In 1902, Young was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 12th congressional district to the 58th United States Congress.

[1] Young presented credentials as a Member-elect to the 63rd Congress and served from March 4, 1913, until his resignation, effective May 16, 1913, while a contest for the seat was pending.

Due to a mistake in how the name of Progressive candidate William Josiah MacDonald appeared on the ballot in Ontonagon County, some votes were not included in the official count by the state board of canvassers, even though their inclusion in unofficial returns showed MacDonald had won.

After leaving Congress, Young served as president of the Miners’ National Bank in Ishpeming.

He died the day after his 67th birthday in Ishpeming and is interred there at the City Cemetery.