Joseph Priestly Young, for 25 years in the real estate business with an office at 20 l'erl street, died at his home, 9 Harvard street, yesterday morning at 1.15 o'clock after a short illness, resulting from paralysis, which affected his entire left side. He was 71 years old, and was a native of New York state.

In early life Mr. Young was a railroad contractor, and in the 40's supplied the Worcester and Nashua railroad with ties, ballast and other material used in the construction of that railroad. About 1845 he removed from New York state to this city, and opened a toy and novelty store in Fletcher's block on Main street. He remained in this business until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Co. D, 15th Massachusetts regiment, of which Col. John M. Studley, now of Providence, was captain. Mr. Young was then over 40 years old, and was one of the oldest members of the company. Before leaving for the front, he was made a corporal of his company, and was with the 15th regiment at the battle of Balls Bluff. In that engagement his comrades were defeated and many of them were taken prisoners, but Corp. Young escaped by swimming the Potomac from Virginia to the Maryland shore.

In the spring of '62, he was with his regiment in the peninsular campaign under Gen. George B. McClellan, and took part in the siege of Yorktown. After the surrender of Yorktown, and while the army was marching up the peninsula, Mr. Young was taken sick, and was sent to the hospital at Washington. After his recovery he was on attached duty as a clerk, and worked in Washington. He was later placed in command of a colored regiment with a lieutenant's commission, and served in that capacity until the close of the war.

During Mr. Young's absence his business on Main street was conducted by his wife, and on his return the business was closed out.

There are but eight survivors of the company with which Mr. Young enlisted, now residents of this city.

About 25 yers ago Mr. Young entered the real estate business, in which he was successful. He was considered a good judge of the value of local real estate. His first wife died about 12 years ago, and his second wife, who survives him, is a daughter of Elisha Gale.

In 1854, Mr. Young narrowly escaped death in a railroad accident on the New York and New Haven road, at South Norwalk, Ct. The train ran into an open drawbridge, and all the cars except the rear one, were precipitated into the river. The rear car hung suspended from one end of the bridge, and while in this position Mr. Young escaped. The accident resulted in a frightful loss of life. Half an hour before the train went through the draw, Mr. Young was in one of the forward cars. He was a great bird fancier, and on hearing that a canary bird was in the rear car, went back to look at it. He was examining its fine points when the accident happened. All of Mr. Young's fellow passengers in the forward care were killed.

Until within a week, Mr. Young had been in apparently good healt. Unconsciousness followed the paralytic stroke, in which condition he remained until his death.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon, at 2.30, from 9 Harvard street, which has been Mr. Young's home for upward of 30 years. He was a member of Post 10, G. A. R., a life member of the Worcester county mechanics association, and was prominently connected with the First Baptist church.