• John initially traveled to the valley in 1847, but later, he served as company chaplain, as well as captained a couple of his own companies assisting emigrants across the plains.

  His birth and death dates are confirmed by his death certificate.

Jedediah M. Grant/Joseph B. Noble Company (1847)

• Age at Departure: 10

Eli Whipple Company (1858)

• Age at Departure: 20

John R. Young Freight Train (1862)

• Age at Departure: 25
• Company Captain

John R. Young Company (1863)

• Age at Departure: 26
• Company Captain

Sources

• "A Thrilling Experience on the Plains: The Stampede," Our Pioneer Heritage, vol. 7, 28-33.
• Andrew Jenson, "Young, John Ray," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Volume 2 (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Andrew Jenson History Company, 1971), 274.
• Bell, Eli, Diaries, 1854-[1864], vol. 4.
• “Blanding Man, Oldest Utah Pioneer of 1847, is Dead,” Times Independent, 17 September 1931, 1.  
• Dame, William H., to Brigham Young, 18 Sept. 1862 [telegram], in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 59, box 45, fd. 24.
• Dorius, Ann Maria, The Story of My Life.  Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.
• Early Missionary Database
• Franklin W. Young autobiography, circa 1915-1917.
• Hans P. Lund journals, 1854-1880, 81-84. 
• Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, 21 June 1847, 28.
• Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001, 12 September 1863, 2-9.
• Jensen, Jens, Sketch of life of Jens Jensen 1941, fd. 2, 1.
• Jensen, Ole Andersen, Reminiscences and diary, 1863-1920, 2.
• John R. Young, Autobiographical sketch, reel 14, box 20, fd. 3, item 4, 9.
• John R. Young, Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 (1920), 109-14.
• Johnson, Olaus, "Autobiography of Olaus Johnson," in Chronicles of Courage , 8 vols. [1990-97], 5:299.
• Johnson, Sixtus Ellis, Journal, vol. 3, in Diaries 1854-1857.
• Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 12 September 1863, 2-9.
• Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 23 September 1863, 2.
• Missionary Department Missionary Registers, 1860-1959, Volume 1.
• Ole A. Jensen, "My Trip from Denmark to Zion in 1863," Our Pioneer Heritage, vol. 7, 35-36.
• Petersen, Ernest, Autobiographical sketch, 1-2.  Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.
• Stringham, William Elisha, "Life history of William Elisha Stringham, as told to and written by his son, 25 April 1937," 1-2.
• Utah Death Certificate Index, 1905-1967.
• Young, Franklin Wheeler, Young family genealogy [ca. 1889-1899], fd. 1, 4-6.
• Young, John R., Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 [1920], 286-96.
• Young, John R., Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 [1920], 56, 60-61.
• Young, John R., Letter, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 29 Oct. 1862.
• Young, John R., Reminiscences, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17 Aug. 1862, 1-2.