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History of the Counties of Lehigh
and Carbon, in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania
EDWARD B. YOUNG.
Edward
B. Young, the grandson of Christian and Catherine Young, and the son of
Joseph Young and his wife, Hannah Blumer, was born in Allentown on the 6th
of September, 1836. He was educated at the
Allentown
Seminary, then under the administration of Rev. Dr. Kessler, and as a
school-boy he was distinguished for his close application to his
studies and the high sense of honor which characterized him through
life. When between fifteen and sixteen
years of age he removed to Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pa., and served an apprenticeship of
nearly three years at watchmaking, which trade he never followed,
having been called home to enter the hardware house of Barber, Young
& Co. He remained with this firm as
general clerk and salesman until 1860, when he was admitted as a
partner, and continued so until his death. As
a business man he was prompt, energetic, and enterprising.
In February, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary A. Kuhns,
daughter of the long-since deceased Peter Kuhns. One
daughter and two sons are the children of this marriage.
Col. Young’s career as a citizen is
one reflecting honor and credit upon himself and his native city. All matters affecting the welfare of the city,
State, and country had his active support, and all the public trusts
reposed in him were sacredly guarded. As a
citizen he was progressive, public-spirited, and liberal.
He served the Second Ward of Allentown in Select Council, and in
various other capacities. For many years
he was the treasurer of the Columbia Fire Company, and felt a great
interest and pride in the excellent fire department.
In 1862, when the rebels first invaded Pennsylvania, he entered the service with the
State militia, and in June, 1863, on the second invasion, enlisted as
second lieutenant in Co. H, Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Militia.
This regiment was subsequently mustered into the United States service, and joined the
Army of the Potomac at Waynesboro. In the engagement at Wrightsville, Lieut.
Young showed great coolness and bravery.
Whatever
services Col. Young may have rendered his fellow-citizens and country,
it is as mayor of Allentown
that he is held in the highest esteem. In
the spring of 1876, after a stubborn contest, he was elected by a
majority of sixty-nine. His administration
of the office demonstrated the wisdom of his election.
As the “Centennial mayor” he gave the city a municipal
government which was eminently judicious and successful.
During the memorable labor riots of 1877, Mayor Young
displayed those desirable qualities which great emergencies call forth. By his inflexible will, cool determination,
and wise forethought he saved the city from scenes of violence and
bloodshed which marked the suppression of the riots in other cities of
the State. He saw the gravity of the
situation, and saved Allentown
from the turbulent scenes which might have followed the administration
of a less determined man.
Col. Young was a man of more than
local reputation. He was one of the
prominent men of the State. He was a
member of the staff of Governors Hartranft and Hoyt.
He represented Lehigh
County in the Republican State
Central Committee, and for a number of years was chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee. He was a delegate to the National Convention
at Cincinnati
in 1876, and frequently represented the county as delegate at State
conventions. As a politician he was active
and enthusiastic, contributing liberally of his means to the successful
termination of campaigns. He was one of
the best workers in the Republican party, free and outspoken in his
convictions, and commanded the respect of his political opponents.
Col. Young’s standing in the Masonic
order was very exalted. He had conferred
upon him the thirty-second degree by the Philadelphia Consistory.
He was a member of Barger Lodge, Allen Chapter, Allen
Council, and Allen Commandery, and a past officer of each.
He was recognized as one of the brightest Masons in the
State, and exercised great influence in the fraternity.
He
was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and one of the
originators of Post 87, of this city, now E. B. Young Post, of which he
was the first commander. At the time of
his death he was quartermaster of the post. He
was also an ex-member of the Council of Administration of the State
Department, Grand Army of the Republic, and represented his post at
many encampments.
In
the capacity of prison inspector he exercised the same excellent
qualities that characterized all his business and administrative
relations, and demonstrated the fitness of his appointment.
He
was a supporter and trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and ever ready
to liberally aid the cause of Christianity and morality.
The
death of Col. Young occurred Dec. 30, 1878, in his forty-fourth year.
Page
228
History
of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania
Alfred
Mathews and Austin N. Hungerford
J.
B. Lippincott & Co., Pennsylvania.
1884
Transcribed
by Annette Bame Peebles
The
Lehigh
County,
Pennsylvania
Biographies Project –
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~arkbios/Lehigh/index.html.
Date
of Transcription: 12 June 2007
Copyright
(c) 2007 All Rights Reserved
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