The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
Biographical Sketches, Shelby County TN
Transcribed by Helen Rowland

Y Surnames
 

Hon. Thomas B. YANCEY, United States marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, was born in Fayette County, Tenn., October 10, 1843, and is the son of Alexander L. and Elizabeth (Bragg) Yancey, both natives of North Carolina.  Thomas B. passed his youth in his native county without noteworthy event, and having graduated in medicine and dentistry at Baltimore College he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Somerville, Fayette County.  He at once secured an encouraging practice which steadily increased until he left to accept the position he now holds (September, 1886).  During the war Dr. Yancey served two years in the Confederate service as a private and two years on the staff of Gens. Preston Smith and Vaughan, ranking as first lieutenant and afterward as captain.  In November, 1884, he was elected to the State Legislature and served in the session of 1885-86, securing his election from the Democracy, of the principles of which party he is a strong supporter.  He is a member of the Odd Fellows’ fraternity and of the Episcopal Church.  In April, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Narcissa J. Warren, and by her has a family of three sons and three daughters.

James YONGE, a member of the firm of Mullins & Yonge, cotton factors and commission merchants, and a director of the Home Insurance Company, is a native of England and came to America in youth.  He returned to England to educate himself, and then again came to the United States, locating in Georgia, where he connected himself with the lumber and manufacturing business until 1870, when he came to Memphis and became superintendent of the Memphis & Tennessee Railroad.  Two years later he became a member of the firm of F. M. White & Co., wholesale grocers and cotton factors, which firm existed about one year, when Col. White withdrew and the firm of J. W. Caldwell was formed and continued to exist until February, 1885.  In August of that year the present firm was formed.  It is now doing a handsome and profitable business.  In 1866 our subject was married to Miss Wilson, of Augusta, who has borne four children, all living.  The parents of our subject were natives of England.  The family remained in that country, while the father followed boating along the American coast, where he finally died off of Georgia.

James W. YOUNG was born in Memphis, Tenn., July 17, 1852, and is a son of Dr. James Young, an eminent physician, who was born in Chambersburg, Penn., September 13, 1800.  He was raised and educated at that place, and graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania; then moved to Tennessee, bring with him letters of introduction to some of the leading citizens of Nashville, and by their advice established himself in Jackson, Tenn. and was soon recognized as a successful practitioner.  In 1832 he married Miss Rebecca R. Hogg, daughter of Dr. Hogg, a well known physician of Nashville  Soon after his marriage Dr. Young moved to Nashville and formed a partnership with Dr. Hogg in the practice of medicine, and from Nashville moved to Natchez, Miss., where he continued to practice until 1840; then moved to Memphis, Tenn.  His wife died without children in 1847, and he afterward married Mrs. Mary N. Coffee, a daughter of John Brahan, who was a native of Farquier County, Va.  Two sons and two daughters were born to this union, three now living:  our subject, William B. and Rebecca L.  The mother was born in Huntsville, Ala., May 10, 1817, and is still living in Shelby County.  She had one son by her first marriage:  John D. Coffee, who died at Devall’s Bluff, Ark., in 1874.  Our subject was raised on the farm, and well educated under Prof. Tutwiler, of Alabama.  He was married in Shelby County, Tenn., December 14, 1876, to Miss Kittie McConnell, daughter of James McConnell.  One daughter, Mary, was born to this union.  Mrs. Young died July 13, 1881, and June 18, 1884, Dr. Young married Miss Louisa Johnson, daughter of the Rev. W. C. Johnson, D.D., of the Memphis Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  She was born in Holly Springs, Miss., February 24, 1859.  Dr. Young is a prominent Democrat, and is at present a member of the executive committee of the county, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South; his mother and sister are members of the Presbyterian Church.  He owns 160 acres of land four miles northeast of Memphis, on the Raleigh Road, which is devoted entirely to garden planting.  Dr. Young is well known in social, business and political circles, and is a man of influence and integrity.