He briefly practiced law there, but abandoned it and became a successful farmer in Grant County, in the town of Glen Haven, Wisconsin.
[2]: 123 In 1853, he was elected on the Whig Party ticket to represent western Grant County in the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 1854 session.
[2]: 123 In his years in the Senate, he played an important role in securing funds for improvements on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and was one of the key sponsors of legislation endowing the State College of Agriculture.
This situation led to complications when Young's eldest son, Albert, attempted to gain control of the land.
[3] Albert had worked for some time for the Lancaster Herald in Grant County, but had arguments with his father over improvements that were being made on the land.
[3] When Albert returned to Wisconsin, he and his brothers, through their mother, attempted to convince Josiah Perrin—the actual owner of their family estate—to grant the land to them.
[3] They eventually were able to secure capital by forging their father's name on documents, but were quickly exposed and believed they might soon be arrested for the fraud.
His widow, Julia, stayed on the remaining 100 acres and, with the assistance of the town chairman, John Ryan, was able to lease the land and pay for her continued subsistence.