Howard Young (1878-1972), a biography

Howard Young starting out with a photography studio, became a wealthy art dealer, hobnobbing with the rich and famous. Today he is forgotten except for his minor claim to fame of being the great-uncle of Elizabeth Taylor

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Howard Young starting out with a photography studio, became a wealthy art dealer, hobnobbing with the rich and famous.  Today he is forgotten except for his minor claim to fame of being the great-uncle of Elizabeth Taylor

Stephen Howard Young, who sometimes went by S Howard Young, or just Howard Young, was born in Belle Center, Ohio, on 22 May 1878 the eldest child of Philip Young and his wife Mary Funk.  A late biography or perhaps obituary states that he "left his home at the age of 10 to make his way in the world" which of course is nonsense.  It is true however, that he started young in the art of photography.  However the idea that he amassed a fortune of $400,000 and then lost it, is again nonsense.


He married Mabel Rosemond in 1900, whose sister had married Francis Taylor.  Francis Taylor and Elizabeth Rosemond, had a son also called Francis Taylor who was the father of the actress Elizabeth Taylor.  Thus Howard Young and Mabel Rosemond, were her great-uncle and great-aunt.  They moved to St Louis, Missouri where in the World War I Draft Registration of Francis Taylor we find that he lists himself as "secretary to Howard Young".

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By 1920 the Youngs, with Francis Taylor had relocated to New York City where Howard opened the Howard Young Galleries showcasing work of various artists of the United States and eventually Europe as well.  He and Francis went on art buying expeditions as well.


Howard was class conscious, when Francis Taylor wanted to marry the actress Sarah Viola Warmbrodt known on the stage as "Sara Sothern", Young opposed the match, until Sarah informed him that she intended to quit the stage.  Francis and Sarah located in London, to start that cities branch of the Howard Young Galleries, and it was here that they had their two children Howard Taylor, named for his uncle, and Elizabeth Taylor the actress.


Howard worth several million dollars, had a penthouse in New York City overlooking Central Park, as well as a home in Wisconsin, one in Florida, and one in Connecticut.  Howard was a friend of President Eisenhower.  When Elizabeth Taylor's boyfriend Glenn Davis was going to be shipped to the war in Korea, she tried to get her uncle to talk to Ike, to let Glenn out of the Army.


Howard Young died 23 Jun 1972 and is buried in Detroit.