SAMSON, Seth

SAMSON, HOPKINSON, WISLON, DUNCAN, THOMPSON, ARNETT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 13:18:50

Biography ~ Seth Samson

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 662-63:

SETH SAMSON, farmer, merchant and local preacher, residing in Van Wert, was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, April 12, 1825, son of SETH and EUNICE ELIZABETH (HOPKINSON) SAMSON, the former a native of Massachusetts, near Boston, and the latter of Onondaga County, New York. The parents lived many years in Indiana, where the mother lies buried, but the father died near St. Louis. Mr. SAMSON was reared on a farm. He was married in his native county, in Indiana, November 22, 1848, to MARGARET J. WILSON, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 14, 1825, a daughter of AARON and CATHERINE (DUNCAN) WILSON, of Pennsylvania. Her parents were Covenanters of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. SAMSON have eight children - EDWIN D., an attorney at Des Moines; GEORGE W., principal of the high school in Belle Plain, Iowa; MARY wife of Rev. W. B. THOMPSON, of Humeston, Iowa; JAMES F., resident of Darling, Indian Territory; AVARILLA C., wife of G. W. ARNETT, of Decatur County; CARRIE J., a school-teacher; FRANCIS L., on a farm in Dakota, near Black Hills, and CHARLES M., clerking in a store at Van Wert. Mr. SAMSON has an excellent farm in Franklin Township, in a good state of cultivation. He has held the office of justice of the peace, township assessor, township clerk, and a member of the Board of Supervisors of his county. He came to Wapello County, Iowa, in 1853, and to Decatur County in 1863. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Iowa Infantry, at Ottumwa, and served nearly a year; was discharged at Pittsburg, Tennessee, on account of disability. He began life a poor man, and all he has, he has obtained by hard labor and the blessing of God, and aided by his excellent wife and children. In politics he is a Republican; in religion a Methodist.

NOTE: Seth Samson died on November 24, 1918. Margaret Jane (Wilson) Samson died on May 7, 1889. They were interred at Van Wert Cemetery, Van Wert IA. Of Seth and Margaret's children:
Edwin Durbin Samson, born 13 Dec 1850, Switzerland Co. IN; died 14 Jan 1938, Des Moines IA; interred Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines
George Washington Samson, born 09 Nov 1852, Switzerland Co. IN; died 27 Jun 1942, Cedar Falls IA; interred Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls
Marry Terrell (Samson) Thompson, born 16 Sep 1855, Iowa; died 04 Oct 1944, Quincy IL; interred Chariton Cemetery, Chariton IA
Avarilla Catherine "Ava" (Samson) Arnett, born 16 Feb 1860, Wapello Co. IA; died 19 Apr 1950, Arkansas City KS; interred Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Arkansas City
Francis Lincoln "Frank" Samson, born 24 Jan 1864, Decatur Co. IA; died 23 Dec 1923, Centerville IA; interred Van Wert Cemetery

Submission by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014

Note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014