Biography of Samuel Woodburn Ralston, page 921.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Samuel Woodburn Ralston, retired merchant, Auburn, is a native of Washington 
County, pa., born   Dec. 12, 1807, the fourth of ten children of Robert and 
Jane (Woodburn) Ralston.  In 1812 his parents removed to Richland County, 
Ohio, now Ashland County, where he was reared and educated. When  sixteen 
years of age he began to learn the carpenter’s trade at  which he worked 
twenty-five years.  In the fall of 1842 he moved to Auburn, Ind.  In 1846 he 
was elected Sheriff of De Kalb County, and in 1848 was re-elected.  In 1849 
he was elected Treasurer, and resigned the office of Sheriff.  In 1856 he 
was again elected Sheriff and served till 1859.  In 1862 he embarked in the 
mercantile business which he continued till 1880, when he retired from 
active business.  He has been an energetic man, and has accumulated a good 
property.  He owns on of the finest residences in Auburn where he is 
surrounded with all that makes life a pleasure.  He was married in 1834 to 
Eliza J. Brink, of Plymouth, Ohio. To them have been born four children, 
but three of whom are living---Emily A., Andrew J., and George C.  Mr. 
Ralston is a regular attendant at the Presbyterian church, of which his 
wife is a member.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com