He was the 11th child of Henry Washington Younger and Bersheba Leighton Fristoe's 14 children and their fifth son, the fourth to survive into adulthood.

[citation needed] After an examination of the body it was revealed the soldier was carrying a heavy slingshot that still was tied to his wrist, so the killing was ruled as self-defense.

The Youngers headed to Texas for a peaceful life[citation needed] until illness fell on Bersheba so the boys (with the exception of Cole) took her back to Missouri to die.

After Bersheba's funeral John and Bob met up with Jim and, because it was not safe to stay in one place,[citation needed] they often moved between Missouri and Texas.

[citation needed] While interviewing the remaining two, the detective, Louis Lull, drew a hidden pistol and shot John through the neck.

[citation needed] Jim killed Deputy Daniels,[5] while John pursued Lull on horseback to nearby woods, fatally wounding him in the chest.

[6] John Younger is buried in the Yeater-Cleveland Cemetery in St. Clair County, Missouri, about 4–5 miles NW of Osceola, MO.