Caleb B. Young
SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: GORDON, GRANT, YOUNG
CALEB B. YOUNG, of Rantoul, represents the grocery, queensware and hardware trade, and has been a valued resident of the town since 1881. He is a New Englander by birth, having first opened his eyes in Grafton county, N. H., near the town of Lisbon, Nov. 13, 1836. His grandfather, David YOUNG, was one of the first settlers in that locality, to which he removed from his native State of Massachusetts. He was of excellent Irish ancestry, and possessed in a remarkable degree the moral traits of character and fine business qualities for which his descendants have been noted.
The father of our subject, Charles P. YOUNG, was a native of Grafton County, N. H., and bred to farming pursuits, which he followed the greater part of his life. He married in early manhood Miss Sybil, daughter of Phineas GORDON, Esq., of Scotch origin, and settled near his birthplace, where he remained until 1856. Then, deciding to seek a home in the West, he came to La Salle County, this State, and took possession of a farm in Deer Park Township, where he successfully followed agriculture, and where he made his home until resting from his labors on the 4th of January, 1864. The mother afterward removed to Kansas and made her home with one of her children, where her death took place in November, 1872. Of the parental household, including five children, our subject was the second son and child. He received the advantages of the common school and remained with his parents, removing with them to the West and assisting on the farm until setting out to do for himself. His first move upon leaving the home roof was to purchase a farm of 160 acres in Livingston County, Ill., upon which he labored for a period of four years, and then selling out purchased 160 acres in Compromise Township, this county. Later he engaged as a grain buyer at Gifford, and in 1881 abandoned labor upon the farm, and moving into Rantoul opened an extensive meat market. Six months later he disposed of this and embarked in his present business. He has a choice and well-selected stock of groceries, and has built up a good patronage among the best people of this locality.
Our subject was married, in November, 1862, to Mrs. Iantha I., daughter of Luther GRANT of Grafton County, N. H., and widow of C. H. YOUNG. Three of the four children born of this marriage are still living, namely, Susanna K., Charles F. and Walter E. One died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Young has occupied the various offices of his township, serving as Road Commissioner nine years and School Trustee in Compromise Township about nine years. He is a member of the City Council of Rantoul, and there are few public enterprises in this vicinity in which he has not been interested. As a man of judgment and discretion his views are frequently solicited upon matters of importance, and both as a business man and a citizen he is filling his niche in life creditably and with dignity. Mr. and Mrs. Young have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, the former serving as Steward and Trustee, and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is held in high regard by the people who have known him so long and well, and forms one of the landmarks whose place can scarcely be supplied when he shall have gone the way of all the earth.