Biographies from Goodspeed 10

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Anderson County Tennessee

Biographies from Goodspeed

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Judge D.K. Young, one of the most prominent citizens and leading lawyers of East Tennessee, and who is known all over the State as one of the most upright judges who ever wore the judicial ermine, was born five miles west of Clinton, January 1, 1826, and is the son of Samuel C. and Charlotte (Hall) Young. The father was a native of Virginia, and was born October 13, 1801, the son of Wylie Young, who was a Virginian and came to Tennessee in 1810, one of the pioneers of Anderson County. The father of our subject was elected, by the State Legislature, surveyor of Anderson County during the thirties and served about thirty years. He was elected justice and filled the position of chairman of county court several years. He followed farming all his life and was one of the largest land owners of the county. He was eminently a man of sterling worth, integrity and of great force of character. His death, which occurred April 4, 1864, was universally regretted. The mother was born in South Carolina, the daughter of David Hall, a native of the same state, who came to Tennessee and at an early date settled in the Fourth District, where he kept a tavern. He was a solider of the Revolution, and a pensioner up to the time of his death. She was an amiable wife and mother. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, where he worked during the summer months and attended school during the winter. Later he attended Union Academy at Clinton, Viney Grove College, in Lincoln County, Holston College and Strawberry Plains College, in Jefferson County, Tenn. He then began the study of law under John R. Nelson and November 12, 1849, he was admitted to the bar being licensed by Hon. Ebenezer Alexander and Hon. Thomas L. Williams, circuit judge and chancellor respectively. His first practice was in Clinton, where he opened an office and subsequently extended his practice to Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Campbell, Scott and Union Counties. He continued practicing until the outbreak of the late war. A strong sympathizer with the Union, he was very much harassed by the Confederate authorities, and was once arrested and held for a time. He enlisted in the Federal service, and was made captain of Battery D, First Tennessee Light Artillery. He served until July 4, 1864, when he was commissioned attorney-general by Gov. Andrew Johnson and detailed to Knoxville to aid in reorganizing the civil government. This position he held for two years, then resigned and returned home to his law practice. March 14, 1873, he was appointed by Gov. Brown judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, and was twice reelected, voluntarily retiring from the same September 1, 1886, after fourteen years of service. During this time he was ex-officio chancellor of five counties. His official life has been characterized by integrity, ability, and justice, and he retired from the bench with the respect of all who knew him. The best evidence of his fidelity to a trust is seen in the fact that his clients never forsook him and after having been on the bench, one of the circuit judges of the State for fourteen years, and voluntarily retiring, his old clients flocked to him again. Before and since the war he has been a dealer in real estate, to which, with his law practice, he has given his whole attention. He is owner of the beautiful estate of “Eagle Bend”, near Clinton, embracing 1,000 acres (which is pronounced to be one of the best farm in the State), besides other real estate. He is also a partner in the wholesale and manufacturing drug house of Chapman, White, Lyons & Co., of Knoxville, and much of his financial success he declares to be the result of his wife’s ability, for she is, he says, the better business manager. May 15, 1849, he married Elizabeth Woodson, of Lee County, V., who was born September 2, 1832, a daughter of William Woodson. But five of their children are living. His son William B., graduated with honors at the University of Tennessee and, while on a prospecting tour of Texas, died at Forth Worth of Typhoid fever. Samuel C., another son was a sophomore of the same university when he died. Both were bright and talented, and gave great promise of the future, and their deaths were a hard blow to the parents. Of the five remaining children, three daughters and two sons, the eldest, Charlotte Alice, is the wife of John E. Chapman, a man who stands pre-eminently high as a Christian gentlemen and successful business man, and is at the head of the wholesale and manufacturing drug house of Chapman, White, Lyons & Co., of Knoxville, Tenn. His wife is a brilliant woman, and an earnest and zealous worker of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Minnie O., after graduating from Martha Washington College, Virginia, took a post graduate course at Dr. Price’s Seminary, Nashville Tenn., is now the wife of John C. Houk, a young lawyer of decided talent at Knoxville, and son of Hon. S.C. Houk, who for the past ten years, has been a member of Congress representing the Second District of Tennessee. James Walter, the eldest living son, is now a junior in the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn. His course is classical. As a scholar he stands high in the university. He is preparing for the law. David K., Jr., the youngest son, is attending the high school at Clinton. He is a good, Christian boy, amiable and lovely in disposition. He shows many characteristics and traits of his father. Etta I. is a student at Centenary College, Cleveland, Tenn., presided over by the distinguished Dr. David Sullins. She stands well and in some branches has received merited honors.

Goodspeed’s pages 1122 – 1123

 

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