Necrology of Toledo's Woodlawn Cemetery

Samuel Young

Samuel Young, a pioneer in the Toledo area was originally a native of Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1806. Young grew up in Lebanon and attended the local schools there. He decided on a legal career at an early age, and, after completing his education, Young read law with John M. Pomeroy of Burlington, Vermont. After Young obtained admission to the bar, he traveled to the frontier and settled in Maumee, Ohio.

In 1835, Young established a law office in Maumee and three years later took Morrison R. Waite as a partner. Waite eventually went on to be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The two opened an office in Toledo in 1850. Young remained with the office in Maumee where he continued to reside until his move to Toledo in 1860.

Samuel Young had established a prominent legal career in the Toledo area, but he had interests outside the legal profession. When Lucas County was organized in 1835, Young became its first auditor and served for two years. In 1852, he ventured into railroad projects becoming both a stock holder and director in the Cleveland and Toledo Railway Company, and later the Columbus and Toledo Railroad Company. Young retired from the law profession in 1856 and devoted his spare time to other business interests. Samuel Young purchased the old Bank of Toledo with some other local businessmen. In 1865, national banking laws forced the bank's reorganization to the Toledo National Bank. Young served as its president for many years.

In 1862, Young and Abner Backus formed the firm of Young and Backus. Their Partnership lasted for eight years, until Young left. Young and Backus constructed huge grain elevators on Water Street to facilitate Toledo's important grain trade. Young owned a toll bridge for a short time, but sold it in 1877. Young also involved himself with the reorganization of the Toledo Gas and Coke Company in 1866. For a time he served as president of the corporation. In 1870 he organized the Toledo Hotel Company, which, in 1872, built the Boody House. He also served as its president for a few years.

Young proudly supported the Whig Party for which he served as a representative to the state convention in 1835. Young also supported the party's successor, the Republican Party.

The prosperous businessman and entrepreneur was also a devoted family man. On June 29, 1841 he married Angeline L. Upton and they had six children. His son, Morrison Waite Young, undoubtedly a namesake for his dear friend and colleague, served as president of the Second National Bank of Toledo.

On New Year's Day, 1897, Samuel Young died. He is remembered, however, as one of Toledo's most prominent and honored businessmen and citizens.[Harvey Scribner, Memoirs of Lucas County and the City of Toledo, vol. 2 (Madison: Western Historical Association, 1910), pp.58-60].