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Rich in history, the town of Youngsville was initially known as Pacific and was first incorporated on March 17, 1875. Shortly thereafter, John “Jack” Young gave the community land to build a train depot and was honored through the town's renaming to Youngsville.

Main Street 1915

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John "Jack" Young Jr (1802-1887)

His Life

John Young, Jr. was born in 1802. Hewed to Penelope Lassiter (1805-1868). Over the years that had nine children - four sons and five daughters. Mr. Young bought from Joseph Winston 302 Acres of land for $500. Between 1837 and 1840, the first railroad tracks were laid through Franklin County, NC. Mr. Young conveyed land to the railroad company allowing them to go through his property.

Then in 1846, Mr. Young conveyed to Wesley Hollister, an official of the Raleigh and Gaston railroad Company, 2 acres of his land on the west side of the railroad. The tract, which was sold for $15, was on the north side of what is now Main Street, but at the time known as the Hillsborough-Tarborough Road. (Note: This land was owned by the railroad company from 1846 until it was sold to the Youngsville Rescue Service in 1976.) A community began to rise up in this area, which for years was known as the "Cotton Yard." In 1850, John Young, Jr. was named the third postmaster of "Pacific." John Young, Jr. was known as "Jack" by his friends. The business was probably operated in part of his store. He served as postmaster for almost thirty years.

Then, in 1873, John Young, Jr. gave some additional land to the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad Co. for a new depot to be built. This is when the Youngsville was first declared as the new name of the town, having been previously known as "Pacific". (The land was 526 yards in both northerly and southerly direction from the new depot, 120 feet west of the center of the railroad tracks, and 100 feed east of the track.)

His Children

Over the years he had nine children - four sons and five daughters. John Young, Jr (for whom Youngsville, N.C. was named) had three sons who served in the Civil War. Thomas Jefferson Young enlisted on Sept. 5, 1862 in Wayne County (his residence was Wake County) as a Private, age 20. He served in Co. I, 1st North Carolina Infantry. He was captured Sept. 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Va. and was imprisoned at Point Lookout Prison, Md. He was paroled & exchanged for a Union soldier on Sept. 18, 1864. He was listed as sick in a hospital in Richmond on Sept. 22, 1864, and died two days later of chronic diarrhea. Henry H. Young enlisted Sept. 2, 1862 in Wake County as a Private, age 32. He served in Co. G, 2nd North Carolina Infantry. He surrendered as a parolee on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. Francis Marion Young enlisted on July 7, 1862 in Wake County as a Private, age 26. He served in the same unit, Co. I, 1st North Carolina Infantry, as his brother Thomas. He was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, PA on July 3, 1863 and subsequently imprisoned at Fort Delaware, Del. He died in prison Oct. 6, 1863 and was interred at Finn’s Point National Cemetery, N.J. Allen P. Young enlisted in the 44th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry,

-NCCivilWarCenter.org

His Obituary

In 1887, John Young, Jr. dies. He had only two children still living, they were two daughters

OBITUARY

THE FRANKLIN TIMES | Louisburg, N.C. | 1 July 1887

"Mr. John Young, Jr." the oldest citizen of the Town of Youngsville in this county died on the 19th of June 1887, aged 85.

A correspondent to the NEWS-OBSERVER says:

"His life was well spent. He was esteemed and respected by all who knew him."

The funeral services were held Monday at the First Baptist Church of Youngsville. Rev. W.B. Royal conducted the service. The pall-bearers were: J.B. Perry, J.T. Harper, G.G. Patterson, E.L. Winston, T.L Moss and J.P. Winston. The remains were interred in the family cemetery near Youngsville, N.C.

1845-1873 Pacific