John Smith (Famous) YOUNG

November 4, 1834 - October 11, 1916
Young, John Smith, of Shreveport, was born near Raleigh, N. C., Nov. 4, 1834.
His parents were John Y. and Eliza Henry (Jones) Young, the former being a
prominent physician. He removed his family to West Tennessee when the subject
of this sketch was a mere infant, and when be was 13 years of age, they moved
to what is now Columbia county, Ark. Both father and mother were born in
North Carolina and came of old and highly respected families of that state.
They were the parents of 8 sons and 5 daughters. At the age of 16 John Smith
Young entered Centenary college, at Jackson, La., and graduated from that
institution in the class of 1855. He then took up the study of law at Homer,
La., under Judge W. B. Egan as his preceptor, and was admitted to the bar in
1857. He at once entered into the practice of his profession at Homer, where
he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. At the beginning of
hostilities Mr. Young enlisted in company I, 2nd Louisiana infantry, under
Col. L. G. De Russy, Capt. Andrews commanding the company. He was later
appointed 2nd lieutenant. The regiment was ordered to Virginia, and on
arriving there was stationed on the peninsula at Yorktown, and later at
Williamsburg and other places. After taking part in the battle of Dam No. 1,
near Yorktown, and while still in front of the enemy the regiment was
conscripted, much to the displeasure of its membership, which upon
reorganization dropped a large number of its officers, and Mr. Young was
mustered out, after which he returned to his home in Louisiana. Soon
afterward he re‰nlisted in a cavalry company which was later assigned to the
5th Louisiana cavalry commanded by Col. R. L. Capers. Mr. Young was made 1st
lieutenant of company F, and later, Nov. 1863, was promoted to the rank of
Major. Just after Bank's Red River expedition he was made lieutenant colonel.
Col. Young participated in many of the engagements along the the Mississippi
and Red Rivers, and after a brilliant military record, was paroled at
Shreveport, in 1865, after Lee's surrender. Col. Young returned to Homer,
La., where he resumed the practice of law, and was associated with Judge W. B.
Egan until the latter was elected to the supreme court bench. He was also
associated with J. C. Egan, who afterwards served as attorney general of
Louisiana. In 1878 he was elected to fill an unexpired term in congress from
the 5th Louisiana district. He had served several years as parish judge in
Claiborne parish, and after the expiration of his term in congress, resumed
the practice of law at Homer, whence he removed to Monroe in 1880, and in 1881
removed to Shreveport. During the reconstruction days he was very active in
the eradication of the "Carpet Baggers," who held the reins of government in
the state at that time. In 1892 he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as
sheriff of Caddo parish, and in 1896 was elected to succeed himself, filling
this important office most acceptably for eight years. He was also a member
of the school board, in both parishes of Claiborne and Caddo. Col. Young was
conspicuous in the anti-lottery movement, and was chosen one of the five to
decide the election contest, which upon his decision, the other four being
equally divided, the Louisiana lottery became a thing of the past. In
politics he has always been a stanch democrat, in church faith a Presbyterian,
and fraternally a Knight Templar Mason and Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has
twice been married. In 1867 to Fannie R., a daughter of Col. John L. Hodges,
of Bossier parish. She passed away in 1891, leaving the following children:
Edwin H., William L., John L., and Joseph B. In 1896 Col. Young married
Mrs. Mattie H. Morrison, nee Hamilton, a daughter of Dr. D. B. Hamilton, of
Minden, La. No children have been born to this union.

Contributed on 1/11/15 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 81405

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