William Young was born in Catahoula Parish, La. on January 8, 1835, and died at his son's home on Little River on March 29, 1919, having passed the eighty-fourth milestone on the road of life. So his life was long - and we can as truthfully add - good.

He married Miss Martha Elizabeth Hughes in
March 1856. She preceded his going by many years, having passed into the beyond in February 1888, thus leaving him to be both father and mother in the rearing of a large family of children. But as in all other responsibilities that became his, he was faithful.

Hardly had he begun life as a young man when the awful period of civil war came. He fought throughout that dreadful tragedy, wearing the gray. The South had no better soldier. When the cause for which he fought was lost, he like many others, came back and helped to rebuild the shattered Southland. He was as true to this latter task as he had been to the former. He was as fearless as a lion, but as gentle as a woman, the very embodiment of self-sacrifice. One of his maxims of life was "Do not unnecessarily trouble others." He joined the M.E. Church, South, in his early youth, lived by its rule and died in the faith.

He leaves behind nine children: Edward Young, Jackson, La.; Ernest Young, Utility, La.; Mrs. S..B. Hanes, Jena, La.; Mrs. C.A. Wilkinson, Lavocca, La., Mrs. J.P. Whatley, Eden, La.; Mrs. J.B. Ray, Greenwood, Miss.; Mrs. G.R. Hanks, Jena, La.; Mrs. J.S. Chenault, Gilbert, La.; and Mrs. Henry T. Young, Jena, La.; two brothers, Jno. S. Young, Utility, La.; and James H. Young, Monroe, La.; one sister, Mrs. Sarah Hughes, Monroe, La.; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He lived well and blessed the world. As the setting sun goes home at night, Wrapped in the glory of its own ray, so he, who always lives for Right, Goes thus along his way.

His Pastor, Jena, La.

Published in a local newspaper, 1919