Samuel Culbertson
Samuel Culbertson was born June 15, 1802. in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, of a long line of honorable and distinguished ancestors, as appears in the genealogy of the Culbertson family, published by a member thereof. His father, Colonel John Culbertson, was Brigade Inspector of Militia in Pennsylvania. His mother's maiden name was Mary Angeer. He had a good common school education, and when a youth of seventeen, he became a clerk in the mercantile establishment of A. W. Chambers, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. When of age, he entered into the mercantile business for himself at Greenwood, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1834.
On September 16, 1834, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Kennedy, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Directly after his marriage, he removed to West Union, Adams County, Ohio, and there engaged in the mercantile business. He remained there but two years, when he went to Knightstown, Indiana, where he engaged in the same business with C. S. Campbell and S. Chambers. While there the panic of 1837 struck them and they were financially ruined. They took four thousand dollars of the best of commercial paper to Cincinnati and could raise but fifteen hundred dollars on it. However, Mr. Culbertson was not discouraged. In 1838, he removed to Washington, Washington County, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business there, selling goods to the Indians under the protection of the United States troops. He was made a County Judge of that county and served four years. In 1844, he returned with his family to Greenup County, Kentucky, and took charge of the Greenup Furnace. In 1850, feeling that his health was failing, he removed to West Union, Ohio, where he purchased Mount Pleasant, the former home of Rev. John Graham, D. D., and here he spent the remainder of his life. After his removal to West Union, he purchased and held an interest in the Vinton Furnace.
Mr. Culbertson was always of an intensely religious temperament. He was brought up a Presbyterian, and was a member of that church from early manhood. He was an elder in the church at Washington, Iowa, and was ordained an elder in the church at West Union, Ohio, June 17, 1853. He filled the office with great credit, both to himself and to the church.
In his political views, he was a Whig. He was always opposed to the institution of slavery, and was in favor of a protective tariff and of internal improvements. He was a man of judicial temperament, of strict integrity, and of the highest character. He was respected by all who knew him, and in every relation of life he lived up to his ideals. He possessed a great dignity of character which was never at any time lowered or relaxed. As it was. he lived a life which any man might envy, but had he possessed a robust constitution, he would have accomplished much more.
He had a family of four sons and one daughter. His eldest son, William Wirt Culbertson, born in 1836, was a Captain of Company F, 27th O. V. I. He entered the service August 1, 1861, and resigned March 28, 1864. He became a resident of Ashland, Kentucky, and married the daughter of Thomas W. Means, Esq., by whom he has a family. He was at one time a member of Congress from the Ashland, Kentucky, district. He is not retired from all business, and is a resident of the State of Florida.
His second son, Kennedy R. Culbertson, born in 1840, was Captain of Company F, 91st O. V. I. He enlisted July 28. 1862, and was discharged September 19. 1864. He died soon after the war.
His son, Samuel B. Culbertson. is still living. His youngest son. John Janeway Culbertson, died soon after attaining his majority. His daughter, Mary E., also died of consumption in early womanhood. His wife died at West Union.
Mr. Culbertson died in April, 1865, and both he and his wife are buried in the old South Cemetery at West Union, Ohio. He was a just man, whose memory is still fragrant among his old neighbors who still survive.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900