SEYMOUR B. YOUNG, M. D.
The life span of Dr. Seymour B. Young has already covered eighty-two
years and his record is one of intense activity and usefulness not only
in the practice of medicine hut as a most earnest and untiring worker
in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family name is
inseparably interwoven with the history of Utah and with the high moral
purposes of the early pioneer settlers, for he is a nephew of Brigham
Young, former head of the church and the leader of the Saints who made
the long pilgrimage across the plains to the new Zion.
Dr. Young was born in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, October 3, 1837, a
son of Joseph and Jane A. (Bicknell) Young, the former a native of
Hopkinton, Massachusetts, while the latter was born in Geneseo, New
York. It was in the year 1832 that the parents removed to Ohio, where
they became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
Subsequently they became residents of Nauvoo, Illinois, and thence
moved to Winter quarters, now Florence, Nebraska, where the pioneers to
Utah outfitted for their long journey across the plains. The parents of
Dr. Young remained at Florence for three years and then followed the
pioneers to the new Zion, reaching Salt Lake City in 1850. The father
became a most prominent and earnest worker of the church in the new
capital city and continued very active in church work to the time of
his death, which occurred in 1881, when he had reached the age of over
eighty-four years. He was senior president of all quorums of seventies
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in 1844 was a
missionary to the eastern states and in 1870 filled a mission to Great
Britain. The mother, Jane Adeline Bicknell, who became the wife of
Joseph Young in 1834 at Kirtland, Ohio, was a daughter of Calvin and
Chloe (Seymour) Bicknell, who were residents of Geneseo, New York,
where they passed away. Mrs. Young was born August 14, 1814, and by her
marriage became the mother of twelve children, eight of whom are still
living. The record is as follows: Jane Adeline, the deceased wife of
Charles B. Robins; Joseph, who died in 1858; Dr. Seymour B., of this
review; Judge Le Grand Young, a sketch of whom appears on another page
of this work and who married Grace Hardie, a pioneer handcart girl of
1856, coming with the first company;
John Calvin and Mary Lucretia, both deceased; Vilate; J. A.; Chloe, the
widow of Dr. Francis Denton Benedict; Rhoda, the widow of Thomas J.
McIntosh; Henrietta, residing in Seattle, Washington; and Brigham B.,
who married Alisa Muzzacatta. The mother of the above named children
passed away in Tacoma, Washington, in 1913, at the notable old age of
ninety-eight years and six months.
Dr. Young is the eldest of the surviving sons of the family. He
attended the church schools and the Deseret University soon after the
organization of that institution. Determining upon the practice of
medicine as a life work, he entered the University of New York and was
there graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1874. He
located for practice in Salt Lake and is today the oldest practicing
physician and surgeon of the city. He still remains active in his
chosen calling, coming to an honored old age by reason of a life that
has been of great benefit to his fellowmen. He started in his
profession with such well known colleagues and contemporaries as Dr. W.
F. Anderson, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Williamson, Dr. Heber John Richards,
Drs. J. M. and Denton Benedict and others who have all passed to the
great beyond. Dr. Young has at various times taken post-graduate work,
continuing his studies to within the last decade, and thus has at all
times kept in close touch with the trend of modern professional thought
and practice. He long ago held membership with the Salt Lake City and
County Medical Societies, with the Utah State Medical Society and still
holds membership with the American Medical Association. He was one of
the founders and organizers of the State Medical Society of Utah and
had the honor of serving as president. He was also . city physician of
Salt Lake from 1875 until 1886 and did splendid work in that connection.
On the 14th of April, 1867, Dr. Young was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann
Riter, a sister of W. W. Riter, of the well known pioneer family of
that name that was established in Salt Lake in 1847. Dr. Young is the
father of eleven living children. Seymour B., Jr., born in Salt Lake
City in January, 1870, is married, has five children and makes his home
in this city. He is known in business circles as a member of the firm
of Muir & Young, real estate dealers. Elizabeth, born in Salt Lake
City, has become the mother of eleven children as the wife of Melvin D.
Wells, the youngest son of General Daniel H. Wells. Florence Pearl was
born in Salt Lake City, where she still makes her home with her
parents. Ada Lucille is the wife of Willard Arnold, of Salt Lake City,
and they have six children. Elma was born and reared in Salt Lake City,
where she still makes her home. Professor Levi Edgar Young, born in
Salt Lake City, was educated in the University of Utah and in Harvard
University and is now professor of history in the former institution.
He married Miss Valeria Brinton, a graduate of the University of Utah,
and they reside in Salt Lake City and are the parents of three
children. Bernice is the wife of Orson F. Rogers, is living in Salt
Lake City and has three children. Josephine Irene is also a resident of
the capital city. Clifford Earl, born in Salt Lake City, is cashier of
the People's State Bank at American Fork. He married Miss Edith Grant
and they have three children. Hortense Clair, also born in Salt Lake
City, was educated in the high schools and normal school, graduated
from the University of Utah and is now teacher of French and English in
the Latter-day Saints University of Salt Lake City. In April, 1884, Dr.
Young wedded Abbie C. Wells and their surviving daughter is Mrs. Nana
Wells Clark, who was born in Liverpool, England, was graduated from the
Salt Lake City high school and the Economic high school of Washington,
D. C, and now resides with her mother in Salt Lake City, giving her
attention to the teaching of economics in the public schools.
Dr. Young has always been active in the work of the church and is
senior president of the first council of seventies and is the president
of all the seventies of the church. In 1857 he went as a missionary to
Great Britain and again in 1870. He has been called upon for public
service in other connections outside the church, being city health
officer for a number of years, while in 1862, when President Lincoln
telegraphed to President Young to furnish a battalion of men to enlist
for service in the federal army to protect the mail and telegraph lines
west of the Missouri river. Dr. Young answered his country's call,
became a corporal in the Lot Smith company and remained in service
until March, 1863, when he was honorably discharged.
In the winter of 1863-1864 he saw service against the Digger Uses in
Tooele county and Cedar Mountains and in 1866 was in the expedition to
Sanpete and Sevier counties in the Black Hawk war of Utah. He is a
member of John Quincy Knowlton Post, G. A. R., and is junior vice
commander of the Department of Utah. His activities have ever been of a
character that have contributed to public progress and improvement,
that have upheld high ideals of citizenship and have promoted the legal
and moral status of the community in which he lives. He is a
representative of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families
of the state and his record reflects credit and honor upon an
untarnished family name. He has now traveled life's journey for
eighty-two years—years rich in good deeds and fraught with high
purposes. To him have come the blest accompaniments of age—honor, a
numerous family and troops of friends.
[Source: Utah since Statehood:
Historical and Biographical Volume 2; By Noble Warrum; Publ. 1919;
Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.]
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