Samuel Holmes Young was the son of George Edward Young, a Wesleyan Methodist preacher and Jane Young (nee Hackworth). He was born on 5 January 1869.

He became an engineer and went on to be the proprietor of Young and Co., Leeds who supplied woollens, horse clothings, trimmings and coach and motor hardware on Crown Point Road, Leeds. The company were contractors to the War Office.

He married Jessica Marshall on 19 September 1900 and they had one son. Jessica died on 7 December 1925 and Samuel died on 27 March 1936.