Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899. Mr. Youngs was born in the village of Succasunna, in which he is now a very prominent business man, in September, 1851. His grandfather, David Youngs, [Jr.] was a farmer of Sussex county, and the father of our subject, Richard H. Youngs, was born in this state, and in his early life followed farming and teaming alternately. He gave his politcal support to the Republican party and for years acceptably filled the foffice of constable of Roxbury township. He married Catherine McPeak, whose father was well known in Sussex county, being accounted one of its successful and leding agriculturalists. Richard H. Youngs died in 1879, and his wife passed away in April, 1897. They were the parents of three children: Electa, wife of Thomas Sharp, or Newark; William H., subject of our review; and Clarence E., of Newark.
William H. Youngs was sparingly educated in Succasunna, his school days ending in his fourteenth year, when he began clerking in the store of Josiah Meeker, of this village. For eight years and seven months he remained with that gentleman as the most trusted employe and for seven years of that time also served as assistant postmaster. On leaving his native town he went to Dover, where he secured a situation as bookkeeper with the firm of Whitlock & Lewis, with whom he remained for seventeen months, when he returned to Succasunna and engaged in the butchering business until 1882. In that year he made prepartion to engage in business as a plumber and steam fitter, and although he had not been trained in either line he opened a shiop and with the confidence of an expert attacked everything that came to him to be made or mended. He succeeded in turning out first-class work, and as a result he soon earned the fondience of his patrons and secured a liberal patronage. His store is now one of the most popular business houses of the village, and his genuine worth and genial disposition have made him very popular with all classes. He has that indefatigable energy and untiring perseverance which will carry a man over all obstacles to success; and it is this which has enabled him to work his way steadily upoword to a foremost place in the ranks of the prosperous merchants in his part of the country.
Mr. Youngs was married November 22, 1882, to Miss Cordelia Rush, and to them were born two children, W. Rush, at home, and one who is now deceased. Mr. Youngs is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge in Succasunna, while in the Masonic lodge of Dover he is a valued member. He has followed the political footsteps of his father and votes for the Republican ticket. He was elected tax collector of Roxbury township in 1894 by a good majority and again in 1897 by a still larger majority, and this in a township which usually gives a Democratic majority of about fifty. His second term expires in 1900. Every duty devolving upon him is fathfully performed; and whether inbusiness, political or social life he has the warm regard of a large circle of friends.
Transcribed by Christopher Cresta
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