Obituary says he was born on 2 Feb 1823! He was raised in Fayette Co and went to public school there in a log cabin. Being raised on a farm he became a farmer himself. In 1850 he was listed as a laborer (27, PA) with wife Mary (27, PA), son William (3) and dau Harriet (1 mo).
He moved to Knox Co, Ohio in the spring of 1852 and stayed there until 1874, when he moved again to Monroe, Jasper Co, Iowa. He is listed in the 1870 census for Wayne Twp, Knox Co, OH as Samuel (47, PA), wife Mary (46, PA) and family.
He farmed in Fairview Twp, Jasper Co, IA from 1874 until 1891, and is listed there as Sam in the 1880 census, with his wife Mary and sons Newton and Edward. Listed with them is his son John with his wife Carry and step-son George Allen. Samuel then settled in Newton (Palo Alto Twp), and subsequently moved in with his son, Charles. He was a Democrat. In 1894 he owned 91 Acres in Jasper Co, which he rented as a means of support.
In 1895 he married again, to Catherine Eagle (Mar 1850, OH) and they were listed together in 1900 in Newton city.