Colorado gold rush participant and Ottawa, Ill., lumber merchant.
Born in Canada in 1839, John D. Young moved with his family to Chicago in 1843. In 1860 Young travelled with a party of seven gold seekers from Chicago by rail to Quincy, steamer to Hannibal, rail to St. Joseph, and wagon along the Saint Joe Road and the cutoff to Denver. For over a month, Young prospected in the Colorado mountains near Tarryall and California Gulch, before returning with five of his original party to Chicago. Young later (1863) settled in Ottawa, Ill., where he married (1864), engaged in the lumber business, and served as mayor (1880-1881).
From the description of A trip to the gold regions of the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1860, [1860]. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 35663117
