Fountain County IN Archives Biographies.....Mentzer, Samuel D. 1816 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 11, 2006, 6:23 am

Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Samuel D. Mentzer, bridge-tender, Attica, was born near Baltimore, in
Frederick county, Maryland, February 22, 1816, and was the son of Samuel and
Sarah (Derr) Mentzer. He was bound out by the orphans' court for three years to
learn the carpenter's trade, but before his time had quite expired he left the
man to whom he was indentured. This was in 1837. In the same year he departed
from Boonesboro, where he had learned his trade, and went to Wheeling on foot;
from there he went by steamboat to Louisville. After working three months at
Jeffersonville he continued his travels down the river on a flat-boat, finally
reaching Vicksbnrg. Here he worked some time, and in the meanwhile had the
small-pox. He lived in the south two years, engaged at his trade in different
places, and during the time made two trips to New Orleans. In 1839 he came
north. A number of his friends from Boonesboro had now settled at Attica, and he
was attracted to this place by their presence, where he has ever since made his
home. He worked at his trade fifteen years from this time, erecting more than
one hundred buildings in Attica, and then for a short period was in the grocery
trade. After this he kept a livery stable seven or eight years, and was twice
burned out while in the business. At the same time he began driving the bus and
carrying the mail, and did this service fifteen years, attending all trains, day
and night, and for twelve years making his couch on the counter of the Revere
House. Being rendered unfit for this duty, he changed places with his son John,
who was tending the Attica bridge, and for a few years has occupied this
position. He was married here, in 1840, to Sarah Dutrow, of Boonesboro,
Maryland, by whom he had six children: George W., Emma, Annie, Samuel C., John
C. Fremont, and Birdie (deceased). His son Samuel C. enlisted in the early part
of the war in Co. D, 20th reg. Ind. Vols., and fought in the second battle of
Bull Run; at Fredericksburg, under Burnside; at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and all the great battles in Virginia
under Grant to the close of the war.

Additional Comments:
Logan Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.


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