Almon R. Young

ALMON R. YOUNG. of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was born January 31, 1855, in Mercer county, near Mercer, Pennsylvania, the son of Lewis C. and Margaret (Glendening) Young.

Mr. Young's education was acquired chiefly in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen years he left the school room to learn the carpenter's trade with James A. Campbell, with whom he worked for several years, thus acquiring a good general knowledge of the business and practical experience that would be of value to him in later years. He subsequently purchased an interest in a planing mill, which he followed until 1891. He then came to Greensburg, in the fall of 1888, and here worked at carpentering for two years, and during the succeeding two years the real estate business occupied the most of his attention, Mr. Young being engaged in this business with Amos Steck. For the next three years his time was occupied in selling building supplies on the road. At about this time a good opening presented itself for starting a first-class laundry in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Young, taking advantage of this opportunity, in 1897, opened what was known as the Westmoreland Steam Laundry, the Keystone, in which he was eminently successful. In 1901 he removed his business to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, there starting the Latrobe Steam Laundry, and three years later his son-in-law became a member of the company. Previous to January, 1901, the date that Mr. Young removed his business to Latrobe, the history of the laundry business in that town was one of failure and discouragement, and the prejudice that had been established against the former laundries of that place, occasioned presumably by poor management, was of such a nature as seemed almost impossible to overcome. Almon R. Young purchased the entire plant, including the building, and set himself to the task of improving and entirely reconstructing the old place. It was equipped with the newest and best machinery, and the business started. The result was what Mr. Young expected… success. His business increased to such an extent that new appliances and more machinery were in order, and the four people whose names appeared on the pay roll at the beginning of the business have been increased to thirty, and the one delivery wagon which was used has been supplemented by four. Among the interesting machines now in use at the Latrobe Steam Laundry are the dampeners, folders, and the steam collar and cuff ironers. The greatest care is exercised in handling every article, and this is one of the great secrets of the laundry's success. Mr. Young's business is certainly one of the most flourishing industries of Latrobe, and an example of what patience, perseverance, energy and honest work can do in the way of overcoming obstacles and building up a successful business. All told, the Latrobe Steam Laundry is a model in equipment and production, and the proprietors, Mr. Almon R. Young and Mr. Harry Brindle are certainly to be congratulated on their well-deserved success.

Mr. Young married Margaret J. Madden, daughter of Charles and Mary J. (Shivley) Madden, and their children were: Minnie Madge, born July 3, 1879; Cecil Mary, August 2, 1881, married Harry Brindle, November 2, 1903, who is a partner in business with her father; Alice L., April 30, 1887; and Margaret F., December 18, 1892.

Source: History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume II, by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906, Page 293-4.
Transcribed by Carol C. Eddleman for the Westmoreland County History Project.
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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