William Cocke Young, early settler, soldier, jurist, and public official, was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, on May 7, 1812. He was the son of Daniel and Peggy (Branch) Young. He moved to Texas in 1837 and settled in Red River County. Young served as first sheriff of Red River County in 1837, and on February 5, 1844, he was appointed district attorney for the Seventh Judicial District of the Republic of Texas by Sam Houston. Young was a delegate from Red River County to the Convention of 1845.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he and James Bourland raised a company of troops, the Third Texas Mounted Volunteers, which was mustered into service in San Antonio in August 1846. Young was appointed colonel of the unit. In 1851 Young moved to Shawneetown, Grayson County, where he practiced law for six years and served a term as United States marshal. In 1856 the Texas legislature recognized Young's public stature by naming a new county in North Texas in his honor.
During the Civil War, William commanded the 11th Texas Calvary with activities focused chiefly in Oklahoma. In 1862, William and Col. James Bourland created a "citizen's court" in Cooke County to deal with Union sympathizers. This action culminated in the "great hanging" in Gainesville. Later that year, William Young was ambushed by unknown assailants and died.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he and James Bourland raised a company of troops, the Third Texas Mounted Volunteers, which was mustered into service in San Antonio in August 1846. Young was appointed colonel of the unit. In 1851 Young moved to Shawneetown, Grayson County, where he practiced law for six years and served a term as United States marshal. In 1856 the Texas legislature recognized Young's public stature by naming a new county in North Texas in his honor.
During the Civil War, William commanded the 11th Texas Calvary with activities focused chiefly in Oklahoma. In 1862, William and Col. James Bourland created a "citizen's court" in Cooke County to deal with Union sympathizers. This action culminated in the "great hanging" in Gainesville. Later that year, William Young was ambushed by unknown assailants and died.
William Cocke Young, early settler, soldier, jurist, and public official, was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, on May 7, 1812. He was the son of Daniel and Peggy (Branch) Young. He moved to Texas in 1837 and settled in Red River County. Young served as first sheriff of Red River County in 1837, and on February 5, 1844, he was appointed district attorney for the Seventh Judicial District of the Republic of Texas by Sam Houston. Young was a delegate from Red River County to the Convention of 1845.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he and James Bourland raised a company of troops, the Third Texas Mounted Volunteers, which was mustered into service in San Antonio in August 1846. Young was appointed colonel of the unit. In 1851 Young moved to Shawneetown, Grayson County, where he practiced law for six years and served a term as United States marshal. In 1856 the Texas legislature recognized Young's public stature by naming a new county in North Texas in his honor.
During the Civil War, William commanded the 11th Texas Calvary with activities focused chiefly in Oklahoma. In 1862, William and Col. James Bourland created a "citizen's court" in Cooke County to deal with Union sympathizers. This action culminated in the "great hanging" in Gainesville. Later that year, William Young was ambushed by unknown assailants and died.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he and James Bourland raised a company of troops, the Third Texas Mounted Volunteers, which was mustered into service in San Antonio in August 1846. Young was appointed colonel of the unit. In 1851 Young moved to Shawneetown, Grayson County, where he practiced law for six years and served a term as United States marshal. In 1856 the Texas legislature recognized Young's public stature by naming a new county in North Texas in his honor.
During the Civil War, William commanded the 11th Texas Calvary with activities focused chiefly in Oklahoma. In 1862, William and Col. James Bourland created a "citizen's court" in Cooke County to deal with Union sympathizers. This action culminated in the "great hanging" in Gainesville. Later that year, William Young was ambushed by unknown assailants and died.
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