Samuel Ebert Hain, a representative citizen of Pleasant township, and the owner of a fine farm of 71 acres situated in section 3, was born on this farm, November 25, 1838, and is a son of Adam and Ann (Ebert) Hain. To trace the founding of the Hain family in Marion County, one must go back to the grandfather of our subject, Daniel Hain, who was born in Pennsylvania Before becoming a pioneer in Marion County, he was a farmer in Perry County, Pennsylvania. He brought his family across the mountains in a huge, covered wagon, reaching the new home, in the midst of a forest, in 1830. At that time deer were plentiful and wild turkey was a Common article of the family bill of fare. A log cabin gave shelter to his wife and children until he could construct a more substantial cabin home, and there their 15 children grew and flourished. Daniel Hain and wife died here some years after settlement. The children were: Elizabeth, John, Henry, Adam, Ann, Daniel, Catherine, Magdalene, Mary, Magdalene, Esther V., Christina, Susanna, Leah, Lydia and William N. The survivors of the above family are: Susanna, residing at Decatur, Illinois, who is the wife of Joel Evans; and Leah, residing in Marion County, who is the wife of Richard B. Davis.
Adam Hain, father of our subject, was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1814, and accompanied his parents to Marion County. He was married (first) November 30, 1837, to Ann Ebert, a daughter of Samuel Ebert. The Ebert family came here from Ellicott Mills, Maryland. Four children were born to Adam and Ann Hain, as follows: Samuel Ebert; Adaline C., deceased; Eli Albert, a member of the 82nd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., who was killed on the battle-field of Gettysburg, during the Civil War; and Martha Ann, who is the wife of Daniel W. Huffman, of Green Camp, Ohio. The mother of the above named family died September 8, 1851. On June 6, 1852, Adam Hain was married (second) to Ann Forsha, who died in 1885; they had one child, Mary Elizabeth, who married Hannibal De La Grange, and. resides at Los Angeles, California. Adam Hain died in May, 1892.
Samuel E. Hain was reared in Marion County and was educated in the district schools of Pleasant township. He assisted his father on the home farm until his majority and then worked on his own account for one year. In April, 1861, he was one of the first volunteers to enlist in the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served for two years, when he was honorably discharged, on account of disability He was in several engagements, the most important being Petersburg and Romney, West Virginia.
After the end of his army service, Mr. Hain returned to Marion and soon entered the employ of Lucas & Seffner, grain dealers and wool buyers, with whom he continued for two years, meeting with success as a business man. In the spring of 1863 he returned to his father's farm, which is now his own property, and in 1871 was elected auditor of Marion County. He served two terms in this office, four years, in all, his administration of the duties of the office giving extreme satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. He has served most acceptably in other offices of trust and responsibility. For several years he served as township clerk, was a member of the School Board both at Marion and Pleasant township, and has also been township treasurer. In all these offices he has proven his capacity and his integrity. No man stands higher in the confidence of his fellow-citizens.
After retiring as county auditor, Mr. Hain embarked in a grocery business at Marion, in partnership with H. N. Love, under the firm name of Hain &, Love, their place of business being on East Center street. Mr. Hain was meeting with success in that venture at the close of two years, when he suffered the total loss of his stock through a destructive fire. In the meantime he had purchased the interests of the various heirs of his father-in-law's estate, and then moved on it; but in 1893 he sold that farm to John Mayer, and in the following year moved to the old homestead farm, a part of which had, been willed to him by his father, and a part of which he subsequently purchased. Since then Mr. Hain has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising. The old log house in which he was born has long since been, demolished. The present, comfortable nine-room frame residence on the place is a very attractive home. It was built by his father in 1856 and he call well remember when. the family took possession of it. It is beautifully shaded by pine trees, relics of the native forest, is passed by the Cardington turnpike and is not far distant from the Pennsylvania Railroad.
On September 13, 1863, Mr. Hain was married to Orpha Snyder, who was born in Pleasant township, Marion County, Ohio, May 28, 1842, and is a daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Jones)(Myers) Snyder. Samuel Snyder was born in Pennsylvania and had these brothers and sisters: George, Henry John, Jonathan, Samuel Jacob A., Susan, who married H. Shickadantz; and Mary who married Henry Miller. Samuel Snyder's wife Mrs Nancy (Jones) Myers, was the widow of Joseph Myers and the mother of two children by her first marriage - John J. and Leah. She was a native of Pennsylvania, where she contracted her first marriage; she came to Ohio with her parents, who purchased land and settled on what is now the site of the Children's Home. Of the seven children born to Samuel Snyder and wife, three died in infancy; Samuel J., Nancy Ann and Catherine J., are now deceased, leaving Mr. Hain as the sole survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder both died in Pleasant township.
Mr. and Mrs. Hain have had two children, Frank Albert and Mary F., both of whom are graduates of the Marion schools; the daughter is a popular teacher at Marion.
Frank Albert Hain, the only son, was born September 1, 1864. In early manhood he was married to Nancy Edwards, who was accidentally killed in a snow slide, in Ray County, Colorado. Subsequently he was married to Sallie Shuffleburger. He went West in search of fortune and after 15 years of silver mining he returned to Marion County in 1902, and is now engaged in farming for his father.
Mr. Hain has always been identified with the Democratic party. He is one of the leading members of the United Brethren Church at Marion.
The History of Marion County, Ohio, Leggett, Conaway & Co., 1883