Samuel B. Truitt
Samuel B. Truitt was born in Sprigg Township, Adams County, Ohio, February 21, 1839, a son of Henry P. and Caroline (Bloomhuff) Truitt.
In 1760. three brothers of the name of Truitt emigrated from England to America. Benjamin, the youngest of these and great-grandfather of our subject, located on the eastern shore of Maryland, where he married Margaret Kellum and settled on a farm near Snow Hill, in Worcester County. They were parents of four sons: Benjamin, Samuel, John K.. and William. The latter was born in 1778. He married Elizabeth Gootee. of Accomack County, Virginia, on March 17, 1817, and was the grandfather of our subject.
William Truitt, with five other families, left their native State to seek a new home in the West and arrived at Manchester, April 24, 1817. They settled near Clayton, in Sprigg Township, where he lived until his death in 1847. They reared a family of five children, viz., James, Henry P., the father of our subject, Margaret, Mary and Elizabeth. Henry P. Truitt, the father of Samuel B. Truitt. was born November 16, 1809. He was married to Caroline Bloomhuff, daughter of Abraham Bloomhuff and sister of Rev. John P. Bloomhuff, January 24, 1832. She was born October 26. 1808. Henry P. Truitt died October 18, 1847, and was buried in the Ebenezer cemetery in Brown County. Ohio. Caroline, his wife, died November 9, 1878. and was buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at New Haven, Ind.
Their children were Eliza Jane, who married George W. Taylor; Sareb P., who married Samuel Starrett; John W., Samuel B., subject of this sketch; James H., deceased; Thomas S., and Maria B., deceased, who married Harvey Stoneman.
Samuel B. Truitt was three years of age when his parents removed to Bradyville. At the age of eight, he went to Forth Wayne, Indiana and lived on the farm of his uncle, Sidney C. Bloomhuff, for six years. He then returned to his native county and worked on the farm till his marriage. Mr. Truitt enlisted in Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, September 8, 1862, and was made Commissary Sergeant of the company. He was promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergeant, May 18, 1865, and mustered out on July 4, 1865. He was with the regiment in all its battles and campaigns. For further information as to his service in Company F, of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, reference is had to the sketch of that company. On returning from the army, he bought a farm in Sprigg Township, on which he lived from 1867 to 1883. He was known as a model farmer and handled fine stock on a large scale.
In 1888, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of Commissioner of Adams County in which he served one term with much honor to himself and credit to his constituents. He was one of the Trustees of Brittingham Camp Meeting, which was conducted for several years. He was married December 16, 1858, to Miss Mary Starrett, a daughter of John and Emily (Hudson) Starrett. Mr. and Mrs. Truitt have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since their marriage. He has been trustee and steward in the Manchester Church for many years.
He is a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 254, Knights of Pythias, and also a member of the Hawkeye Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Adams County Agricultural Association, and one of the most prominent Democrats of the county.
He removed to Manchester in 1883, and in 1895 engaged in the grocery business in partnership with I. T. Foster. He is now engaged in the buggy and carriage trade.
Major Truitt is well known and universally respected throughout Adams County, where most of his life has been spent and where he ranks as one of her foremost citizens. By industry and good judgment he has acquired plenty of this world's goods for comfort and he and his good wife contribute liberally of their influence and means to the cause of Christianity and humanity.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900