Santa Barbara County Biographies

C. J. YOUNG

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


C. J. YOUNG, a rancher and Deputy Assessor for the city of Lompoc, was born in 
Shiawassee County, Michigan, in 1839. His father was a farmer and carpenter, 
and moved to Clinton County in 1849, where he continued his trade. Our subject 
learned the trade of carpenter with his father, and worked with him until the 
breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in August, 1861, at St. Johns, Clinton 
County, in Company D, First Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel Thornton F. 
Broadhead, for three years. He was discharged January 1, 1862, and then reenlisted 
in August following in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel J. T. Copeland, the 
regiment being with the Army of the Potomac until June, 1868, when he joined 
General Custer's brigade. Their first heavy battle was at Gettysburg, and they were in 
every heavy battle fought by the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Young was taken prisoner 
near Richmond June 18, 1864, and was taken to Richmond. He was sent to Anderson- 
ville, where he remained three months, and suffered every possible deprivation in diet, 
being confined to poor food and water. He was then sent to the prison at Florence, 
South Carolina, where he was kept three months; there the water was fair but they 
had but little to eat. He was paroled in December, but remained as a prisoner until 
January 1, when he was sent home to Michigan, having lost seventy-five pounds during 
his six months' imprisonment. The exchange of prisoners was made in April, and then Mr. 
Young returned to his regiment, and they moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where 
they were discharged July 8, 1865. 

After a visit to his home he went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade of carpenter 
and builder about seven years, when he came to California, arriving at San Francisco 
January 2, 1878. He then spent one year working at his trade in Monterey County, and 
in the spring of 1874 came to the Jonato Rancho, owned by R. T. Buell, to superintend 
building, and after completion he went to Lompoc and bought two blocks, built a 
house, and followed his trade of contractor. He then sold out, and in 1883 bought forty 
acres northeast of town, which he has since cleared and improved by building a house and 
planting a small orchard, and he now interests himself in the cultivation and improvement 
of his ranch, raising the general crops of the valley. 

Mr. Young was married in St. Johns, Michigan, July 1, 1867, to Miss Naomi J. Everett, 
and they have nine children. Mr. Young was appointed Deputy Assessor in the 
spring of 1889, under Frank Smith, whose biography appears elsewhere. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.