Greene County IN Archives Biographies.....Harrah, Samuel Baldwin 1816 - 
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Author: Goodspeed (1884)

   SAMUEL BALDWIN HARRAH, merchant, Worthington, was born in Fleming County,
Ky., January 14, 1816, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Harrah, who were
natives respectively of Virginia and Maryland, and of Irish descent. Originally,
the name was O'Hara, but owing to the servitude of the Irish people as British
subjects, and not wishing to have any connection whatever with Great Britain,
the progenitor of the name in this country—his advent being just at the close of
the Revolution—changed it to Harrah. The parents of S. B Harrah were married in
Virginia, and soon afterward removed to Kentucky, carrying their entire earthly
effects to their new home on pack-horses. They resided in that State until 1825,
when they came to Greene County, Ind., locating on "Nine Mile Prairie," where
they ever afterward made their home. Being poor people, they were compelled to
endure many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. They were
intelligent and highly respected people, and reared a family of children in a
creditable manner for that early day. S. B. Harrah, subject of this biography,
was reared upon a farm, deriving his education from the old-fashioned log
schoolhouse. His first business venture was buying mules and driving them South
for sale when he was twenty-three years old. This enterprise did not prove
profitable, so Mr. Harrah, in 1844, found employment as a clerk at Point
Commerce, at which he continued until 1850, when he embarked in a general
mercantile business on his own responsibility. In 1856, he came to Worthington,
and became associated with M. H. Shryer in merchandising, with whom he continued
a number of years. Since 1869, he has conducted the leading hardware and
implement store of Worthington. Mr. Harrah is one of Worthington's oldest and
best citizens. His influence and support have ever been felt in the advancement
of all moral, educational and progressive matters, and while he was a firm
advocate of Whig principles previous to 1856, and as equally an ardent
Republican since that time, he has never aspired for any political honors.
November 22, 1842, he was united in marriage with Mrs. A. M. S. Hempsted (whose
maiden name was Scott), who was born in Union County, Ohio, August 3, 1817. Mr.
and Mrs. Harrah are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to their
union have been born six children, named—Myra, Lessie, William, Anna, and two
that died in infancy. Mrs. Harrah had a daughter by her first marriage, Alma,
now Mrs. C. N. Shaw, who is Mr. Harrah's partner in business. Mrs. H. is a
teacher of fourteen years' experience in Indiana, and is a lady of education,
refinement and great social and moral worth.

Additional Comments:
Jefferson Township Biographies

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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