• General Notes

  This story was taken from pages 522 and 523 in the book titled "The County Of Highland, Biographical Sketches" and was secured by Richard A. Wilkin, as part of his research for his Wilkin Family History. The story was written about 1902 for the Ohio Centennial.
  
  "Samuel Wilkin of Hamer Township, an extensive farmer, Manufacturer, and breeder of livestock, comes of highly honorable ancestry which runs back to the earliest pioneer days. They were originally Virginians and came from that historic section known as the Shenandoah Valley, arriving in Ohio Territory when it was still a hunting grounds for roving Indians. The grandfather of Mr. Wilkin, whose name was William was one of the most prosperous farmers of his day and accumulated a large amount of property. He married Rebecca Windle and by her had a family of eight children, Peter, Joseph, Sarah, Eli, Elizabeth, William, Ann, and George, all now dead except the last mentioned, who lives in Hamer Twp.
  
  "William Wilkin was cut off from his usefulness in the prime of life and after his death, the widow continued to manage the farm and look after the welfare of her large family. Joseph Wilkin, second of the children in age, was born in New Market township in 1816, and in early manhood married Nancy, daughter of Allen and Elizabeth Roush of Highland County. He located on a place in Union Township where he lived until 1855 when he purchased a farm of 123 acres in Hamer Twp. To this he removed and there spent the remainder of his days, passing away at the age of seventy-one, his wife surviving until some years later. Of their six children Elizabeth, Allen and Augustus have died; Samuel is the subject of this sketch; Rebecca J. is the wife of Lewis Orebaugh of Hamer Township; Joseph F. is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
  
  "Samuel Wilkin, second of the children was born in Union Township, Highland Co., Ohio, September 8, 1843 and remained at home until he reached his majority. About that time he married Roseanna Webster, daughter of George N. and Mary Pugh Webster, of Dodson Twp, and located there on a small tract of land, where he spent the five following years. He then removed to a farm in Hamer Township given to him by his father, where he now resides, adding to the property and greatly improving it from year to year since he took possession. In 1882 he began the manufacture of tile, which he has since continued in partnership with his son, Dallas under the firm name of Samuel Wilkin and Son. The use the latest and best improved machinery and do business on an extensive scale. As a farmer and stock raiser Mr. Wilkin has no superior in the township. His real estate holdings now consist of about 437 acres of the best quality of land, which is kept highly improved condition and is cultivated by up-to-date methods. In
  
  "1891 he constructed a handsome brick residence, which has all the modem improvements and conveniences and in both size and quality is superior to anything of the kind in the township. In fact everything on and about this model farm indicates skillful and progressive management, as the buildings and equipment of all kinds are neat and attractive and always kept in prime condition.
  
  "Mr. Wilkin takes a just pride in his splendid Poland China and Berkshire Hogs, of which he has long been an extensive breeder and shipper, and he enjoys a high reputation in this department of the livestock industry. He has found time from his farm and other business to fulfill all the duties of a good citizen, being especially interested in educational and religious work. He held the position of school director for nine consecutive years, and during the whole of his adult life has been a member of the Christian Church and one of its most enthusiastic workers.
  
  "His marriage has been blessed with fourteen children in the order of their birth as follows: Louella M., the wife of S. R. Kidd of Dodson Twp. and mother of three children, Almira, Anna F. and Samuel K.; Augustus E., who lives in Hamer Township married Lizzie Fawley and has had five children, those living being Dortha L., Arnold, and Hugh N.; Dallas O. in business with father, who married Jennie Hawthorn and has had three children, Orpha, Nancy and Hilda (deceased); William F., of Hamer twp. who married Susan Duvall and has two children living, Gladys and an infant and one dead; Joseph N. of Hamer Twp., who married Lucy J. Stroup, their children being Norma R. and Paul; Cora M., who married J. N. Dollinger, of Dodson Twp, and has three children, Elizabeth I., Lotta M. and Anna A.; George R. in Hamer Twp., who married Hattie E. Williams, and have one child, Edgar Franklin; Samuel B., who married Myrtle McKamey and lives in Dodson, Twp; Nancy N Mary J.; and Henry, with their parents; John A. who was killed in 1900 when eleven years old by being run over by a loaded wagon; Evertt Louis, who died in 1892 at age of two years and eight months; Rosa O., the youngest of this interesting family."
  
  As one can clearly see the writer was not very accurate as to the names of Samuel and Roseanna's children but he does present a real and lasting picture of our Patriarch and the great faith in God, Country and Family that Samuel and Roseanna have passed on to us all. The results of their examples have assisted us all in being very productive, energetic people, that love life and most of us try very hard to live up to their principles. God has most certainly blessed us all to have been born into such a great family. Our Grandparents have left their mark on the Highland County, Ohio area forever.
  
  Stories still survive today in Hamer Township community about Samuel Wilkin. Because of his prominence in the area and also because he always sported a full beard that in later years was silky white, a lot of children (who are now grown and gone) passed on to everyone that he was Uncle Sam. He had that name by several that knew and wrote articles about this man that did so much for the Church and Schools of Highland County. The name must have caught on as a lot of his business associates also refer to him in their writings as Uncle Sam.
  
  Samuel and Roseanna left more than history behind in Highland County. With fourteen children of whom all but two grew to adulthood and had families of their own, several who had many children, have left descendants that now number in the thousands. So this couple has left a growing number of reasons to be remembered and a permanent living legacy of their Journey, Faith in God and lessons on being good citizens.
  by Richard A. Wilkin
  

Details of Samuel's family with Roseannah Webster