San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WESLEY ALBERT YOUNG
San Joaquin County and the section
surrounding Lodi are largely indebted to the efforts of the late Wesley Albert
Young, who was a continuous resident of that section for twenty-two years, and
aided in laying broad and deep the foundations upon which has been built its
present progress and prosperity. He was
a native of Genesco, Illinois, born December 5, 1858, but was taken by his
parents to Iowa, where they settled near Jefferson, Green County. His father, George Young, was a brick
manufacturer and contractor. There our
subject grew to manhood and followed in the footsteps of his father and was a
brick manufacturer. Later he bought
land, becoming one of the prosperous and influential farmers of Green
County. He made a specialty of raising
thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and when he decided to remove to the west in
1899, he brought with him some of his famous breed of hogs. For many years he continued the breeding and raising of these pedigreed hogs in San Joaquin County and
took many prizes at fairs throughout the state.
In 1915 he secured first prize at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San
Francisco; also exhibited at the State Fair at Sacramento and the San Joaquin
County Fair at Stockton, never failing to receive premiums for his fine stock.
Upon his arrival in Lodi, Mr. Young
purchased a ten-acre tract of land on East Pine Street just outside the city
limits, which he planted to fruit trees and vines; later he sold this ranch and
engaged in the lumber business on East Pine Street. As his business grew he bought land on
Stockton and East Locust streets and enlarged his plant. Some twelve years ago he disposed of his
business and leased the yards to give his time to stockraising. Mr. Young had many interests and engaged at
one time in the building contracting business, erecting over 300 buildings,
including residences, barns and other buildings, in and around Lodi; he also
erected the Emerson school building. In
local affairs he was one of the founders of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce and
was always active in civic matters. He
was progressive and public spirited and gave his most hearty support to any
movement for the betterment of Lodi and San Joaquin County. He was the founder of the town of Youngstown
on the traction line four miles north of Lodi, where he erected a store
building and maintained a lumber yard.
He purchased a 120-acre ranch in the Christian Colony district, which he
set to vines and orchard, improving it with an up-to-date irrigating system;
this ranch is still in the possession of the family; two of his sons now own
thirty acres each and his widow retains the remaining sixty acres.
The marriage of Mr. Young united him
with Miss Adell Richardson, a native of New York state, born near Canton, St. Lawrence County, a daughter of
Melville and Nancy (Pitt) Richardson, born in New York. Mr. Richardson served in the 142nd
Regiment New York Volunteers in the Civil War as orderly sergeant. In 1868 he removed to Iowa, locating at Jefferson. While on a trip back to New York Mrs.
Richardson passed away. Mr. Richardson
came on to California and spent his last days with Mrs. Young, passing on in
1914, nearly eighty years of age. He was
a prominent Mason and G. A. R. man. Mr.
and Mrs. Young were the parents of four children: Arthur G. of Lodi; Harold M. employed by the
Pioneer Fruit Company of Lodi; Ross M. of San Francisco; and Mrs. Lydia Pope of
Lodi. Fraternally Mr. Young was a member
of the Lodi lodge of Odd Fellows No. 267 and his religious faith was that of
the Baptist Church. In politics he was a
Republican. Mr. Young passed away on
January 9, 1921, mourned by his family and a large circle of friends. His career was one of highest purpose and in
his death Lodi lost a valuable factor in her development.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1012-1015. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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