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Do you remember J. W. Young who came to Arkansas from Pickens County, South Carolina, 67 years ago? Mr. Young was born in Pickens and married at the age of 23 to Mrs. Melissa Looper, widow of Andrew Looper who was killed by moonshiners while making a raid, with the U.S. Marshalls, on their still. Mrs. Looper was the mother of three sons when she and Mr. Young were married: Lawrence, Frank and Hose Looper. Hose lives near Huntington, and is the only survivor of the three Loopers.
Before leaving South Carolina for Arkansas in 1881, three sons were born to Mr. And Mrs. Young: Robert A., J.M. and Walter Young. Major Charles Scott, who now lives in Fort Smith, met Mr. Young and his family at Fort Smith; he is the son of the late Ab Scott who lived at the time near present Excelsior. After spending a week visiting some relatives and old South Carolina friends, Mr. Young and his family located and opened a store at what is known then as "Nickel Town", taking in as a partner the late Bud Evans. Besides their store they operated a cotton gin, and a gristmill. At that time a dozen eggs was legal tender for a 5 cent spool of thread and nickel box of Garrett Snuff. The thread was guaranteed 200 yards, but the number dips to a box of snuff was not indicated. After being in business for about a year, Mr. Young sold his interest there and bought a farm in the Vineyard community between Greenwood and Witcherville and moved his family on the farm.
After coming to Arkansas there were born to Mr. And Mrs. Young four more sons: George and Buren, both deceased; Zero who lives in Idabel, Oklahoma and John H. Young who lives in Heavener, Oklahoma. After several years on their farm, Mr. And Mrs. Young moved to Witcherville, where they would have access to Buckner College, a Baptist institution that ranked then with the best colleges in the state. Mr. Young opened a grocery and drug store. Witcherville at that time was one of the best towns in the county, there being nearly a score of active stores in operation, a cotton gin, grist mill, a good hotel, known as the Davis Hotel, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ike Davis. In 1887 when the Frisco railroad was building to Mansfield, Huntington also sprung up and Witcherville begin to wane. Mr. Young moved to Huntington, erected a business house, with living compartment upstairs, which the family occupied.
J. W. Young was the first Huntington Postmaster (under President Cleveland) and Mayor of Huntington. Also the first phone services outside the Fort Smith area, except for Greenwood, was from Mr. Young's store, his son, Bob, (R.A.) Young being chief operator. When one could talk from Huntington to Greenwood and Fort Smith, it was one of the greatest accomplishments of modern times.
Mrs. Young passed away in 1899 while they lived in Huntington.
Later Mr. Young married Mary Sorrells, daughter for the late Sam J. Sorrells of Abbott. To this union was born Bryant Young, now living in Fort Smith; Bonnie now Mrs. Poole of Greenville, Texas; Barnard of Fort Smith; Beulah, now Mrs. Marvin Bates living now in Louisiana; and Bess and Thelma Young of Fort Smith. Two children born to this union died in infancy. The mother of the late set of children died in Fort Smith in 1933.
When Mr. Young retired from business in Huntington, he, with his family returned to their farm between Greenwood and Witcherville. For one or two Falls & Winters, he worked as a salesman at Greenwood in the store of M.S. Gaines and Co. This writer was employed there at the same time, and this was our first acquaintance. I beg to weave a little story right here, which I think is still practical. While Mr. Young and the writer were checking an invoice of Christmas goods, among other things was a box containing a dozen 10 cent buckskin purses; Mr. Young related the story once when he was checking a similar box, in his own store, each a different color, one of his boys (Bob) spied them and said, "Dad, I want me a pocket book". Mr. Young replied, "What do you want with a pocket book, you have no money." "Yes, said Bob, "but I expect to have some and I want one of these pretty purses, if I turn money loose in my pocket it is too easy to get away from me, I need a place to keep it." His dad said, "Bob, I believe you are right about it," and gave Bob his choice of colors. Bob took the buckskin color. J.M. Saw how easy his dad had been worked and made the same demand. The father said, "Bob you've started something, call the roll and every boy must have a purse." The Young boys always seemed to have a little money in their purse.
Mr. Young left the farm many years ago and moved to Fort Smith, where for several years he was a builder and contractor. His name J.W. Young can yet be seen imprinted on the sidewalk.
The last years of his life he conducted a real estate business and was quite successful. He passed away in 1936.
The writer offers this wreath of memory roses in sacred memory and honor to my good friend, the late Joseph W. Young.
"The work is done, the sowing and reaping;
Thy Crown is won, and hushed in weeping,
From tears and woes, from earth's midnight dreary,
Thine is repose where none ever weary"
Sweet is thy rest."
P.M. Claunts
*Note: Huntington was being surveyed and laid out as a city in spring of 1887 by the Kansas & Texas Coal Company. From the May 31, 1888 Huntington Hummer newspaper, it is noted that Joseph W. Young was addressed as Mayor several times and noted this is the earliest evidence of anyone being Mayor of Huntington after incorporation 2-4-1888.
Officially, Mayor Young appears to be the first Mayor of Huntington. The paper also noted that R.A. Bonham was Mayor Young's Clerk. It appears that mayoral-elected terms at the time were for one year running May 1 to April 30 of each year. His successor was Samuel Fellows.
Mayor Young is quoted in the 5-31-1888 paper "Let me congratulate you on getting out such a fine paper".
The owner and editor of the paper Charles Knoble also comments in the local news that "Mayor Young looks well under his new hat".
There is also an advertisement for bids to build the Huntington jail in this paper with all bids to be addressed to Mayor J.W. Young.
: Note: This same jail was built and still standing and is now on the National Register of Historical Structures. It is currently being restored as a museum of Huntington history.
The July 5, 1888 Huntington Hummer reports about the Huntington's first Fourth of July Independence Day celebration and quotes Mayor Young's speech from the days festivities.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasant duty and privilege to extend to you this formal welcome. So too, on behalf to all our youngsters. In behalf of all the people of our young city, I bid you welcome. I rejoice with you and all American citizens today, both north and south, that we as a united people are permitted to see another national independence day. Our country is more than ever the land of liberty and freedom. You and I have equal rights in all parts of our vast domain. The sunny south throws wide it's doors and extends it's welcome to our friends and brothers from other sections of our great country. Here we have a good climate and mineral wealth. We invite the intelligence, the capital, the labor of other sections to aid us in developing our great resources, In educating our children and to enjoy with us the best climate and finest scenery this side of the Rocky Mountains. We have read of a mystic beyond, where all distinctions are forgotten. We are catching the inspiration of that delightful country. I see today evidence of fraternal and brotherly kindness; we welcome all moral benevolent and religious orders and societies. Let there be kindness and good feeling for one another. Let us bury the dead past and live in the active present. Tell it to all, that the south is open to immigration. Tell all industrious, liberty loving people, to come south, come to Arkansas, come to Sebastian County, come to Huntington.
We are glad that some have come and others are coming. We are glad that you are here today. May you look back for years to come with pleasure to this day. Again, I bid you welcome. Welcome to the hospitalities of Huntington."
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