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Biographical Review: Greene, Schoharie and Schenectady Counties, New York
Madison Young

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[This information is from pp. 424-425 of Biographical Review Volume XXXIII: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Greene, Schoharie and Schenectady Counties, New York (Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1899). It is in the collection of the Grems-Doolittle Library of the Schenectady County Historical Society at 920 BIO.]

Madison Young, for a number of years a prominent figure in the public affairs of Carlisle, Schoharie County, N. Y., was born in this town, September 20, 1846, son of Benjamin and Lana (Van Vaulkenburgh) Young. His great-grandfather was Peter Young, a German, who came here from Hudson, N. Y., as a pioneer, and acquired possession of two separate tracts of land, the whole amounting to three hundred and ten acres. His log cabin stood about twenty-five rods west of the Rock Schoolhouse. He was a successful farmer, and his property, which was unencumbered at the time of his death, he divided among his children.

Matthias Young, Madison Young's grandfather, whose birth took place January 20, 1763, was the first white child born in Carlisle. Receiving a share of his father's property, he erected a frame house, and carried on general farming until his death, which occurred May 21, 1822. He was actively interested in political and religious affairs, held some of the important town offices, and was one of the leading members of the Dutch Reformed church. He married Helena Patria, who was of German descent, and she died March 14, 1824. They were the parents of five children; namely, Solomon, Benjamin, Richard, Margaret, and Lana. The great-grandfather served in the war of the Revolution, and the grandfather in that of 1812.

Benjamin Young, Madison Young's father, was born October 20, 1800. He succeeded to the possession of about eighty acres of his father's property when a young man, and cultivated his farm energetically for the rest of his life. He died in October, 1869. He was the father of six children: Helena, wife of J. Rose; Margaret, wife of Demosthenes Young; Sarah M., who married Adam Cole; Eva A., widow of Abraham Burnstein; Madison, the subject of this sketch; and Frances M., wife of E. C. Grantier.

Madison Young acquired a district-school education, and his aptitude for learning enabled him to attain unusual proficiency in his studies. He assisted in carrying on the home farm until after the death of his father, when he turned his attention to educational work, and taught school with marked success during the following eighteen years, with the exception of one term, the greater part of the time being spent in this and the adjacent localities. For the first term of teaching he received one dollar per day, after that two dollars a day, very few then receiving so high, salary. Finally becoming tired of the arduous as well as monotonous duties of a pedagogue, he resumed farming at the homestead, which contains about eighty acres of well-improved land; and, though not inclined to force its yielding power, he nevertheless raises excellent crops.

As one of the foremost leaders of the Democratic party in this section, he has long maintained a wide influence in public affairs, and enjoys the confidence of all voters irrespective of politics. His long and faithful service to the county was characterized by a judicious expenditure of public funds and an earnest desire to promote the best interests of the people. As chairman of the Committees on Printing and on Ratio and Apportionment during his two years as Supervisor, he greatly reduced the expenses of these departments, and by close figuring was able to effect considerable retrenchment in other branches of the service.

Mr. Young married for his first wife Elizabeth Brounnaghin [Broumaghin?] and for his second Nettie Hilsinger. He has no children. In his religious views he is liberal.

[Editorial note: This entry was not returned to the author with corrections.]

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