Today we travel to far western Kentucky, to Crittenden County, located on the Ohio, Cumberland and Tradewater Rivers. Crittenden was created by the state legislature on April 1, 1842, from a portion of Livingston County. It was the state’s 91st county and was named for John J. Crittenden, a U.S. senator, attorney general and governor of Kentucky. The small town of Marion is the county seat – as of 2010 the population was 3,039.
In the Old Marion Cemetery that Ritchey and I visited last year while in Kentucky, I found the gravestone for Major Berry S. Young, Paymaster, U.S. Volunteers. I had never seen such a stone for a Major – or a paymaster! This started the search for the Young family of Crittenden County.
As was mentioned above the county was formed in 1842 from a portion of Livingston County – and it was there I searched for a marriage record for our Berry Sams Young. He signed for a marriage bond July 4, 1838, and on July 19th married Narcissa Dodd, services performed by R. M. Collum. When part of Livingston County was taken to make the new Crittenden County, Berry and Narcissa lived in that portion.
In the 1850 census Berry is 38, a tavern keeper, born in Virginia. Narissa is 30. Daughters Matilda J., 8; Nancy M., 6; and Mary H, 4; are included in the household. Additional Nancy Doctorman, 38; Rosanna Arterburn, 13; J. W. Primmer, 24, schoolteacher, born in New York; John W. Headly, 28, lawyer; Harriet M. Carey, 22, New York; Summer Marble, 34, lawyer, Massachusetts; Eliza J. Marble, 27; and William W. Marble, 1.
A newspaper article in The Frankfort Commonwealth, dated Tuesday, June 3, 1851, lists the county officers for Crittenden County. Berry S. Young was the County Court Clerk.
Willis, son of B. S. and Narcissa Young, born May 17, 1854, died May 2, 1860. He was buried in Old Marion Cemetery. This is the only evidence of Willis Young. He was born after the 1850 census and died before the 1860 census.
In the 1860 census Berry is 48, he is listed as the county clerk, born in Virginia. Wife Narcissa is 40; living in the household were daughters Matilda, 17; Nancy M., 15; Helen M., 13 and Harriet A.
And shortly after the census was taken, the United States was torn in half by the Civil War. Crittenden County was generally pro-Confederate, with both armies passing through.
Another death occurred in 1863. Daughter Hattie, born December 9, 1851, died December 26, 1863, aged 12 years and 17 days.
The Crittenden County Courthouse was burned by Confederate Brigadier General Hylan B. Lyon during his raid across western Kentucky in December of 1864.
Berry S. Young was appointed in April of 1864 as Major, with the position of paymaster.
He was examined by the Central Board of Examiners of the Pay Department January 18, 1865. Major Young explains that he was a ‘refugee, thrown out of my county by the Rebels. I lost no time in attending to the business of the County Clerk. I was driven out by the guerillas. The courthouse was burnt down last week. I was about five days in paying two regiments. Was about three days making out the payment the last time. I expect to return to my County Court Clerkship as soon as I can return to my home in safety. I accepted my appointment simply as a temporary thing. I reside in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.’
The Board of Examiners decided that ‘Major Young is too far advanced in years and is too heavy and sluggish to begin a new life requiring person activity. Having a good and experienced clerk, in the opinion of the Board, been disposed and probably compelled to rely on him for the discharge of the light duties he has already performed, for his examination, as will be seen, was anything but satisfactory.’
‘Major Young is in bad health, having an inflammatory disease of the bladder, which, it is feared, has impaired his ability to take the field. He is a Kentuckian – a patriotic gentleman – a Refugee, and holds at the time, and contemplates holding on to the Office of Clerk of the County Court of Crittenden County, Kentucky.’
You must surely be thinking that at age 53 Berry Young should be able to do what someone of that age could do in our time. The life expectancy for a man in 1860 was 39.4 years; in 2020 it was 78.9. Times were hard – especially with a war going on – and it made old men out of younger men than Berry S. Young. It was nothing on his character that led to his resignation on February 24, 1865.
Louisville, Ky February 10th, 1865
General,
I have the honor to respectfully submit to you the resignation of my commission as additional Paymaster U.S.A. for the following reason, unfavorable report of board appointed under act of June 25th, 1864.
I have transferred to the Post Quartermaster all public property for which I have been accountable and to Major William Allen, Chief Paymaster, due all public money in my hand and am not indebted to the United States on any accounts whatsoever.
I have the honor to be most respectfully, your abject servant,
Berry S. Young
After the war daughter Matilda J. Young married Oscar W. Sanders October 4, 1865, by James Hawthorne at Berry S. Young’s home.
Frankfort Tri-Weekly Kentucky Yeoman
Tuesday, May 8, 1866
In a list of county clerks, Berry S. Young is listed for Marion, Crittenden County.
Helen Mary Young married Dr. Raymond Charles Wheeler, February 18, 1867. Their children were Naraberry (was this a combination of Helen’s mother and father’s names?) and Charles Campbell Wheeler. Raymond died about 1870/1871 and she married Rev. Zachary Taylor Butts, December 1, 1873, by Israel McMurry, in the presence of James Carter, S. Hodge and Mrs. Indiana Sanders. Helen and Zachary Taylor Butts children were Lena Myrtle, Mary Linnie, Luther Miles and Elizabeth Mae Butts.
The Louisville Daily Journal
Monday, January 20, 1868
In the House of Representatives, Saturday, January 18, 1868
Same – For the benefit of Berry S. Young, late Clerk of the Crittenden County Court. Passed.
Was this since Berry Young was no longer Crittenden County Clerk?
In the 1870 census we find Berry Young listed as an attorney – not county clerk, aged 58. Narcissa is 48. In the household are Matilda J. Sanders, 29; Mary H. Wheeler, 24, N. B. Wheeler, 2, Charles Wheeler, 4/12, born in February; Nancy Doctorman, 57, and John Tadlock, 14. It is interesting to note that Berry Young was an Assistant Marshall for the census of 1870. He signed the page his family was listed on.
Berry Sams Young died February of 1880, aged 65, farmer, of dropsy, his physician, Dr. Travis. Today dropsy is known as edema, swelling under the skin, which is filled with fluid, a sign of congestive heart failure. Bloodletting was the traditional method of treating dropsy in the 19th century, either through venesection or using leeches. I found no obituary or will.
Categories: Family Stories
