From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Rev. William Ceiton Young was born August 7, 1827 near Canton, Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the son of Daniel Franklin Young (1808-1873) and Marilla Ingram (1809-?). He was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters. He entered the Methodist ministry at Paducah, Kentucky in 1849 and preached in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois and Louisiana before coming to Texas. He married Mary Susan Carolyn Pipkin on October 16, 1857 near Camden, Columbia County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of John Fletcher Pipkin (1808- ?) and Carolyn Anne Smith (1815-1842).
William C. and his wife had nine children. One son, Alma F. Young, had a grocery store in Dallas at the southeast corner of Main and Harwood Streets. He died in 1885. Five children survived Rev. Young: Mrs. L. M. (Lena) Tillman, Mrs. C. F. (Lulu) Barham, Mrs. J. T. (Louise) Jenkins, John M. Young, and W. C. Young, Jr., who was railroad yardmaster of Dallas from 1917 until his retirement.
The Youngs moved to Dallas in 1863, and it was through Rev. Young’s efforts that the first church of the Methodist denomination was erected in Dallas at the northeast corner of Commerce and Lamar Streets. It was known as the Lamar Street Methodist Church when it was dedicated November 1, 1868. The name was later changed to the First Methodist Church. Rev. Young was pastor cf the church for two years, presiding elder of the Dallas district for the next four years, and then served as presiding elder of the adjoining district for six years.
It is said that Rev. Young had several harrowing encounters with Indians during his tenure as presiding elder. He made his circuitous journeys on horseback and carried a repeating rifle and two Navy sixes.
A record of the first camp meeting was recalled by Rev. Young as “being at the spring at the foot of the sandy point on the Bachman headright.” Young lived a block above where the steam plant of the Union Terminal was later located.
In 1866 there was a record flood on the Trinity River, which was believed to be the highest since 1844. At this time the water came within six inches of reaching the foot of Commerce Street bridge. Backwaters from the flood forced water into the vicinity of the site of the present Santa Fe building.
Rev. William C. Young was also prominent in local politics. He served as District Clerk of Dallas County in 1867 and 1868 and served two terms as Alderman from the Fourth Ward. He was Past Master of Tannehill Lodge No. 52, Past High Priest of Dallas Chapter 47 Royal Arch Masons, Past Eminent Commander of Dallas Consistory-Knights Templar, and a member of Consistory No. 2, Scottish Rite 32 Degree, K.C.C.H. His son, John M. Young, a City Engineer when White Rock Dam was built, was also a Past Master of Tannehill Lodge.
Young Street in Dallas was named for Rev. Young, and he named several streets after family members: e.g. Marilla Street for his mother, Canton Street for his birthplace in Kentucky, and Cadiz Street for the town where his grandfather died in Kentucky. He donated property for a park where the City Hall now stands and land for the Scottish Rite Building on Harwood Street.
Rev. Young died March 25, 1921 at his residence on Columbia Street in Dallas at the age of 94. He is buried in the Old Masonic Cemetery on South Akard Street. His wife, Mary Susan Carolyn, who proceeded him in death, died of pneumonia in December 1903. At that time they lived at 345 Wall Street in Dallas.
By Germaine Jenkins Potter, Arcadia, California
