Egerton Ryerson Young (1840–1909) was a Canadian teacher, Methodist missionary, lecturer, and author.
By sharing his travels and mission work in his writing, E.R. Young helped popularize Methodist missions and expand the knowledge of the region.
Biography
Young was born on 7 April 1840 in Crosby, Upper Canada, third son to Reverend William Young and Amanda Waldron. His mother died in 1842 hence was raised by his stepmother, Maria Farley.
Young started his adult life as a teacher, certified in June 1860. He stopped teaching in May 1863 after losing his original optimism. Then, following his father steps, he joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church In 1867, the year of the Canadian Confederation, he was ordained on 9 June, and married to Elizabeth Bingham on 25 December. They had five children.
In January 1868, Young was invited to become a missionary to natives of Rupert's Land. With his wife they decided to go on that journey, on 11 May 1868 they left for Red River, Manitoba to settle in Norway House. In January 1869, Young started his mission work among the Cree at Nelson House, where in June, Egerton Ryerson Junior, called Eddie, the Youngs' first son was born. During his time at Nelson House, Young visited the Saulteaux of Berens River, and in 1873 he was assigned to develop a mission there. In September 1875, Young and Elizabeth witnessed the Treaty 5 being signed. In the summer of 1876, leaving the mission one year earlier than the three-years term, the Youngs moved back to Ontario, in Port Perry. The reasons being for Eddie to attend school, but officially, "the reason cited was Elizabeth's poor health". After Young's time in missions, he only had poorly paid pastoral work in Ontario.
