Biographical Sketch of George W. Samuel, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
**********************************************************************

George W. Samuel was born June 4, 1810, at Newcastle, Henry County,
Kentucky.  At the age of seventeen he left school, for want of means
to further prosecute his studies, owing to his father's reserves in
business, whereby he lost his once ample fortune.  In feeble and 
delicate health, he started to seek his fortune in the West, and
reached Fayette, Howard County, in November, 1828, his capital at
this time being fifty cents, his mother's parting blessing, and a
clear conscience.  He entered the mercantile house of Harrison, 
Glasgow & Ross.  After remaining with them two years, he had so won
the confidence of his employers that, with their aid and commendation,
he embarked in business in Chariton, Missouri, but on account of un-
healthiness of the location, he removed to Huntsville, Randolph County.
The settlement, not affording trade enough for his energies, he formed
a partnership with the Lawrences, of Columbia, in 1834.  In 1835, they
erected the first paper mill west of the state of Ohio, at Rockbridge,
Boone County.  The depreciation of state banks, at this time, produced
a panic, which, added to the burning of their paper mill, brought the
firm into depressed circumstances.  Mr. Samuel's declining health re-
quired a change of climate, and a sea voyage was recommended.  The 
vessel, upon which he took passage, was wrecked near the Bemici Islands
on Moselle Rock.  He managed to get back to Missouri, a mere skeleton
and penniless.  Through the assistance of a friend, he embarked in the
packing business, but the experiment was unfavorable.  He next engaged
in steamboating on the river, but this proved disastrous.  Mr. Samuel's
reverses emboldened him to try other fields, with new hope, and, in 
1838, removed to Platte City.  In Martinsville he erected a neat, plain
cottage, the first house upon which a saw, hammer and plane were used
in the Platte Country.  This house was occupied afterwards by Hon. 
David R. Atchison, for one day President of the United States.  He was
one who foresaw the great future of the site upon which the city of St.
Joseph now stands.  A company was formed to buy it, a bargain for the
pre emption right, for $1,600, made between them and the proprietor,
but for a trivial offence, given by one of the party, the owner refused
to carry out his agreement.  Mr. Samuel then embarked in the mercantile
business in Savannah, Missouri, where he remained until 1860, at which
time he found his fortune again restored.  Being driven out by the war, 
after suffering great loss, he removed to St. Joseph, in 1868, and 
organized the St. Joseph Fire and Marine Insurance Company, and, for
a time, was its President.  He has been interested in stores, in the
counties of Howard, Boone, Clay, Chariton, Randolph, Ray, Lafayette,
Clinton, Caldwell and Andrew, and has always been noted for his indom-
itable energy and integrity, passing through all the panics from 1837
to 1877, making no compromise with his creditors, but paying always
one hundred cents on the dollar, and it is a well known fact that he
owes no man a just debt, and that, to his knowledge, never wronged a 
fellow creature.  Mr. Samuel is one of the nature's nobleman, a friend
in need, a counsellor in trouble, and a sympathizer in sorrow's dark
hour.  His business tact and commercial integrity are too well known
to need mention.  Mr. Samuel was married in 1838, to Miss Rebecca T.
Todd, daughter of the late Judge Todd, early in life a Captain under
General Harrison, in the war of 1812.  She died July 26, 1865.  A
month later, on the 26th of August, his only son, Colonel David Todd
Samuel, was killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain.  Mr. Samuel has
three daughters: Eliza B., wife of Henry W. Yates, of Omaha; Annie I.,
now Mrs. John S. Lemon, and Florence T., now Mrs. T. Johnson.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================