Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Marietta Routh in 1882 [she died in 1906]; children: 8,. Second marriage to Nellie Sheppard about 1907; children: 1, stepdaughter Leia M. (MacCaslin); 1 son adopted, Carl V.
Number of Children: 9
Background
Education:
Public schools of Illinois; some high school
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Henry A. and Mary (Van Brant) Young. He worked on family farm. He learned the art of weaving blankets at a woolen mill and was briefly a butcher. When old enough, he learned the trade of carpenter. He was judge of the police court in Augusta, IL for 8 years and justice of the police for 2 years. He moved to Aurora, IL in 1899 and formed a building trades union in 1901; was a business agent there for 4 years. In 1906, he became general organizer for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America for 10 years. He was a union arbitrator across the country. He moved to Muskegon in 1912 and continued to work for the Brotherhood until 1916. While in the legislature, he became president of the Michigan State Federation of Labor [1917-19]. During WWI he was a county food administrator and assistant secretary of the War Chest and on the state quota committee. He was a member of the state war board and frequent public speaker on their behalf. He became commissioner of labor and industry in 1921 and moved to Lansing in 1923. Served as village clerk, police justice, and justice of the peace. Member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Detroit Union League Club.
Notable Facts:
Supported equal pay for equal work.