My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. YOUNG, president of the Pottstown Cold Storage Company and Warehouse Company, was born in Douglass township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1842. He is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Hoffman) Young, both natives of Douglass township, Montgomery county. They had five children, two sons and three daughters: Henry, of Pottstown ; Sophia, wife of Noah Huber; Maria, widow of Thomas Will of Douglass township; William H., and Sarah, wife of Charles Moser of Douglass township.

William H. Young (father) was a farmer and a miller in Douglass township, and died there about 1844, aged thirty-nine years. His wife survived him until 1887, being eighty-three years old at the time of her death. They belonged to the German Reformed church. He was a prominent man in his community. Andrew Young (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and was a farmer. His wife’s maiden name was Brendlinger, and they had a large family. He died at an advanced age. His father came from Germany and was the founder of the family in this country. Henry Hoffman (maternal grandfather) was also born in Montgomery county, and was a farmer. At the time of his death he was more than eighty years of age. He had nine children, the youngest of whom died at the age of seventy-six years.

William H. Young was reared on the farm in Douglass township, and received his first schooling in the district schools. He began working for himself when a small boy, and engaged in the produce business in a small way when a young man. He continued in that business for more than twenty years in connection with farming. He bought a farm of 117 acres, to which he added about thirty-eight acres. In 1886 he was elected county treasurer and served as such for three years. He removed to Pottstown in 1888. Associating himself with E. K. Snell, Robert Baldwin, C. Q. Guldin and W. P. Young, his son, he built the Pottstown Cold Storage and Warehouse Company, and has continued in this business ever since.

He married Miss Catharine Pennypacker, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Garver) Pennypacker. They had five children, as follows: 1. William P., an attorney-at-law in Pottstown. He married Miss Martha Leidy, and they have two children: William H. and Lotta. 2. Flora, a graduate of the Pottstown high school. 3. Olivia, died at the age of three years and six months. 4-5. Charles and Nana (twins). Charles is in the cold storage plant with his father. Nana is attending college at Syracuse, New York.

William H. Young is a member of the German Reformed church, and his wife of the Methodist church. He belongs to Warren Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons. Politically he is a Republican. He served several terms as school director. He is a director in the National Iron Bank of Pottstown. He resides at 482 Charlotte street, where he built his home in 1887. During the Civil war he enlisted, September 12, 1862, in Company G, Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, and served two months. He contracted rheumatism, and was discharged.