John DeYoung was born October 17, 1879 in Chicago. He spent 56 years of his life in the labor movement. John was business representative for Carpenters Local 434 in Chicago; editor of a labor paper in Calumet, Illinois; and was active in the Steel Strike of 1919. In 1921, Mr. DeYoung moved to the Quad Cities to work for the "Tri-City Labor Review." He held various labor offices, including secretary and president of the Tri-City Federation of Labor. DeYoung also served as a member of the Rock Island Police and Fire Commission and a director of the Rock Island Public Library. In 1947 he married Rosa Cooks. He retired in 1958 and died May 24, 1967.
Rosa DeYoung was born November 20, 1903 in Oklahoma. Her family moved to Illinois and she worked as a teacher in a country school. In 1929 she went to work for Western Union as a telegraph operator. In 1947 she married John DeYoung. She wrote for the "Tri-City Labor Review" and "Labor's Daily." In the 1950's Rosa DeYoung served as president of the Women's Auxiliary to the Tri-City Federation of Labor. She died in August 1991.
From the description of John and Rosa DeYoung papers, 1920-1967. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 44717828
