BIO: Samuel Baldwin Harrah, Fleming Co., KY

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"HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO 
THE PRESENT;  TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, 
ETC."  CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.  1884.

GREENE CO., IN.
JEFFERSON TWP.
PAGE 360
Samuel Baldwin Harrah, merchant, Worthington, was born in Fleming County, Ky., January 
14,1816, a son of Robert and Eliza- beth (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 county--his advent being just at the close of the Revolution--changed it to 
Harrah.   The paretns 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 beacme 
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, 1843, 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, refine- ment and great 
social and moral worth.