Click here for important information regarding select missing February 2001 postings This board is for posting Biographies. Do NOT post questions here. Questions should be posted to the Query Board ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Delaware Co. In Biographies [ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index (Use 'Back' if from a search list) ] [ Previous | Next ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Biography of William Youse Surname: Youse, Snyder, Frazier History Of Delaware County Indiana Illustrated T.B. Helm 1881 WILLIAM Youse was born in 1784, at Little York, Penn. He was engaged in the war of 1812, holding three several commissions in the army raised at that time. He was successively Lieutenant, Captain and Major. His widow still preserves, as interesting relics, the commissions issued by Simon Snyder, Governor of the Common wealth of Pennsylvania, appointing him to those positions respectively. The one for Captain is dated August 11, 1811(sixty-nine years ago), commissioning him as Captain of the rifle company attached to the second battalion of the Sixtieth Regiment, in the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of the militia of the State of Pennsylvania. The one for Major bears the date of August. 1, 1814, and confers upon him the position of Major of the Second Battalion of the One Hundred and First Regiment in the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of Pennsylvania militia. His earliest commission begins before the breaking-out of the war; but he was called out in actual service in the lines, only for three months, during the winter of 1 814—I 5, being honorably discharged at the close of the war. He came to Union County, Indiana, in 1818, and was married to Mary Frasier, 1823. Mrs. Youse was born in 1802, and still survives, at theage of seventy-eight years. They had six children, four of whom are yet living.He resided at or near Brownsville, Union Co., Ind, during fifty-one years, and for forty-six years from the date of his marriage; four years (after marriage) on a farm and forty-two years in Brownsville. He was by trade a tanner, and was, by turns, tanner, merchant, miller, farmer, trader and business man, stockbuyer, etc. He owned at one time more than 400 acres of land, and was engaged in extensive business; but, through that universal bane and “trap” of men of means, “going security,” he lost the most of his property, and never recovered from the blow. However, he saved his honor and his self-respect, and preserved his reputation and the public esteem as well. Mr. Youse was very active, both in business and politics, and in religion, carrying into them all the ardor and zeal of an earnest love for truth and justice, and steady and persistent purpose to accomplish- all the good that lay in his power. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,and honored his profession by a worthy and consistent life. He was Post master at Blountsville for many years and once represented his county in the Legislature (as a Whig). He died in1869, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Youse was of German descent, his grandfather having emigrated from Germany. In person, he was heavy set, of medium height,and straight as an Indian. He had dark, sandy hair, hazel eyes, and a full but fair complexion. He was prepossessing in appearance, firm but genial, liberal and generous, kind-hearted and free. His widow has been a Methodist for fifty-eight years. In 1878, she obtained an annual pension from the United States Government, of $96, to which she is entitled during her life. She is in good health and sprightly. She walks to church and about town, works constantly, and is a fine specimen of a cheerful and contented old age. For a considerable time, she has employed herself in knitting rugs and mats, and some very curious and labored articles of that sort were shown as her handi work Her residence has been with her son, at Muncie, for several years.