Just before the War Between the States broke out, John Young lived with his mother, Jane, 52, and his brother, Joseph, 15, in Mark Township. They farmed acreage worth $1000, according to the census, and had but $100 in personal wealth, although John claimed he also had $80 of his own.
On November 21, 1861, John enlisted into Company K, 68th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry for a three year term. He fought in Tennessee, and eventually the group entered the siege of Vicksburg from May 18 - July 4, 1862. It was most likely there that he was wounded or taken by disease because on July 8, 1862, he was discharged due to a surgeon's certificate of disability.
(In 1890 when the veterans were enumerated for their census, John had lost his discharge papers and so no information is given about him there.)
Born in Pennsylvania on August 24, 1844, he married Louisa Beavers on August 14, 1867, according to Williams County, Ohio, records. The daughter of Jeremiah Beavers, Louisa was born on January 24, 1850. By the 1870 census, they were settled in Bryan, with their young son, Charles, 11 months. John worked as a cabinet maker. Three more children - Cory (dtr.), Frank, and an unnamed daughter, 2 months - were enumerated in 1880, still in Bryan.
Sometime after 1880 and before 1890, the family moved to Defiance where they were enumerated on the 1900 census as living at 102 Main Street. John, 56, tended a machine, while Louise, 50, had the company of Erma Morse, 20, a single daughter, and Hannan Nore (or Nore Hannan), 10, a granddaughter. Their house was rented in Ward 4. (His obituary noted that they moved to Defiance in 1881.)
The relationship with Nore was confusing because in 1910, John and Louisa lived at 903 Ottawa Street in Defiance, and Nore Young, 21, was listed as a daughter. Louisa stated that she had had 4 children, but only two were living. So was Nore the child of one of Louisa's deceased children? A good research job for the Young family! John, at 66, worked as a machinist at the wagon factory, and they lived in a mortgaged home.
By 1920, John had retired and they were back to renting a home at 903 Ayersville Avenue, Defiance. John was 75, and he would live until March 9, 1929. He was buried on March 11 at Riverside Cemetery.
His obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on March 9, 1929 on page 1.
"G.A.R. MEMBER DIES, AGE 83.
FUNERAL OF JOHN YOUNG WILL BE MONDAY IN MANSFIELD FUNERAL HOME.
John Young, 83, Civil War veteran and member of Bishop Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, died today at 6 a.m. at his home, 903 Ayersville Avenue. Mr. Young had been a resident of Defiance since 1881 when he came here from Pennsylvania... He leaves a widow and a son, Charles Young. Mr. Youg served in Company K, 68th Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Besides being a member of the Bishop Post, he was a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge."
The funeral was held with the members of Bishop Post conducting their ceremonies. Cars were sent to pick up Civil War veterans who wanted to attend the service. Rev.Donald Lane, pastor of the First Baptist Church was the officiant.
Their last living child, Charles died before his mother, on March 5, 1932. He was sixty-two years old and he had lived with his mother since John's death. Charles had been sick with Bright's Disease and then had a stroke that ended his life. His only survivor was his mother.
Louisa Young passed away on May 10, 1934. The Defiance Crescent-News reported on May 11, 1934:
"MRS. YOUNG, 84, TAKEN BY DEATH
RITES WILL BE SATURDAY AT MORRIS BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME.
Mrs. Louisa Young, 84, widow of John Young, a Civil War veteran, who resided at 1003 Ottawa Avenue, died at the home of Mrs. Herman Baumer, 903 Ottawa Avenue, a neighbor who had been caring for her. She had been sick for seven days with pneumonia.
The body has been removed to Morris Brothers Funeral Home, 1204 Jefferson Avenue where friends may call and where services will be conducted Saturday at 3 p.m. Rev. Albert Stevenson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate and burial will be made in Riverside Cemetery.
Mrs. Young was born in Bryan on January 24, 1850, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Beavers. Mr. and Mrs. Young were married in 1866. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lavina Slosser, Flint, Mich., and Mrs. S. Duel, LosAngelos, Calif, and three brothers, William and Edgar Beavers, Butler, Ind., and Frank Beavers, Flint, Mich."