Sophia Young

On October 22, 1978, the researcher received a letter from Rev. William W. Young of Rochester, New York. Rev. Young is a direct descendant of Michael Young, and offered a family history for the Young family. It is included with this document and reads as follows:

Michael Young, born in 1799, in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and Margaret Brakenmaker Young, born August 1, 1801, left the old country (Ingville, France) with their family of two or three children for America, arriving after a long, tortuous voyage, about the year 1833 or 1834.

Through error of some kind, they found themselves on board a pirate vessel. During the voyage, their son Phillip (1826-1834) died and was buried at sea.

When they landed, their name was changed from "Jung" to Young.

They went to Albany, and soon after, their first American born child, Kate (1834-1900) was born. John H. (Henry) was born on November 9, 1835.

Michael Young and Mr. Snapp (Jacob Snapp (1787-1876) and father of Lana Snapp (1830-1894), wife of Ira Shoultes (1827-1905), the brother of William Shoultes (1830-1893) left Albany and started a search for home sites. They traveled on foot, and came to Binghamton (Broome County). After looking the valley over, they decided it was too swampy, and did not have enough wood, so they went until they got to what is now known as East Newark (Tioga County). They decided on that place, and cut down trees enough to build a house. After the clearing was made, the logs were ready, and the house of one room was put up.

The family was moved with their few possessions on a two-wheeled cart. The little folks and mother riding; the others walking alongside. We wonder what they endured during that long trip to a wilderness home.

Michael Young later walked from their home to Washingtonian Hall (at Hooper) and worked by the day, receiving in return, any commodity that would be had, whether it was corn meal or "what not." By hard work and much sacrifice, they were able to buy a cow.

Just how they fared, we do not know. Their family grew, ten children in all, being born to them. They all grew up but two, Phillip and "Willie." William was killed in battle during the Civil War, and his body was brought north, and buried in the family plot in the little East Newark Cemetery.

Michael Young was an ardent Christian, and keen bible student. He regularly attended church in Newark Valley. At that time, one arriving late found the church doors closed, and rather than be left out, he often ran most of the way in order to be on time. His bible, printed in German, still is in existence, and was a Martin Luther translation. He was blind for some time before his death, and yet, so well did he know his book, that he would go to where it was quiet, and with it open on his lap, would sit there and pour over in his mind a beloved passage. There are pages marked by a turned-down corner.

Although his bible was printed in German, he spoke English well, and was considered a well-read man. His wife spoke English too, but her grandchildren reveal that when one of them got a scolding, it was generally in German.

It may be interesting to note here the reason why they left their native land. It was the necessity of sending their boys for military training, as was the custom.

We, who live in Binghamton (Broome County) now, wonder at the passing by the time of seeking a home. The lack of wood was the real reason. In the old country, the government owned all the woodland, and at a certain time of year, wood was sold at auction. If one did'nt buy at that time, they had to do without, for it was a crime to touch a piece of wood not bought at the proper time. It is told that when the logs were being made ready for the new home, Michael Young shed tears when the trimmings were piled and burned. He remembered how scarce it was "back home."

Michael Young died January 30, 1879 at the age of eighty years, and was buried on Candlemas Day (February 2). It was told that the snow lay so deep that the sleighs rode over the fence tops. His wife passed away on February 6, 1880. They both sleep in the little cemetery at East Newark in the land they helped to bring into fertility and usefulness.

** The author of this text is unknown. Rev. Young believes that it was written in the 1930s by a family member.

The year of 1856 was a tragic year for the members of the Shoultes family living in Tioga County. The root of the Shoultes family, Jacob I. Shoultes died on May 25 at the age of 56 years. In addition to the death of Sophia, her daughter Malvina (1852-1856) was scalded to death accidentally on September 7. Peter Adam Shoultes (1821-1856) died on November 17 accounting for 4 graves in the tiny cemetery.

Sophia Young Shoultes died on July 16, 1856 at the age of 26 years. The cause of death is not known at the time of this writing. She is buried within the family plot, next to her daughter Malvina, in East Newark Cemetery, near the village of Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York.