Samuel Hamblin

SAMUEL HAMBLIN. In the year 1867 Cherokee County gained one of her most substantial and progressive men in the advent of Samuel Hamblin, and in 1891 she lost one of her most esteemed citizens in his death. He was born in Pennsylvania December 13, 1821. A farmer all his life, at the time of his death he owned and lived on what is known as the old Harold place, consisting of 160 acres of fine farm land in section 27, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township.

Mr. Hamblin was a son of David Hamblin, a native of Pennsylvania. The father was married in New Jersey and spent the rest of his life there. Our subject grew to manhood in New Jersey and then thinking that better fortune awaited him farther West, he went to Fayette County, Indiana, and worked as a millhand in the mills of Fayette. Later he married Lucy A. Rockefeller, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She was a daughter of Agesilaus and Pamelia (Young) Rockefeller, both natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Hamblin's father was a carpenter by trade, and later became a farmer. After spending some time in Ohio and Indiana, in the year 1868 he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, where he took a section of land in Ross township, where Mineral P. O. is now located. He lived on the place until he died, his wife's death having occurred some time before. He was a man well known throughout the county and held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

The subject of this sketch had 12 children, as follows: Amelia (Mrs. C. L. Albin), of Columbus; Sarah Jane (Mrs. L. W. Crain), of Labette County, Kansas; Margaret (Mrs. G. W. Graver), of Crawford County, Kansas; Mary, who is living at home; Charlie, living in Columbus; David, living in Crawford County, Kansas; William, of Lola township; Clara Belle, who is living at home; Ellen (Mrs. J. C. Stonecipher), deceased; Lola (Mrs. H. H. Todd); Dora Mabel (Mrs. Joseph Todd), whose husband farms the old home place for Mrs. Hamblin; and Bertha (Mrs. Joel Spriggs), of Ross township. After their marriage, our subject and his wife lived in Greene and Fayette counties, Indiana, and later moved to Bureau County, Illinois, where Mr. Hamblin owned a general merchandise store. In 1869 they moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, and settled on 160 acres of land, where they lived for 12 years, making improvements and turning the wild prairie farm into a home. This was traded for 160 acres in Ross township, where the family lived for a while, when it was sold to a coal company. In 1895 they removed to the present home in Sheridan township.

In politics, Mr. Hamblin voted the Democratic ticket; though never holding office. he was interested in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamblin have always been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always used their influence for good, whether in family, church of[sic] community. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hamblin accompany this sketch.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 6-27-97