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GEORGE WASHINGTON YOUNG
Vol. 3, p. 990-991

"One of the leading spirits of the Town of Alva and a man of much
prominence throughout the county is George Washington Young, farmer,
and president of the Oklahoma Good Roads Association. Mr. Young was
born July 14, 1846, on a farm in Smith County, Virginia, and is the
son of Lewis M. and Levina (PATRICK) Young.

Lewis M. Young was born in Virginia in 1830 and he died in Nebraska
in 1899. His wife, also of Virginia birth, died in Nebraska in 1878.
They moved from Virginia to Ohio after their marriage, and in 1867
moved from Ohio into Nebraska, making the trip by boat from
Cincinnati, Ohio, to Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He was twice married, and
seven children were born of the first union. Of these children, Mary,
the first born, is deceased. George Washington of this review was the
second. Robert A. was next. Visa Jane is deceased. Lewis H. was the
sixth, and Julia is the wife of Charles LOOP, of Plattsmouth,
Nebraska.

George W. Young was reared as a boy on the farm home of the family
in Smith County, Virginia. He attended private schools and in 1864,
when he was eighteen years old, moved into Ohio with his parents.
Three years later he followed them to Nebraska, where they lived in
true pioneer fashion on unbroken soil. In time Mr. Young became an
independent farmer and he prospered in all his undertakings. In 1893
he was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners in Cass
County, Nebraska, in which he served six years, and was then elected
a committeeman to the State Legislature. Good roads laws had always
been a hobby with Mr. Young, and he was the author and sponsor of the
first laws on that subject that Nebraska had. He was the founder of
the good roads movement in the state, and as long as he was a citizen
of the commonwealth he served that cause with vigor. His four years
in the Legislature were productive of much benefit to the state in
respect to its roads alone, aside from other causes he served. He
also filled numerous other minor offices in Plattsmouth and Cass
County, Nebraska, and in public life, none had a better reputation
for genuine service than did he.

In 1901, Mr. Young moved to Alva, Oklahoma, buying the south half of
what is known as the Normal Section, which he has improved with
modern buildings and up-to-date equipment. He has in the county 640
acres of valuable land, and his property is handled along modern and
progressive lines.

Since coming to Oklahoma Mr. Young has ridden his good roads hobby
to excellent purpose, as the following clipping from the Sunday
Oklahoman attests: The first interstate highway planned under the
provisions of the new road law was launched at Alva Saturday at the
"pole-raising" to celebrate the marking of the Young Highway, running
from Oklahoma City to Alva. The road is named in honor of George W.
Young, president of the State Good Roads Association. A cement pole
marking the start of the route was unveiled by Mr. Young. The pole
was established by the Alva Commercial Club. President GRUMBINE, of
the Alva Normal, presided. Speeches were made by good roads
enthusiasts, including Mayor TITUS of Cherokee, Dr. RHOADES of
Goltry, Henry COUCH of Helena, Mr. Young and others.

"Immediately after the ceremonies the first lap of the road, running
from Cherokee to Alva, was marked by the Cherokee boosters. Twenty-
four automobile loads of Cherokee good roads boosters marked the road
from Alva to Cherokee. At least six telephone poles in each mile were
circles, with the turns plainly marked. The leading business men of
Cherokee were in their cars and the start was made by assigning a
mile to each car, each being equipped with paint and brushes. The
road has been worked over and is a fine boulevard between Alva and
Cherokee.

Monday the next lap of the road from Cherokee to Helena and thence
to Goltry will be marked. The road has been designated as a state
highway and a movement is on foot to have it oiled all the way to
Oklahoma City. The trail runs from Alva to Cherokee, to Helena, to
Goltry, to Carrier, to Enid, to Kingfisher, to El Reno, and into the
capital. As soon as the road is laid out it is planned to make an
opening trip over the new trail, starting at Alva and picking up cars
along the route. It is estimated that fifty will start from Alva, and
that fifty more will join at Cherokee.

An effort will be made to reach Oklahoma City with 200 cars.
Cherokee is planning another highway to connect with the old Santa Fe
trail in Kansas, and has been assured of cooperation by the Kansas
towns."

Other papers in the county gave much space to the launching of this
worthy project, and in all of them Mr. Young is hailed as the veteran
road-builder and inspiration of the movement that will mean so much
to the state when carried to completion.

Mr. Young is progressive in politics and is at present serving on
the Alva school board. He is a member of the United Brethren Church.

Mr. Young has been twice married. His first wife was Mary BARRY,
whom he married on February 6, 1868, in Cass County Nebraska. She was
born on October 7, 1848, in Noble County, Ohio, and died at Murray,
Nebraska, in 1899, the mother of seven children - James A., W. H.,
Sarah, Thomas L., Hattie Jane, Euna V. and Ada. The first four are
dead. Hattie is the wife of M. I. DAVIS; Euna is married to John
MURRAY; and Ada is the wife of Albert BAEHLER, of Alva. On July 3,
1901, Mr. Young was married to Mrs. Lavinia ELFORD, born in Warren
County, Iowa, on June 17, 1860. Her maiden name was WHEELER, and she
had three children by her husband, H. Elford, who died on April 16,
1896, at Plattsmouth, Nebraska.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jo Jobe, December 6, 1998.