W. E. Samson, general
manager for the firm of Morgan Brothers, merchants of Pleasant Mount,
Wayne county, can trace his ancestry on the maternal side to the
sixteenth century, and the family was prominently identified with the
early history of this country.
Mr. Samson is a native of Wayne county, born in Starrucca, July 29,
1855, a son of James M. and Lois (Sprague) Samson. The father was born
near Starrucca, November 6, 1826, and grew to manhood in Wayne county.
In 1850 he married Mrs. Lois (Sprague) Samson, whose ancestors were
among the Protestants, known as Huguenots, driven from France after the
Edict of Nantes was revoked, being again persecuted by the Catholics. A
shipload of these refugees landed in the Province of Maine, whence they
later removed to Massachusetts, and finally located a few miles from
Plymouth Rock. In 1732 there was a child born to the Spragues, and he
was given the name of Abel. After reaching manhood he removed from
Rhode Island to Connecticut, where he married Mercy Harvey, a bright and
active young woman, and they reared a family of six sons. They
prospered in the Nutmeg State, but learning that land could be purchased
very cheaply on the west shore of the Hudson, Abel Sprague packed his
knapsack with provisions for his journey, and started to investigate this
new territory. On his way he met Silas Bowker, formerly a resident of
Connecticut, who told him that land was cheap but the Indians were
troublesome, but he had no fear of the Red men, as the land was being
settled up, and from parties in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., he purchased a
tract of land and erected thereon a log house and barn. He also bought
a yoke of oxen and a cow. About this time King George sent over his
army to subdue the Colonies, which had become rebellious and were ready
to fight for liberty and freedom. Mr. Sprague enlisted in the patriot
army and was captured by the Tories and Indians, who took him as a
prisoner to a place called Oquaga, on the Susquehanna river, and in
trying to escape he was shot by the Indians while swimming the river.
His children grew up to be useful men and women, and from this brave and
patriotic gentlemen is descended Mrs. Samson, the mother of our subject.
Her brother, Milton Sprague, was with John Charles Fremont in his
several trips over the Rocky Mountains, and was one of those who helped
plant the American flag on Fremont's Peak and saved California to the
United States. He has passed the greater part of his life in Wisconsin
and still survives.
On the paternal side our subject can trace his ancestry to a little
before 1800, when his great grandfather, Henry Samson, with his twin
brother, Ezekiel, came to Wayne county, Penn., from Seneca Lake, N. Y..
Ezekiel soon left the county and was lost track of. Henry Samson
married Polly Hammond, and to this union were born: Sons -- Hiram K.,
Justin, James M. (father of our subject), Willard H., William and Isaac;
and one daughter -- Sallie, who died rather early in life. Henry Samson
was one of the pioneers of Methodism in Starrucca, and served as a class
leader for many years.
Throughout the greater part of his life James M. Samson engaged in
the sawmill business and in lumbering along the Delaware river. He
resided in Starrucca until the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted at
Owego, N. Y., in Company A, 144th N. Y. V. I. under Dr. Redfield, of
Equinunk, captain, and he remained in the service until the close of the
conflict. He died October, 1896, leaving a wife and five children, who
are still living.
Mrs. Samson was first married to Justin Samson, an older brother of
James M., and three children were born to this union: (1) Oscar F.,
born in Binghamton, N. Y., enlisted in 1861 in the Union army, and
re-enlisted in 1864, remaining in the service until hostilities ceased,
and participating in the battles of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania and the
Wilderness. He married Maggie Davis, of Starrucca, who died leaving
five children, and he subsequently wedded Eunice Stickner, of Stevens
Point, Penn., by whom he has one daughter, Lois. (2) Osmar died in
infancy. (3) Mary, born in Binghamton, N. Y., married E. J. Collyer,
of Thompson, Susuquehanna Co., Penn., and died in Starrucca. Her
children were May, Fred, Cora, Minnie, Rose, Frank and Lois. To James
M. and Lois Samson were born nine children: (1) Sallie D., born at
Starrucca, is the wife of William Myrick, of Sherman, Wayne county, and
they have had three children, Lucy, John and Vena, the eldest now the
wife of Alvin Fuller, of Deposit, N. Y.. (2) Milton, born in
Starrucca, in 1853, married Hannah Marks, of Galilee, Wayne county,
resides in Scott township, and has two children, Ruth and Robert. (3)
W. E., of this sketch, is the next in the family. (4) Rose, born at
Hales Eddy, N. Y., in 1857, married George L. Sands, of Hancock, N. Y.,
and died in 1897, leaving a husband and five children, Clinton, Howard,
William, Georgie and Dorothy. (5) George R., born in Wayne county, in
1859, is engaged in farming and the stone quarry business at Stevens
Point, Penn. He married Leora Cook, of that place, and has five
children, Harry, Ralph, Mabel, Archie and Georgie. (6) Nellie, born at
Starrucca, in 1861, first married Alvin Newman, of Otsego, N. Y., and
after his death married Jesse Scott, of Meridale, Delaware Co., N. Y.,
by whom she has two daughters, Grace and Iva. (7) Cora died at the age
of two months. (8) Minnie died at the age of two years. (9) James H.
died at the age two and one-half years.
W. E. Samson was reared in Starrucca, and after attending public
schools of that place for a few years was a student in the Pleasant
Mount Academy for two terms. During the year 1877 he began his business
career as a clerk in the store of W. W. Mumford, of Starrucca, where he
remained for two and one-half years, and in May, 1880, he accepted a
position in the store of J. L. Morgan & Brother, at Pleasant Mount, in
whose employ he has since remained. For several years he has served as
superintendent of their general mercantile establishment, and has the
entire confidence and respect of the members of that firm. In 1883 he
purchased a house and lot in that place, where he has since made his
home. Mr. Samson has for years been a great admirer and breeder of fine
poultry, his favorites being the Silver Wyandottes, which he ships to
nearly every State in the Union. He has exhibited at leading shows,
Madison Square, New York, Boston, etc., and has taken some of the best
prizes offered.
Mr. Samson was married in November, 1881, to Miss Dora Lloyd, of
Equinunk, Wayne county, a daughter of Anthony and Martha Lloyd, formerly
of Colchester, N. Y.. One child graces this union: James Lynn, who was
born in 1884, and is now attending the Pleasant Mount Academy. The
parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, take a leading
part in all Church work, and Mr. Samson has held the positions of class
leader, Bible class teacher and steward. Fraternally he belongs to the
Odd Fellows Lodge at Thompson, and to the Knights of Honor. Being a
strong Temperance man, he is unswerving in his support of the men and
measures of the Prohibition party, and his influence is great and always
for good in the community where he has now made his home for nearly
twenty years. He is treasurer of the Village Improvement Association,
and he is always numbered among the most valued and useful citizens of
the town.
|
