Fayette County Genealogy Project

SAMPLE
Contributed by Keely Deuschle

SAMPLE (p. 91-92)
This family was founded in Fayette county by Robert F. Sample, present
proprietor of The Gallatin House, at Uniontown. The family first appear in
Eastern Pennsylvania, then in Center county, where Alexander, father of
Robert F. Sample, was a well known, influential business man. Both Alexander
Sample and wife lived and died in Center county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Alexander Sample was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1822. He
was a man of good education, and until after the civil war was engaged in
mercantile business in that county, owning and conducting a general country
store. He was successful in business and acquired a substantial property
through well directed effort. After the close of the civil war, attracted by
the development of West Virginia coal and timber lands, he joined a
syndicate and in company with his brother-in-law, H. A. McGonagle, went to
Charleston, in that state, purchased a large tract of timber land, boomed
the Elk river, near its mouth, built a saw mill, and converted the timber on
the tract into salable lumber. After this was accomplished he returned to
Center county, where he died August 5, 1873. For a short period he served in
the civil war. He was an active influential Democrat in his home county, and
while never accepting office himself was a factor in advancing the political
ambitions of his friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a
useful public spirited citizen. He married Margaret Furey, born in Center
county, in 1821, died there in 1875; she was also a devoted member of the
Presbyterian church. Children: 1. James C., now residing in Denver,
Colorado. 2. Mary C., married John J. Fleming. 3. Orlando P., died in
infancy. 4. Sarah E., married, Jacob M. Musser, and lives in Freeport,
Illinois. 5. Gertrude, married George W. Eaton, and lives in Freeport,
Illinois. 6. Virginia V., died in childhood. 7. Robert Furey, of whom
further. 8. Frank B., now residing in Carbonada, Washington.
(III) Robert Furey, son of Alexander and Margaret (Furey) Sample, was born
at Pine Grove Mills, Center county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1863. He was
educated in the public schools and Pine Grove Academy, beginning business
life as clerk in his father's store. He remained in mercantile life until
1882, when he received an appointment as clerk in the United States Railway
Mail Service, and remained in the service five years, running on the
Pennsylvania railroad between New York City and Pittsburgh. In 1887 he came
to Fayette county, where he was paymaster for Owen Murphy, during the
construction of the coke works at Adelaide, Pennsylvania; then with the
Whitney Lippincott Coke Company; then formed a partnership with Frank Boyd,
a civil engineer, continuing till 1891, when he became general manager of
the Uniontown Firestone Company, remaining until 1894. He then opened and
for six months managed the office of the Cheat Haven Coal and Coke Company
at Cheat Haven, Pennsylvania; then until 1896 was traveling salesman for
Armour & Company. In June, 1896, he became proprietor of the West End Hotel
at Uniontown, continuing until 1904, when in partnership with Ewing B.
Marshall he built The Gallatin, corner of Main street and Gallatin avenue,
Uniontown, a five-story modern hostelry with fifty rooms. In May, 1910, Mr.
Sample purchased his partner's interest and became, as he still remains,
sole proprietor and manager. He is a well known popular "Mine host," and
during the years 1909 and 1910 was secretary and treasurer of the
Pennsylvania State Hotel Men's Association, an organization composed of the
representative hotel men of the state. He is a Democrat; a member of the
Eagles, Elks, and a thirty-second degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite.
He married, January 8, 1891, Margaret Martin, born in Turbottsville,
Pennsylvania. Children: 1. Mildred M., born October 8, 1891, died November
2, 1892. 2. Mary M., born December 17, 1893; married, July 3, 1912, Frank A.
Robison, of Madison, Ohio, a traveling salesman for the Read Manufacturing
Company. 3. Robert M., born July 9, 1898.

Source:
Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Under the Editorial Supervision of
John W. Jordan, LL.D.
Librarian of Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia AND
James Hadden of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; author of “Washington and Braddock’s Expeditions Through Fayette County,” and the reproductions of Judge James Veech’s work entitled “The Monongahela of Old, or Historical Sketches of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the Year 1800.”

New York
Lewis Historical Publishing Company
1912
Three Volumes

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