Sketch taken from Everts atlas of Montgomery County (1875).
The ancestors of Samuel D. Edgar were of Irish and Scottish origin, and came over the Atlantic and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day in the history of the colonies; and amid the wild woods and beautiful scenery of the Western continents became imbued with that love of liberty and freedom, which afterwards culminated in the birth of a nation and gave to the world a great republic. The grandfather of our subject, about the year 1750, moved with his family to Wheeling, Virginia, near which place on the night of Good -Friday, in the year 1792, he was attacked by nine Indians and killed. Shortly after his death, Robert Edgar, the father of our subject, settled up the estate, and, with a brother and two sisters, immigrated to the wild lands of the exploits of Daniel Boone, "the dark and bloody ground," now the Great State of Ohio. At this time a little settlement of less than twenty persons had established themselves at the mouth of Mad River, on the beautiful bottoms of the Miami, and despite hostile Indians, savage and ferocious beasts and other discouragement's, here they determined to stay, and make for themselves homes. From this little settlement of determined and hardy pioneers, the present beautiful and enterprising city of Dayton owes its origin. The first saw and gristmill erected in Dayton was built by Robert Edgar, and the first iron moldboard plow ever brought to this valley was owned and used on his farm. It was a great curiosity and was visited by a great many people, who had never seen anything of the kind. The farmers had been in the habit of making their own moldboards from knots of wood, but the introduction of this iron plow effected a great revolution in tillage, which has been followed by numerous other improvements in agricultural implements. Samuel D. Edgar was born on the farm on which he at present resides, almost one mile southeast of the courthouse, in Dayton, on the 25th day of March, 1806. His first playmates were Indian boys, and in company with them he traversed the hills and valleys of this region, growing up, under the plain, primitive customs of those days, to be a healthy, hardy, honest man. He is now in his sixty-ninth year, and has never been twenty days at a time from his farm since he was born, and never in the course of his long and active business life has he sued a man at the law or been sued, and, although having been engaged for many years in selling off real estate, mostly on time, he has never dispossessed or sold a man out from his home. He has lived to see this beautiful valley, once the home of the wild beast and savage Indian, peopled, and the arts, sciences, inventions, manufacturers, cities, villages, and all manner of improvements advancing under his eye.
He was a boy of about six years of age when his father enlisted into the army, in 1812, and with his brother, helped take care of the stock and assist on the farm while his father was absent fighting the British. His remembrance of the war at that time is vivid and distinct, and his stories and reminiscences of those early days are very quaint and interesting.
He well remembers the first New Orleans sugar that was imported into this valley. It was called Muscuvado sugar, and its taste was so disagreeable to the children that they would not eat it, preferring the maple sugar, which was almost exclusively manufactured by the Indians in this vicinity. In that day's deer, bear, wild turkeys, and other game were so plentiful in this valley that they could be killed from the dooryard of his house
He well remembers helping cut the timber and burning the brush from some of the principle lots in the center of the city of Dayton, in the region of Main and Third Streets.
In the year 1820, on the 4th of July, he, in company with his brother and some other boys, took a job of grabbing the bushes from a lot on Main Street, just south of Conover's corner, and the cash they received for the work they expended for gingercake and beer at the grocery of Abraham Darst. They did this in preference to going to the tavern up-town, on the riverbank, where the Fourth was being celebrated in noisy style.
Mr. Edgar never was a politician, and would never accept office of any kind. He was at one time elected Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church against his solemn protest, but he never met with the Board. He has attended that church, however, ever since his mother carried him there when an infant. His hand is never closed to the needy, and he has ever been a friend to the friendless, and ready to assist in every good work. He was especially conspicuous during the war of the great Rebellion in contributing men and means to maintain and support the cause of the Union, as the following certificate will show:
Captain William H. Martin
93d Regiment O.V.I.
To General Charles W. Hill,
Columbus, Ohio
It was he that conceived and, with the devoted, untiring efforts of Dr. Dietrich, perfected those immense wood and provisions demonstrations for the families of the absent soldiers, which carried gladness to the hearts and homes of many hundred grateful mothers, wives and children of Montgomery County in the days of our country's peril. It was he who, by such stirring calls and appeals as the following, fanned the flame of patriotism and loyalty, softened the hearts and opened the pockets of the wealthy to the wants of the family of the struggling soldier. We herewith insert one of the calls that it may be preserved to the everlasting honor of those who made it and of those who nobly responded.
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Call For Grand Wood and Provisions Procession For the Benefit of Soldiers Families
Of Montgomery County to take place Wednesday, December 30, 1863.
We, the undersigned, a committee appointed by the Executive Committee of the Grand Fair and Bazaar, to be held in the City of Dayton during the holidays, for the benefit of soldiers families, would call upon the patriotic citizens of Montgomery County to aid us to make comfortable the families of our soldiers; and whilst they are away from their homes sustaining the flag of our country help us in this hour of our national troubles, gladden the hearts of our soldiers by making them feel that their countrymen at home are supporting their families whilst they are far off in the enemies country fighting for the glorious old flag. We would request all the communities of the various Townships to report at headquarters- J.W. Dietrich's drug store- all wood and provisions. We would also charge communities to be particular to supply the amount and kind of articles donated and name of donor, so that proper credit to each and every one can be given.
We would again say, Come one, come all. Come with wood, flour, meat, turkeys, chickens, beets, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, in fact everything cultivated to make the old and young comfortable and happy. Turn out and fall into the great Wood and Provision Procession, at the head of Main Street to take place December 30, 1863 at ten o' clock.
General Samuel D. Edgar
J. W. Dietrich
Committee
In response to such calls and appeals as the above the patriotic heart of the loyal people was moved, and on the day, prompt, eager,determined, and enthusiastic, was seen such a crowd as was seldom or never before gathered in the city of Dayton. Three hundred and fifty wagons or vehicles loaded down with wood, provisions, and produce filed through the streets to the headquarters of the committee, from whence it was distributed to the families of the absent soldiers.
From that time Mr. Edgar has been known as General Samuel D. Edgar. He was married in 1845 and has had four children born to him, one son and three daughters, named, respectively, Charles, Margaret, Marianna and Katie. Katie died at three years of age. Margaret is the wife of Mr. E. A. Hermann, of Dayton, and resides in a fine residence near the old home of the General. Marianna is the wife of Mr. G. P. Gebhart, an extensive mill-owner in the city of Dayton, and resides also in a fine residence on a part of the old home farm. Charles is married and resides at the old homestead with his father, and is a young man of much promise. He is an inventor of considerable note, having already perfected and secured five valuable patents, amoung which may be mentioned the "Automatic Gate," an engraving of which appears on the pages of this work.
The farm residence of the General where he resides just outside the present corporate limits of the city, was erected by him about thirty years ago, and is situated on a beautiful elevation from the street, commanding a fine view of the city, and surrounded with a dense grove of shrubbery and forest trees. The farm contains about one hundred and sixty acres of beautifully undulating surface, rising gradually out of the valley up to the level of the contiguous "asylum" grounds, making one of the most beautiful suburbs of the city. It is now being offered for sale in lots to suit purchasers, and will soon be covered with costly and magnificent city residences. The General has been exceedingly fortunate in all his business undertakings, having never, as he says, during his long and active business career, made a bad bargain or poor investment.
Besides his valuable farm property, which is worth now from two to five thousand dollars per acre, he owns large amounts in government bonds and other securities, lands in Kansas, shares in stocks, etc. Universally respected by all, honored and revered by his friends and relatives, wealthy, healthy, hale and hearty, he bids fair to live many years yet to enjoy the society of his friends and the blessings of a well regulated life.
Since the above was written Mr. Samuel D. Edgar had a stroke of paralysis, which proved fatal. He passed away at four o'clock A.M., October 1after an illness of four days, at the age of sixty eight years, six months and six days, leaving his family that nobelest heritage, the memory of an unblemished and honorable life.
