Roten Alonzo Young celebrated his 100th birthday on April 5, 1957. He spent his centennial celebration with family and friends at the Elks Club in Springfield, and had the achievement commemorated with this photograph published in the Springfield Leader & Press.
Roten was born on a farm in Greene County and, though he was just 4 years old when the Civil War began, he recalled vivid childhood memories. According to Roten, his father, Charles Alvin Young, served in the Confederate Army. Civil War service records list a Charles Young from Greene County, Missouri, serving in Company A, Elliott’s Regiment, Missouri State Cavalry, Confederate States Army.
Roten remembered Union soldiers coming to his home, threatening and questioning him about his father. Roten said they were looking for Confederate soldiers who had returned home and were back in the community. Roten refused to give the soldiers any information, despite their threats…