William Young (Wisconsin politician)

William Young (December 23, 1821 – November 24, 1890) was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate. Young represented the 22nd District as a Democrat during the 1868 and 1869 sessions.

Life
His parents were Samuel Young (1797 – 1870) and Mary Young (née Shangle) (1797 – 1882). He was of German ancestry, descended from the Jungs of New Jersey.

Young arrived in Outagamie County, Wisconsin in April 1848, in what is now Medina, where his cedar-log shanty became a stopping place for travellers going north; he bought land from Zebediah Hyde (one of the earliest white men to settle in the place) and built a large hotel and livery stable. The place was called Youngs' Corner, and grew into the village of Medina after Dale was constituted as a town in 1853.

Civil War
He enlisted on 8 August 1862 in the 32nd Wisconsin Volunteers The 32nd were known as the "Bandbox Regiment", named for soldiers who were more impressive on parade than on the firing line.

In October 1862 the farmers of the town of Dale assembled and raised $131 in a few hours with which to purchase a fine sword for Lieutenant William Young of Company "I", Thirty-second regiment. Captain Wood's company were called the Outagamie Tigers. The officers elected in September were as follows: George Wood, captain; William Young, first lieutenant; D. K. Quimby, second lieutenant. They became Company I of the regiment and numbered ninety-eight men.

He resigned his commission a year later on 8 August 1863, and later joined Company "A" of the 47th Wisconsin Volunteers, enlisting at Dale on 18 February 1865 and mustered out on 4 September 1865. It was reported by the Appleton Post-Crescent that Captain Young during the war enlisted 300 of the men which went from Outagamie county into the Union army.

Senator
Young was nominated by the Democrats as State senator for the 22nd District in the fall of 1867. Young had a "splendid military record" and was well known in this county where he resided.

He died in 1890, and is buried South Medina Cemetery, located about ½ mile south of Medina.

Family life
With his wife Nancy Young (1826 – 1909), he had a daughter Mary Adelia Young (later McIntyre) (1846 – 1934). William was the second of seven siblings: John Henry Young (1820 – 1873); Sarah Ann Young (1824 – 1918); Margarett Young (1827 – 1910); Isaac Young (1828 – ?) Jane Louisa Young (1832 – 1902); Mary Adelia Young (1838 – 1890).