My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL H. DOUGLASS, an old Nebraskan, and an early settler of Franklin county, is a native of the state of New York and a descendant of York State ancestry, his parents both having been born and reared there, and his grandparents also. His father, Thomas Douglass, was a small farmer in New York, and spent all his years in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Mr. Douglass’ mother, who bore the maiden name of Chloe Howe, was a frugal house-wife, thrifty and industrious and greatly devoted to her family. She was the mother of eleven children, only two of whom are now living, these being the subject of this sketch and an elder sister. Samuel H. Douglass was born May 10, 1819. He was reared on his father’s farm, received an ordinary common-school education, and was trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. His father being a man of limited means and having a large family to provide for, the subject of this notice had from necessity to make his own way in the world from an early age. He was variously engaged alter reaching maturity, beginning as a farmer, going from that to the brick business and still later to mercantile pursuits. He married, in his native state, in 1851, taking, to share his life’s fortunes. Miss Carrie Delano, a daughter of Frederick and Caroline Delano, who, as well as their daughter, were born in Vermont. The wife of his youth still abides with him, having borne him four children, three of whom are now living, having reached maturity. The full list is as follows — Lillie (who died in infancy), Thomas F., Sidney H. P. and Miles C.

Mr. Douglass came to Nebraska in March, 1871, making his first stop in Richardson county, where he remained two years, engaged in farming. Selling out there, he moved to Franklin county in 1873, and settled on a homestead, taking the northwest quarter of section 28, township 3, range 14 west. After improving this, he sold it, and taking a timber claim in the same vicinity it being the northeast quarter of section 30, township 3, range 14 west, located there, and has continued to reside there since. Mr. Douglass followed farming, exclusively, up to 1886, and met with fair success. At that date, he opened a store in Macon, and has since given his attention mainly to that. He has made a reasonably good success in the mercantile business, being a safe, conservative business man. In 1885 Mr. Douglass received the appointment of postmaster, at Macon, and held the office till the close of Cleveland’s administration. He is a democrat in politics, being a stanch supporter of the principles of his party, and has served his township as justice of the peace and has been quite active in school matters, having served many terms as school director, and now serving as treasurer of his school district. He is a worthy citizen and highly esteemed by all who know him.