SAMUEL SMITH, one of the leading citizens of Canonsburg, is a son of Christopher Smith, who was born, reared and educated in Washington county. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of Reuben Hull, a native of this county. The following children were born to this marriage: Andrew, William, Robert, John, Richard, Samuel, Maybury, J. P., Elizabeth (wife of George Shields) and Lydia (Mrs. George Buchanan). The father of this family was a farmer and stock raiser; he had purchased an unimproved farm in Smith township, where he always resided. He was a Whig, and in religious faith was connected with the Raccoon Presbyterian Church from the time of it's first organization. He died in 1814, and was buried by the side of his wife in the Raccoon cemetery. Samuel Smith was born in March, 1812, on the home farm in Smith township, this county, and attended the log cabin subscription school of the vicinity. In 1828 he went to Guernsey county, Ohio, becoming the apprentice of Samuel Lawrence, a tanner, with whom he remained four and one half years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Pennsylvania, and opened a tannery in Canonsburg, which he has conducted since. In 1835 he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of John McCoy, North Strabane township, this county, and she dying July 20, 1855, he was married October 3, 1856 to Mary, daughter of Stewart Goshorn and she bore him children as follows: Tryphenia (Mrs. B. C. Arnold), Samuel C., Mrs. Joseph Carter, Mary (wife of Alvin Forsythe), George V., and Sadie. The mother of these children died February 4, 1865, and on December 10, 1873, Mr. Smith was married to Ella Hanna, and after her death to Sara J., daughter of Daniel Gault. Politically Mr. Smith was a Whig, and has been a Republican since the organization of the latter party, and has taken an active part in local offices, especially those pertaining to school and borough interests. In religion he has for many years been a member of the U. P. Church at Canonsburg, and was also a member of the Session. He is a successful business man and prominent citizen.

Text taken from page 834 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Dorothy Elwood of Mulberry, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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