[4] Young was born in a log cabin on his father's donation land claim in 1871.
[3][5] He attended Bishop Scott Academy (later known as the Hill Military School) in Portland, Oregon.
[3] He also worked in the Blue River mines for a year and a half, and as the manager of the Heilig Theatre in Portland from 1903 to 1905.
[10] He also served as the first caretaker and a board member of the Lane County Pioneer Museum.
[5][11] In 1936, he was acquitted of charges that he violated corrupt practices laws by allegedly spending more money than permitted in his reelection campaign and "intimidation and coercion for political purposes.
The piece was carved in 1936 by Art Clough and was designated as the Eugene Pioneer Kiwanis Inter-Club Trophy.
[6] Eugene also has a road, a junior high school, and a neighborhood association named for Young.