|
|
||
|
Bastrop County, TX |
||
|
|
||
|
|
Young Settlement History Submitted by Ruth Crowson,
2/2003, rycrowson@austin.rr.com ASDF
The Young's of Bastrop County, Texas In March 1829, Michael and Rachel Young, their
sons William and Anderson, and Michael’s sister
Emily, her husband Silas Jones and their family came to Texas from Alabama as
part of Austin’s 2nd Colony. Michael’s league was in Ft. Bend Co. and while
living on it he took part in the skirmish at Anahuac in 1832, served in Jesse
Billingsley’s company of Mina Volunteers, and served on the 1st jury
assembled at Richmond. In 1838 Michael bought the NE ½ of Elizabeth Standifer’s league plus 500 acres of James Standifer’s league in Bastrop Co., he and Rachel having
sold ½ of their league in Ft. Bend Co. In the next 7 years he bought an additional
1515 acres of the Standifers, Burleson, Christian,
McLaughlin, and Richard Young leagues. When Emily’s husband died, Michael became
guardian of her son William Johnson Jones. Wm. Johnson lived with Michael in
Bastrop Co., leaving before the 1850 census to attend school at Bastrop
Academy. He later became a minister for the Church of Christ/Christian Church
in the Austin/Manor area. In 1842 Indians on a horse thieving expedition
ended up near Michael’s home. His 8-yr-old son Perry was driving up the
calves when one of the Indians threw a lasso around him. Perry slipped
through the loop and escaped to give the alarm. Michael gathered 15 neighbors
and gave chase. In the ensuing 4-hr. fight he was wounded in the breast. By 1846 the Bastrop County Commissioners Court
accepted James Standifer’s report that a new road should be built beginning at J. Standifer’s, “thence running through M. Young’s field
past said Young’s house, thence on to W. H. Fisher, thence by Taylor Smith,
thence by J. Litton, thence by W.C. Dalrymple’s house, leaving Dalrymple’s
house on the left going north, thence by
D. Biggs’ and thence northeasterly until it intersects the county line.” The 1850 census lists Michael with his sons
William, Anderson, Perry, and Thomas. Anderson J. Price, David Fisher, and
schoolteacher Thomas Canty were living with them,
and all the boys attended school that year. Michael had bought a female slave
in 1844, and Rachel was absent on the 1850 census--perhaps she had died. No
mention was made of her after the 1838 deed. According to her great grandson
she was buried near present day Elgin. In 1844 Michael’s sister Ann/a, her husband
Hugh McDowell Lawhon, and their family came to
Bastrop Co, settling at Young’s Prairie, where from wild land they developed
a farm. Hugh McDowell served throughout the Mexican war of 1846-7 and for
many years was Justice of the Peace. He died in 1876, his wife Anna surviving
him two more years. They are buried in Young’s Prairie Cemetery. In 1854 Michael’s brother Joseph Young bought
100 acres from James Standifer out of the Richard
Young grant after coming to Bastrop Co. from Franklin Co., Alabama. His wife
Sally died sometime between 1850 and 1860, leaving 4 children. Two of
Joseph’s sons served in the Confederacy; William Perry in Co. D Parsons Regt
Mt Vol and Joseph J. In 1863 Michael sold 75 acres out of the McLaughlin
tract to Joseph J. Before the family left Bastrop Co. for Rusk Co. William P.
also owned land. By 1860 Michael’s brother Francis had brought
his family from Alabama to the Youngs’ Settlement
area [founded by Michael], and in 1861 he bought Lot #8 in the “town of
Perryville” The year before that purchase the family was living with
Michael’s son Perry, who by that time was a merchant and Justice of the
Peace. Perry was the 3rd Postmaster for Young’s Settlement beginning in 1858,
and he was appointed for the succeeding term in 1861, but resigned in August
of that year. The National Archives’ list of Post Masters gives his name
followed by CSA, so perhaps he resigned to enter the Confederate army. Young’s Settlement had voted 38 for secession
and 43 against. Anderson and Thomas, Michael’s sons, fought with the
Confederacy, Anderson in the 30th Texas Cavalry and Thomas in the 31st.
Anderson returned home to his wife Rachel [Gooch] and their 5 children. but
Thomas died of pneumonia March 28, 1863. Notice of his death was carried in
The State Gazette, Apr 15, 1863: “Young, Thomas J. died March 26, 1863 son of
M. Young, in the 24th year of his age. He was a resident of Perryville,
Bastrop Co., and a member of Capt. Thompsons Co., Col. Hawpe’s
Regiment. He volunteered early in 1861.” On July 6, 1864 the Gazette noted further
troubles for Michael: "Runaway from the subscriber the 22nd of
June, a negro boy named Anthony, age 23 years old, dark complexion, thick
lips, 160-170 pounds. I brought said negro from Union Parish, Louisiana last
winter.” Youngs
Settlement Bastrop Co., M. Young" p. 2 In 1866 Michael bought an acre in Perryville
from Barnet Payne , and in 1868 he bought lot #8 in
that town from the estate of his brother Francis. The next year he sold the
acre in Perryville to E.C. Moore. The road to the Walterscheiot
tree farm is on the eastern portion of the acre, the fence of the Lecompte property a few feet south of the dirt stock tank
is the northern border, and the
cre extends out into the open field on the west. William, Michael’s oldest son, and his wife
Martha had 6 children by the end of the war. In 1868 Michael gave 1000 acres
of the Elizabeth Standifer league to “my son
William Young.” In the next 20 years William’s daughters and son were
married: Eliza to I. M. Adams, Sarah to T. S. Pincherd,
Mary Ada to Hayworth L. Potts, Alice to E. W. Standifer,
Matilda to M. L. Meeks, Lee Elizabeth to J. W. Wood, and
Perry A. to S/L. C. Potts. William gave to several of them 50 acres of land
each. Sometime after Alice and Ed Standifer sold
her 50 acres they built a house in Elgin, and Alice lived there until her
death in 1936. In 2003 that house, at 308 S. Main St., is occupied. Lee Elizabeth, the youngest of William’s
children, died following delivery of twin boys, 15 months after her 1889
marriage. Dale survived, but J.W. Jr. died and is buried next to his mother
in Youngs Prairie Cemetery. Alice Young Standifer
was a long-time member of the Elgin Christian Church and a regular attendant,
teaching a class in Sunday School known as the Alice Standifer
Bible class named in her honor. For a long time she was a member of the Elgin
Cemetery Association, and at one time was its
president. Alice and her husband Ed are buried in the Elgin Cemetery; also
buried there are her sister and brother-in-law Ada and Hayworth Potts. William’s wife Martha died about 1879, and for
a time their widowed daughter Eliza and her sons
lived with William. In April 1896 William sold the last of his Bastrop Co.
property to Emma and F.R. Jones, disclaiming any homestead
rights.” He died before time to pay taxes in 1897, his estate paying them.
William and Martha are buried in Youngs Prairie
Cemetery in unmarked graves. Michael, with sons Anderson and Perry and
their families, left Bastrop Co. about 1868 and moved to Bell Co.,
establishing the town of Youngsport on the 1/3 league
that he had bought from Francis Mudd on the
Lampasas River in 1837. Michael and Perry sold part of an acre in Perrytown to E.C. Moore in 1874. The next year Michael
died. The Bastrop Advertiser carried the following note: “DIED - Old Uncle Mike Young, an old citizen
of BC, of abscess of the liver, at Williamsport last week.” A few months before his death Michael gave the
following account of his life: Young, Michael-73 years of age-immigrated to
Texas in 1829. First service was in a company made up to go to the relief of the
citizens of Anahuac [against Mexican Garrison] under
Randal Jones-I think under Col Frank Johnson, do not recollect certain as to
that. This was
not a regular enlistment. Col Bradburn was in
command of the Garrison. He surrendered without
a fight. Was never in any general battle with the Mexicans. At the battle of
San Jacinto was in charge of my own family and
that of a widow woman and could not leave them. p. 3 I was then in Fort Bend County. The summer
after I joined the Army at Victoria for 3 months under
Capt Wallace. Remained there until the Army was
disbanded the same season. This was
in 1836. for this service recd
a Bounty of 320 Acres of land. In 1841 went into service under
Capt Jonathan Burleson [a minute Co] against the Indians.
N M Bain was 1 Lieut We had
a fight with five Indians. We killed them all. This was on the head of
Wilbarger Creek, now
in Williamson County. In this battle I was wounded severely in the breast by
an arrow. Was in several Indian raids afterwards but
none of importance. My health for the past year has
not been good. My present means of support are ample and sufficient. I was
born in the state
of Georgia 24th of May 1802 Post Office Youngsport
Bell Co Texas. Sworn to before J T Beach N P Bell County 23rd Mar 1875 Submitted by Ruth Crowson,
2/2003 rycrowson@austin.rr.com |
|
|
|
