alfred young
1844-1923
Life Story
Early Life and Enslavement
Alfred Young was born on January 20, 1844, in Alabama, during a time when slavery defined the lives of Black families across the South. He was the son of Gibson Young and Sarah Gable Young, both natives of Alabama.
Alfred’s early years unfolded within the institution of slavery, shaping the conditions of his childhood and limiting access to education and opportunity. Like many men of his generation, his path toward freedom would come through the upheaval of the Civil War.
Service in the United States Colored Troops
In the fall of 1864, Alfred made his way to Vicksburg, Mississippi, a key Union stronghold. On October 12, 1864, he enlisted as a Private in Company M of the 3rd Regiment, United States Colored Cavalry.
At the time of enlistment, he was described as a house servant, but his role quickly shifted as he entered military service. His enlistment marked a transition from enslavement to active participation in securing freedom—both for himself and for others.
Alfred served through the final months of the Civil War and into the early Reconstruction period before being mustered out on January 26, 1866.
Reconstruction and Early Family Life
Following his military service, Alfred settled in Newton County, Mississippi, in the area of Township 5, Range 10. By 1870, he had begun building his life as a free man, working as a farm laborer.
He was married to Rebecca, and together they had the following children: Dave, Laura Ann, Gibson, Jr., Mary, Alf, and Sallie Young. This period reflects the early efforts of formerly enslaved families to establish stability, land connections, and family structure in the post-war South.
By 1880, Alfred was recorded as a widower, living alone in Beat 4 of Newton County. Despite personal loss, he remained rooted in the same community, continuing his work as a laborer.
Marriage to Dina and a Multi-Generational Household
In 1895, Alfred married Dina Moore, beginning a new and lasting chapter in his life. By 1900, the couple was living together in Beat 4, Newton County, where Alfred was recorded as a farmer working his own account.
Their household became a center for extended family. Over the years, they raised and supported several children and grandchildren, including Ebenezer, Sarah, Lillie, Oscar Buckley, among others.
Although Alfred could not read or write—a lasting effect of being born into slavery—he demonstrated independence and stability through land-based work. His progression from laborer to farmer reflects a significant achievement in the post-Reconstruction South.
Occupation and Community Standing
Throughout his life, Alfred worked primarily as a farmer. Census records show his steady transition from farm laborer in 1870 to an independent farmer by 1900.
Even into his later years, he remained active in agricultural work. His death certificate lists his occupation simply as “farming,” underscoring a lifetime spent working the land.
Despite the limitations imposed on him in childhood, Alfred built a life marked by resilience, stability, and contribution to the rural community of Newton County.
Death and Burial
Alfred Young passed away on January 2, 1923, in Newton County, Mississippi, near the community of Lawrence. According to his death certificate, he was 79 years, 11 months, and 18 days old.
The cause of death was recorded as “senility,” a common term of the time used to describe death from old age.
He was laid to rest on January 3, 1923, at Tanglewood, now associated with Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. The informant on his death record was H. L. Lockhart of Lawrence, Mississippi.
Legacy
Alfred Young’s life spanned one of the most transformative periods in American history—from slavery to freedom, from war to Reconstruction, and into the early twentieth century.
He was part of the generation of Black men who not only witnessed emancipation but actively fought for it through military service. In the decades that followed, he helped build the foundation of family and community life in Newton County.
Through his labor, his service, and his role as a family patriarch, Alfred left a legacy carried forward by his descendants and the many lives shaped within his household.
His story stands as a testament to endurance, transition, and the long journey from bondage to self-determination.
Biographical Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alfred Young |
| Birth | January 20, 1844, Alabama |
| Parents | Gibson Young & Sarah Gable |
| Military Service | Private, Company M, 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry |
| Spouses | Rebecca (1st wife); Dina Young (m. 1895) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Residence | Beat 4, Newton County, Mississippi (Township 5, Range 10 area) |
| Death | January 2, 1923, Newton County, Mississippi |
| Burial | Tanglewood / Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery |
Resting Place
Green Grove Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1870-1920 Federal Censuses
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865
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