From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1337
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

R Claud Young, MD

Among the native sons and prominent physicians of Rice County, Kansas, is R Claud Young, who was born in Center township, February 16, 1875, a son of Abraham and Hannah (Vanatti) {Vanatta} Young.  His paternal grandfather was Jacob Young, a native of Pennsylvania but of Scotch descent, and a relative of General Crist.  He was a lumberman by occupation while in Pennsylvania, but in old age came west and found a good home among his children, dying at the home of a daughter in Nebraska.  His children were: Aaron, Daniel, Jacob, Levi, John, Abraham, the father of our subject; and Maria, who married a Mr. Dickson.  Abraham, the father of our subject, was reared in Pennsylvania, remaining at home until 1862, when his patriotism induced him to volunteer for service in the Civil war, and for three years he bravely fought to preserve the Union.  At the second battle of Bull Run he was wounded by a bullet through both thighs, and again at the battle of Gettysburg he received a mini-ball wound through both knees, the last wound disabling him for further active service.  He also received other wounds, having seven bullet holes in his body.  Receiving an honorable discharge he returned to Pennsylvania, where he recuperated and soon afterward moved west to Iowa, where he engaged in farming, remaining until 1873, when he moved to Kansas, locating in Rice county, where he took a soldier's pre-emption and improved a farm.  In 1879 he moved to Lyons and engaged in the furniture business, continuing it for a number of years, during which time he accumulated a handsome competence which enabled him to arrange his farming interests and retire from active labor and business.  He is an influential Republican and although never aspiring to public office he has served as deputy sheriff and as a delegate to county and state conventions, in which his opinions have carried great weight and he has done very effective work for his party.  He is now residing in Lyons, and he and his wife are enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.  She is a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Shearer) Vanatti {Vanatta} and a {great} granddaughter of General Hull, of national reputation.  Thomas Vanatti {Vanatta} is a native of Pennsylvania, a prominent farmer and a pioneer settler of Iowa, who accumulated a large estate and now finds a good home with his daughter at Lyons, having attained the ripe old age of eighty-five years.  He is very public-spirited and gave a tract of land and endowed College Farm in Jasper county, in which institution he is deeply interested and does everything possible to promote its growth and success.  He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and a strong Republican.  His children were: James, an attorney at law; Joseph, also an attorney; Mary, who became the wife of William McCulloch; Appa, the wife of R Cadoo {Kiddoo}; Hannah, the mother of our subject; Ross; Anna, now deceased; Nancy, who married William Morton; and Charles, an auctioneer.  The marriage of Mr and Mrs Young was blessed with three children, namely; Ernest, a printer by occupation; Jay, a commercial salesman; and R Claud, the subject of this sketch.  The father of this family is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Fraternal Order of Odd Fellows, and the Fraternal Aid Association, while his wife is a Daughter of Rebekah.

R Claud Young, the subject of this review, was reared in his native county, where he secured his preliminary education in the common schools.  When about fifteen years of age he went into a printing office, where he gained much valuable and practical experience.  When seventeen years old, he conducted the Windom Enterprise, a weekly paper.  Later he conducted the Geneseo Herald, another weekly paper, and then accepted the foremanship of the Lyons Republican office and then accepted a position with the Rice County Eagle.  During intervals he read medicine with Dr Vermillion, of Lyons as preceptor, and also rode with the Doctor when visiting patients, receiving valuable instructions, and later he took three courses of lectures at the Iowa Medical College, at Keokuk, where he graduated in 1898.  He had successfully passed before the board of examiners and commenced to practice before he graduated, locating in Chase where he has since remained.  Not-withstanding the old saying: "A prophet is not without honor save in his own country," he began the practice of his profession within a few miles of his birthplace, because he had faith in his own natural ability and acquired skill and through preparation, and the result has shown that he had not overestimated his ability, for, though his predecessors in the field had enjoyed seventeen years of successful practice there, in less than two years Dr Young had secured the principal business in his profession in the community, and bought out the goodwill and residence of his former competitor.

In 1898, Dr Young was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Smith, a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of Rice county, where her birth occurred September 27, 1880.  She is a daughter of Mark and Hester M (Personeth) {Personett} Smith.  Her father was a native of Berlin, Germany, emigrated to America and was married in Arkansas, soon after which he came to Rice county.  He was a veterinary surgeon by profession which he followed until his death, which occurred at Lyons, Kansas, June 20, 1900.  In politics he was a strong Democrat, and held some public offices.  He was a brave soldier of the Civil war and for his services received a pension from the government.  His wife survives him and is still living at her home in Lyons.  They were the parents of two children, namely:  Mildred, the wife of our subject; and Gertrude, who became the wife of W M Fisher.  He was a member of the Christian church, as is his wife.  She is a daughter of Marshall Personette, a pioneer farmer of Rice county, where he died in 1882, in the faith of the Christian church, of which his wife was also a member.  They were the parents of six children, as follows: Hester M; Delia who became the wife of J Bucher {Butcher}; Lottie, who married O Heath; Motitis {Maletus}, a farmer; and Mark and Harry, who are railroad men.

Dr Young and his wife have no children, but they have a delightful home to which the large circle of their friends ever receive the most cordial welcome.  He is a member and active worker of the Methodist church, while his wife is a member of the Christian church.  He is a member of the Rice County Medical Association, is health officer of the county and also serves as county physician at a good salary.  In his private practice he has been remarkably successful, and is especially noted for his skill in surgery, having performed some very difficult operations, being particularly successful in the operations of cancers.  He is not only a skillful physician but a good financier and business man as well, is a loyal, progressive and enterprising citizen, taking an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and well merits the confidence and high esteem in which he is held by all with whom he is associated in private and public life.