Lafayette YOUNG, Congress, IA (1848-1926)

YOUNG, Lafayette, a Senator from Iowa; born near Eddyville, Monroe County, Iowa, May 10, 1848; attended country schools and night school in St. Louis, where he learned the printing trade; founded and published the Atlantic (Iowa) Telegraph 1871-1890; member, State senate 1874-1880, 1886-1888; established the Des Moines Capital in 1890 and was editor until his death; during the Spanish-American War was in Cuba as a war correspondent in 1898; presidential elector on the Republican ticket in 1908; appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Jonathan P. Dolliver and served from November 12, 1910, to April 11, 1911, when a successor was elected; unsuccessful candidate for election to fill this vacancy; war correspondent for four months in Europe in 1915; Chautauqua lecturer in 1915; chairman of the State council for defense for Iowa during the First World War; was made a knight of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium in recognition of his work in raising funds in Iowa for the children of Belgium; died in Des Moines, Iowa, November 15, 1926; interment in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography; Young, Lafe. History of Cass County, Iowa, Together with Brief Mention of Old Settlers. Atlantic, IA: Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present