Mr Young was born at Dailly on 23 June 1869, the son of John and Martha Young.  He was education at Ayr Academy and the University of Edinburgh where he gained his M.A. in 1890.  He continued his studies at the Free Church College, Glasgow, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Ayr.

He was Assistant Minister at Glasgow, St. Enoch’s and Crieff South. He was ordained and inducted to Johnstone and Wamphray in August 1896, and in September of that year he married Jean Wilhelmina Mackay. In 1906 he was inducted to Renfrew Trinity United Free Church of Scotland where he ministered until his death in 1918. There were three sons, Oswald B.Sc., John Alistair Kennedy, M.B., Ch.B., and Maurice.