Dr. Wilbur Fenelon Young

He attended the public schools of Yalesville, Connecticut, and worked for his father during his boyhood. At the age of twenty he left home and became a salesman for the Loomis Temple of Music in New Haven, Connecticut, and a year later became manager for the concern at Meriden,Connecticut. He was with this company for seven years, and salesman for Wilcox & White, organ manufacturers. He introduced to the trade the automatic player now universally known as the Self- Playing Symphony and .Angelus Player. He was always fond of horses and a student of medical, pharmaceutical and pathological subjects associated with experimental work, and interested in veterinarian subjects. He discovered an efficacious remedy for reducing swellings on horses, formerly treated by blistering. This s]iecific is known as "Absorbine/' and Air. Young has developed a flourishing business in the manufacture and sale of this article. His factory is at Springfield, Massachusetts, where he resides. His place of business is at 273 State and 75 Temple streets. He purchased the Elisha Morgan estate, January 4. 1909, and immediately afterward built a laboratory and office building upon the site. The "Absorbine" is manufactured in this building. .An admirably equipped plant has been installed and ample facilities provided for the rapidly growing business. He also manufactures this product in Montreal, Canada, for the Canadian trade. He has agencies in London, Vienna. Berlin. Rotterdam and Moscow. In 1901 he began the manufacture of "Absorbine" for the animal kingdom, and in 1903 he began the manufacture and sale of ".Absorbine Jr." for mankind, which has proven of more benefit than he ever dreamed of. In 1909 Mr. Young has valuable real estate holdings, and is among the fifteen largest tax payers in Springfield. Massachusetts. Mr. Young is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and a Republican in politics. He is a member of Hampden Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Morning Star Chapter. Royal .Arch Masons ; Springfield Council, Royal and Select Masters; Springfield Comniandery, Knights Templar ; Melha Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine; Evening Star Lodge of Perfection; Massasoit Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Springfield Chapter,Rose Croix, 18°: Boston Consistory, 32°; the Young Men's Christian Association ; Springfield Hoard of Trade, and the Economic Club.

Young married (first) at Meriden, Connecticut, June 24, 1887, Sadie Wilcox Peck, who died November 22, 1891.

He married (second) November 16, 1892, at Bristol, Connecticut, Mary Ida Stephenson, born June 29, 1865. at Washington, D. C, daughter of Thomas B. and .Amelia P'rancis (Stone) Stephenson.

Stephenson, — Thomas P Stephenson was born at Poughkeepsie, New York, November 9, 1843, son of Robert and Mary (Yeomans) Stephenson, who immigrated to this country from Darlington, England. Thomas B. married Amelia Francis Stone, at Washington, D. C, February 10, 1864. She was daughter of Francis and Harriet (Davis) Stone, born in Washington, September 27, 1849, descendant of the old Maryland Stone family.

Children: Mary Ida, born Washington, June 29, 1865, married Wilbur Fenelon Young; Arthur F.. born Bristol, Connecticut, December 8, 1867, married Mary Olive Rice, October 16, 1901

Thomas B., Jr., born Bristol, Connecticut, October 8, 1869,

married Lelia Hubbel George L., born Bristol, Connecticut, March 8, 1871, married Mary Gleason Pease, March 18, 1896;

John Garnett, born Bristol, Connecticut. October 18, 1879.

Children of Wilbur Fenelon (8) and Mary Ida (Stephenson) Young

Sadie Stephenson, born at Meriden, Connecticut, October 26, 1893 ; Wilbur Fenelon, Jr., born at Springfield. Massachusetts. February 13. 1898.

With his and his wife’s interest in herbal remedies and pharmacology, they soon concocted a mixture which they used for one of their own horses when it became lame. The results were astounding, and soon word traveled quickly about the Young’s miraculous remedy. Absorbine liniment for horses was first produced right in the Young’s own home, but with brisk sales and high demand, the Youngs moved their fledgling business to Springfield. W. F. Young Company was incorporated in 1919 while located at the 75 Temple Street location. It later moved to 111 Lyman Street in the early 1920s, and the company sign above its factory became a landmark in the City.

Fortunate for all athletes and active individuals, the W. F. Young Company soon expanded its line of products beyond the four-legged client, and introduced remedies for people. Its Absorbine Jr. pain remedy, and its medications to treat athletes’ feet are still produced to this day, along with its extensive and award-winning line of veterinarian products. The Company has relocated its offices to East Longmeadow, MA and still enjoys a strong following by humans and horses alike!

Source: https://valleymade.wordpress.com/index-by-towncity/absorbine-made-i...

Wilbur Fenelon Young was born on November 18, 1863 in Wallingford, Connecticut to Charles and Julia Tyler (Hine). On June 24, 1887 Wilbur married his first wife, Sadie Wilcox, who died in 1891. A year later, on November 16, 1892, he married Mary Ida Stephenson Young. Mary Ida was born on June 29, 1865 in Stonington, Maryland. Her parents were Thomas Bronson and Amelia F. (Stone) Stephenson. Mary Ida was a descendant of Thomas Stone, the first Protestant governor of Maryland and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Together Wilbur and Mary Ida had two children, Wilbur II and Sally.

  W.F. Young, Inc. is an American company founded by Wilbur F. and Mary Ida Young in 1892 in Meriden, Connecticut. Wilbur delivered cargo with a team of workhorses while Mary Ida cared for the horses and home.[3] In 1892, "blistering"[4] was a common practice done to heal horse muscles, tendons, and joints faster when they were strained. The purpose was allow more blood to enter the area to heal the skin as it was believed that the injured joint would benefit from the extra blood flow. Wilbur and Mary Ida disapproved of this harsh method of treatment. Mary Ida was a herbalist, and formulated a liniment of menthol, wormwood oil, and herbs in her kitchen tub as an alternative to blistering, which she named Absorbine Veterinary Liniment.[5]

The couple then founded W.F. Young, P.D.F. to market and sell the liniment. As neighboring farmers and drivers tried the liniment on their own horses, it grew in popularity. In 1893, W.F. Young, P.D.F. moved to Springfield, Massachusetts.[6]

A few years later, Wilbur was inspired by his son to create a version of the liniment for humans, and Absorbine Jr. was introduced in 1903.[7] Today, Absorbine Jr. products can be found in grocery, retailer supercenters, and drug stores. It is reported that the development of Absorbine Jr. was partially inspired by stories of local farmers using the Veterinary Liniment on themselves after a hard day's work.

After Wilbur Fenelon Young's death in 1918, Wilbur F. Young II took over the business at 20 years old. The following year, in 1919, W.F. Young, P.D.F. was incorporated to become W.F. Young, Inc. as it is known today.[8] W.F. Young Inc. moved to Lyman Street in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1923.

When Wilbur II died in 1928, Mary Ida took over the business from her son. She ran the business until 1957, when her daughter, Sadie Stephenson (Sally) Young, and grandson Wilbur F. Young III were each promoted to president. Mary Ida Stephenson Young died on October 31, 1960 at age 95. Following Sally Young's death in 1977, Wilbur III became the sole president. He was president for 10 years until his death in 1987. At that time, Wilbur III's son, Tyler Young, became President and CEO.

W.F. Young, Inc. acquired the Equine America company and products on November 1, 2007.[9] Equine America products include supplements, grooming aids, and muscle & joint relief.

On October 15, 2008 the board of directors at W.F. Young, Inc. appointed Adam D. Raczkowski as President of the company, with Tyler F. Young retaining his current role of CEO.[10]

In 2012, W.F. Young, Inc. underwent a strategic reorganization of the business to focus exclusively on animal care. They continued to grow their equine care product lines and expanded their offerings into the livestock[11] and companion pet[12] categories. With this change, W.F. Young divested itself of its human healthcare division. In 2013, DSE Healthcare took on the Absorbine Jr. brand.

In 2013, the Equine America line of products was discontinued in the United States in an effort to focus on the growth of the Absorbine line. This led to the decision to move key Equine America brand products into the Absorbine family of products. B-L and Fungasol are now sold under the Absorbine name. The remaining Equine America products are available outside of the U.S. only.

Product lines currently sold include items to improve the health and well-being of animals in the equine, pet, and livestock categories, including the original Absorbine Veterinary Liniment. The company continues to be owned and managed by fourth and fifth generations of the Young family.[13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.F._Young,_Inc.