Once upon a time in Ada

Things you didn’t know about your own hometown

By Lee Crouse
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Ada Pioneer - Christian Young. The Ada Record 17 April 1861

The day that Lincoln was inaugurated president March 4, 1861- Christian Young landed in Ada, having come from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to “Frogtown.” He began his active life by buying an interest in the flouring mill that stood a square south from where M. Young afterwards built his magnificent brick residence. This was the first steam flour mill in Ada and was built in 1859 by Jacob Sleister and Calvin Gilbert but Mr. Young bought a third interest in it with Jack Baker as his partner who later sold his interest to Robert Doling. In 1863 Mr. Young’s brother William also came and a year later their brother William also came. They bought Doling’s interest in this mill by paying partly in gold at $2.85. Messrs C. Young and Baker had leased Mr. Sleister’s interest and later the Young Bros. bought it. After running it several years they sold it in Dec. 1872 to Wm. Edwards & Son who next year sold it to Rinehart & Lowery and they to John B. Carey who operated it until 1879 when it was abandoned and a few years ago the buildings gave way to handsome residences.

In 1872 the Young Bros. erected a scroll mill, their brother-in-law, Jacob Forbing, being interested in it as a partner. This was the second mill of the kind in the U.S. and it turned out walnut chair stuff. It burned in 1875 or 76 and was not rebuilt there though the Young Bros. continued the business after they bought the old McElroy & Cochran saw mill which was the predecessor of the Ada Coal & Lumber Co.

Uncle Chris. was the 5th child born in Nassau, Germany on Feb. 9, 1832 an was little over a year old when his parents came to this country. They settled first at Osnabury, Stark county, and about a year and a half later removed to Ft. Wayne, Ind. The father was a locksmith.

Mr. Young was married in Indiana on April 8, 1860 to Miss Martha J. Stevick. To them three children were born, one daughter dying in childhood, their second son, H.H. died in 1900 while acting as postmaster. The eldest son, Prof. B.S. Young, is the efficient head of the Ada School of Pharmacy, the third largest school of the kind in the U.S.

Mr. Young has added substantially to the solidity of the town by erecting first a fine brick residence on Johnson Street and in 1882 the three story Hotel block in conjunction with his brother William who put up the two north rooms.

Mr. Young was a charter member of the Ada Masonic Lodge and helped bear its burdens in its trying period. He has been one of the pillars of the Presbyterian church for many years, has served on council for numerous terms and has been a member of the school board.

He has been an upright citizen in every respect and a man worthy of the respect of this community.

In his earlier years he was very fond of hunting and for several years after the big game had been killed off here he went with the various parties who make hunting trips to Michigan and Arkansas. He and W.L. Reese killed the last deer that was shot in this vicinity. Fishing is also his delight and these bright days he and Dr. Walters and Bill Lantz begin to have an affinity for each other that ends in a visit or two to the reservoir, to be repeated in the Fall.

The Record trusts his declining years may be full of peace and comfort and that his life may be prolonged to a ripe old age. He has been an active citizen and deserves the honor of his fellow citizens as a crowning glory of his latter days.