Portrait of Judge John Young, Namesake of Young Township

John Young was born in 1762 into a prominent and well-to-do family in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a clerk in the office of Sir Walter Scott's father.  Before serving as the first judge in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, from 1806 to 1836, he was a lawyer in Philadelphia, and then in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, in western Pennsylvania.  

Although he was not a resident of the township, Young Township, Indiana County, was named in his honor. Partially reproduced here is a portrait of John Young painted in Philadelphia by Gilbert Stuart in about 1800. The artist also painted a portrait of Young's first wife, Maria. Stuart was, at the time, America's premier portrait artist responsible for the paintings of many notable men and women, including those of the first five presidents of the United States. His most famous painting is that of George Washington. Millions of Americans have seen this painting in school rooms, court houses, and other public buildings. 

The canvas size of the painting by Stuart is 29 by 24 inches. In the original painting John Young is holding a book in his right hand.