Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 128] a leading resident of Mahoningtown, was born in Allegheny, City, Pa., July 13, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Logan) Sample, whose marriage occurred in 1816.
Thomas Sample was the second white child born north of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania—Gen. William Robinson being the first; when Allegheny City was incorporated under a city charter, Gen. Robinson was the first mayor and Thomas Sample the second. The latter's birth took place Jan. 8, 1791. He made Allegheny City his home from 1818 to 1843, during which period he served twenty years as justice of the peace. In 1843, Mr. Sample leased his extensive tannery, and bought a large farm near Mahoningtown, and here made his home the remainder of his life, devoting much of his time to the cultivation and propagation of fruits and flowers. His business interests in Allegheny City kept him no small portion of the time en route between his farm and the city. He was a son of James Sample, who married Christiana Taggart, daughter of James Taggart, an early settler of Cumberland County. Our subject's mother, Margaret (Logan) Sample, was born March 5, 1794, and died in 1882; she was a daughter of Jas. Logan, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and married a Miss Watt, whose relative, James Watt, will ever be remembered for his services to the world in the discovery of the expansive powers of steam, and his proposition for the utilization of this great force in the sciences and manufactures. Although Miss Watt was small of stature, the rest of the family were very tall, the total heighth of three brothers aggregating nineteen feet; most of the family settled in Virginia. James Logan, whose mother was a Miss Wilson came from Ireland and settled in the Allegheny River Valley eighteen miles above Pittsburg, locating on the banks of the river, and establishing Logan's Ferry. He also purchased some six or eight hundred acres of land, and opened an inn for the refreshment of travelers near a basin in the river, known as Logan's Eddy. It was a favorite place for the river men, who made it a stopping place for meals and lodging. He also kept and dealt in household necessities, having a well-furnished general store in connection with his tavern. These various interests, with what profits he made in his farming operations, conspired to yield him a comfortable income and enough more, so that he accumulated a large fortune for that time and locality. His death occurred on his estate at an advanced age in 1842. Of the ten children born to our subject's parents five survive, namely: James T., a veteran of the Mexican War; Mary, the widow of William P. Eichbaum, now residing in New Castle; Thomas, who is engaged in farming at Ashville, Ohio; Luther H., our subject; and Rev. J. Logan. The latter is an able and eloquent divine, who has a record for one of the most unique trips through the West of any preacher, living or dead. Having located a claim at Sturgis, Dakota, he started out with his team and carriage for an evangelizing tour through the mountainous regions, and during this journey he traversed the States and Territories of Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and then back through Wyoming to his starting-point, Sturgis.
Luther H. Sample lived in Allegheny City until he was nine years of age, when his parents moved to the farm, which is now his home within the present borough limits of Mahoningtown. After completing a district school education he advanced a step farther by pursuing an extended course of instruction in the New Castle Academy under the tutelage and supervision of the Rev. Robert Audley Brown. When eighteen years old, he went to Allegheny City, and entered a drug store to learn the profession of a pharmacist, but after three years he gave up his situation to come home and run the home farm, which has[sic] father proposed selling. Luther H. and his youngest brother, the Rev. J. Logan Sample, purchased the farm, and Luther H. has made it his home ever since, enjoying the many good things of life that have come to him through the successful operation of a fertile and well-disposed farm. Among the agriculturists of Taylor township he is known as progressive and enterprising, and ready to adopt any new plan that promises a real advance in the present system of farming.
Mr. Sample was married in his own residence Jan. 29, 1877 to Mary Shannon, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bordman) Shannon. To them have been granted the following twelve children: Margaret Logan; Mary Bordman; Walter Scott; Robert Algernon; Oliver Hazen; Ruth Halsay, deceased; Jane Simpson; an infant that died unnamed; Rachel English; Clara, Cooper; Luther Howard, Jr.; and Roy Thomas. Mrs. Sample is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and well beloved by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. Mr. Sample in his political views is an uncompromising Republican, and has served his township in every office that is within the gift of the people; for twenty years he has been justice of the peace. He ranks among the leading and most influential citizens of Mahoningtown, and is identified with every movement that he considers to be for the real advancement of the community's interest. He is liberal and free-handed, and his acts of private charity, though little known, are yet very extensive and reflect credit on his generous nature. He has been a member of Masonic Orders for forty years, and is now a member of Mahoning Lodge, No. 243; Delta Chapter, No. 70; and Lawrence Commandery, No. 62; all of New Castle.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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