YOUNG, Ephraim Wood
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 252-253

Hon. Ephraim Wood YOUNG, deceased, was for many years one of the most 
prominent and influential citizens of Baraboo, Sauk County, WI. His 
distinguished career reflected credit now only upon his city and county, but 
upon the whole state. Mr. YOUNG was born in Bingham, Somerset County, ME, 08 
Oct 1821, and was the eldest in a family of 14 children. By his own efforts 
he acquired an education and graduated from Harvard College with the class of 
1848. Edward EVERETT, president of the college, spoke of him as having 
sustained a distinguished rank as scholar, and that his character was most 
exemplary. For several years he was professor of natural sciences in the 
high school at Lowell [Middlesex County], MA, and in the meantime studied law 
and was admitted to the bar in 1856. The same year he came to WI and opened 
a law office at Waupun [Waupun in Dodge County, or Waupun in Fond du Lac 
County?], but soon becoming dissatisfied, he bought a farm in Prairie du Sac 
Township, Sauk County, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits; 
farming was always his delight.

For 14 or 15 years Mr. YOUNG attended the annual sessions of the general 
assembly, as a member one year, as clerk several years, and later as chief 
clerk for seven or eight years. He was also a trustee for the Wisconsin 
State Hospital for the Insane and a member of the commission to locate the 
Northern Hospital for the Insane. He was a prominent representative of the 
Republican party and was its candidate for secretary of state in 1873, but 
shared the fate of his associates in their defeat that year. In 1881 he was 
elected county judge and some time afterward removed to Baraboo [Sauk County, 
WI]. He was twice re-elected and had but little more than half served his 
last term of four years when his death occurred, 25 Mar 1892.

Judge YOUNG married Miss Harriet NORTON, of Lowell [Middlesex County], MA, 
and to them were born two children: a daughter, who died in infancy, and a 
son, who was killed by runaway horses at the age of 18 years. In his 
religious views the Judge was a Unitarian and quite liberal, and was one of 
the board of trustees of the Free Congregational church of Baraboo [Sauk 
County, WI]. He was systematic, accurate, and conscientious in the discharge 
of his official duties and his sentences were models of judicial fairness. 
He was a noble, generous man, deeply interested in the cause of education and 
the advancement of his fellow men, and was a member of the board of education 
in Baraboo for some time. Universally respected and beloved, he was laid to 
rest by his brother Masons in the cemetery at Prairie du Sac [Sauk County, 
WI], where those members of his family who had preceded him were also buried.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly