David Young's

Jesse Thomas Young Web Page

Jesse Thomas Young was born September 16, 1822 in South Carolina.   Census records from the mid to late 1800's and family histories indicate that he was the son of James Young.  A recently discovered copy of his death certificate, names his father as John Young of Alabama. No documented information has been found concerning his early life.

The first written documentation of Jesse Thomas Young appears in the marriage register of Carroll County, Mississippi recording his marriage to Jane Curry Bird, July 14, 1842.  Their son, Spencer Young was born in Carroll County April 15, 1843.  There were no other children born to Jesse and Jane. The fate of Jane Curry Bird is not known.  Jesse Young remarried in 1846 so it is assumed that Jane Curry died sometime between 1843 and 1846.

The Carroll County marriage register indicates that Jesse Thomas Young married Eliza Ann Chambers (b1824) on January 2, 1846.  Eliza Ann Chambers was a daughter of Dr. William P. and Elizabeth Chambers.   Jesse and Eliza Ann had six children:

Spencer was also included in this household.  Spencer enlisted in Company C of the Third Arkansas Regiment in June, 1861.  He served in that unit throughout the war until he was severely wounded September, 1864 and hospitalized for the duration of the war.

Jesse Young moved his family to Drew County, Arkansas around 1854.  Tradition holds the family moved at about the time of a major Yellow Fever epidemic in Carroll County, Mississippi.  The family settled in the southeast corner of Drew county not far from the Ashley county line in a community formed by his father-in-law, Dr. Chambers.  The community became known as  Line.   Other communities of interest were Old Troy and new Troy.

In November of 1856, Jesse Young was ordained as Preacher of the Gospel by the congregation of the Disciples of Jesus Christ meeting at Mytiline.  The credential document was signed by W. P. Chambers and  eventually filed for record at Drew County on November 25, 1871.   Jesse Young continued as a preacher until a few weeks before his death in 1914.

Jesse Thomas Young remarried in 1859, the fate of Eliza is unknown.  There is no record of her burial in the New Troy cemetery where Jesse Thomas Young is buried.  

Drew County, Arkansas marriage records (book B, page 54) lists the marriage of Jesse Thomas Young age 37 to Mary Francis Nealy, age 28 on August 3, 1859.  She seems to have been from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Jesse and Mary had three children:

Octavia 1860
Edward Shipman 1866
George R. 1869

George died sometime between 1870 and 1880.

Edward eventually became a teacher at the New Troy school in Drew county Arkansas.  As an adult, Edward also studied law and was preparing for the law examination when,  in 1911, he died suddenly.  Jesse Young at age 89 helped to raise Edward's children.

On December 7, 1878 Jesse, age 56, married his fourth wife, Susan Gabbert, probably age 37.  Susan Gabbert's brother Michael, married Jesse's daughter Cordellia in 1882.  The fate of Jesse's third wife Mary, is not known.

Most of his life, Jesse Thomas Young's occupation was listed in census records as farmer and at times, preacher.  Around 1900 at an age of 77, his occupation began to be listed as physician.  He apparently became a country doctor for the rural community of Line in south Drew county Arkansas.  It is interesting to note the influence Dr. W.P. Chambers  had on Jesse Young.  Literally following his mentor's footsteps from Mississippi to Arkansas, Jesse Young became first a preacher then a country doctor. 

Jesse Thomas Young died in Drew county Arkansas, September 16, 1914 at age 92 and was buried in the New Troy cemetery.  His grave is marked with the title Doctor Jesse Thomas Young.

Updated 08/08/05

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David Young's Genealogy Pages February 22, 2005