E. foreman in a paper mill at Alexandria, Indiana: Sarah, who died in infancy; and Martha, who died at Marquette, Michigan. Mrs. Young still survives, at the age of 78 years, and at a happy family re-union held in October. 1897, was the center of affection for 33 children and grandchildren.

Our subject was about six years of age when he accompanied his parents in their removal to Oswego, New York. While living in that place he did his first wage earning at seven years of age driving two cows to and from the pasture, a mile distant, for 25 cents per week. He remained with the family when in 1859 they removed to Cleveland. There his first work was in puddling mills connected with furnaces, and then he spent three years on a Medina County farm, receiving $3 per month during the first year. Refused as a soldier on account of his youth, in the fall of 1864, a lad of 17 years, he proceeded alone to Marquette, pluckily working his passage from Cleveland on the "Likely Bell." He was taken on as a teamster by Wetmore & Brother and relates with amusement how he donned a new suit of clothes in which to make his first trip to Sands, the terminal that he supposed to be a large city, and which, when reached through 13 miles of unbroken roads through the woods, proved to be a deposit of railroad ties, the excuse for a freight depot. Mr. Young continued teaming for this firm for three years, drawing supplies for them to the Forestville and Collinsville furnaces, and the Iron Cliff and New York iron mines.

In the summer of 1868 he took a clerical position in the general store of Wetmore & Brother, and remained in their employ for 13 years. In the summer of 1877 he went to work for another old firm located hut a block away and continued with them for 17 years, having a record of 30 years with the two houses, during which time he lost few days and was never deprived of his pay. Clerking in the times mentioned meant considerable more than it does now, with different departments and managers for each. Then a clerk meant one who could as easily measure out bushels of feed and grain, calculate a load of hay, as he could wrap a yard of silk or induce a customer to invest in an extra pair of shoes. In January. 1894. Mr. Young took charge for a year of the Dead River mill store, but since then has mainly devoted his attention to his real estate holdings. He invested his salary very judiciously and his 13 houses bring him satisfactory rentals. In 1889 he built his beautiful residence at No. 150 West Bluff street.

Mr. Young has been prominent in city affairs and served as supervisor of the Fourth Ward for one term and has been alderman of the Fourth Ward for three terms. He is identified with the various Masonic bodies, belonging to Marquette Lodge. No. 101, A. F. & A. M.; Marquette Chapter, No. 43, R. A. M.; Lake Superior Commandery. No. 30, K. T.; and Ahmed Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Young was a member of the fire department for 25 years and was chief for four years.

In 1872 Mr. Young was married to Julia Healy, who was born in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland, and came with her father, a copper mine worker, to the Northern Peninsula of Michigan when she was nine years old. A family of four children was born to this union, as follows: Mrs. Nelly Marion Wichart, of Marquette. Michigan: Martha Blanche, a lovely, talented girl, who was the valedictorian of her class in the Marquette High School, graduated from the classical course of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and had been language teacher in the Marquette High School for one year and three months, when she broke down and* passed out of life in October, 1901; Roy Archibald, a bookkeeper in the Marquette National Bank; and Robert Todd, who is attending High School. Mr. and Mrs. Young have a most creditable and unusually intelligent family.

Portrait & Biographical Houghton/Baraga/Marquette 1903