Biography of Samuel S. Shutt, pages 738/739/740.  Memorial Record of 
Northeastern Indiana, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1896.

	Hon. Samuel S. Shutt, Spencerville, Indiana, is a popularly and 
widely known as any man in De Kalb county. His has been a life rich in 
experience and travel, and the more interesting from his having keen 
powers of observation which, while traveling, were focused upon the scenes 
and events which were transpiring around him. Of a retentive memory, 
impressions became indelibly stamped upon his mind, and being a fluent, 
graceful talker he is an interesting companion.  He has been a reader, too 
as well as an observer, and his range of information thus gleaned covers 
largely the field of knowledge, embracing history, philosophy, art, the 
sciences and general literature.  
	His birth occurred in Summit county, Ohio, February 8, 1833. His 
father, Jacob Shutt, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1790.  
His wife, the mother of our subject, nee Nancy Dickerhoof, was born in 
Maryland, July 25, 1795. About 1830 they settled in Summit county, Ohio, 
and in 1848 came to De Kalb county, locating at Spencerville. They were 
the parents of nine children, five of whom still survive.  The family upon 
their settlement in Indiana were in anything but affluent circumstances. 
The wife and mother was a woman of rare intelligence and foresight; and,  
mother-like, with a strong maternal love and a thought and care for the 
future welfare of her children, she became so thoroughly imbued with the 
necessity of going to a place where cheap lands could be obtained that her 
advice was acted upon and De Kalb county chosen for the place of settlement.  
Her hopes were realized. She had divined aright, with the unerring instinct 
of a mother anxious for the welfare and comfortable settlement of her 
offspring in life.
	Young Samuel’s advantages for getting an education were not of the 
best; still there were schools, such as they were, and he made the best 
use of them that he could under the circumstances. Later on, the financial 
condition of the family became improved so much that he was enabled to go 
to Iowa, where he entered a select school, in Iowa county, and where he 
took a course of study, including the higher branches. Possessing now the 
requisite knowledge to teach, he returned to his home obtained a 
certificate and secured a school in Springfield township. Subsequently 
wishing to still further extend his knowledge, he entered the Fort Wayne 
high school, studying and teaching alternately until 1859. At this 
juncture he was seized with a desire to visit California in quest of 
fortune. Various were the stories afloat of the fabulous wealth of that 
great western Eldorado, and, although an undertaking involving both 
hardship and a danger at that day, he hesitated not at the risks.  Upon 
his arrival, after a long an tedious journey and hair-breadth escapes, he 
entered upon mining and prospecting, making numerous valuable discoveries, 
some of which after being properly developed were valued at $5,000,000.  He 
very quickly acquired a knowledge of mines and mining and soon became an 
expert in mining values of every description. His general abilities were 
recognized and he assisted in the framing of the mining laws of that State.  
During his residence in California he made several visits to his Indiana 
home. He had made a fortune, and realizing that it is not good for man to 
live alone, he selected a wife in the person of Miss Rebecca Jane, daughter 
of Rudolph Sechler, of Newville, De Kalb county.
	Purchasing property in Spencerville he settled down to the enjoyment 
of his wealth.  Three children came to gladden his home, two of whom died 
in infancy, the other, a beautiful boy, died at the age of six, and 
finally, May 19, 1893, occurred the death of his devoted wife, aged forty-
five years.  She was a most estimable woman and greatly beloved by all who 
knew her.  Thus was broken up the beautiful home life that Mr. Shutt had 
often imagined in his day dreams might some time be his. Being of a 
domestic nature he loved his home, and his worship was at its shrine.
	His life, though now broken and lonely, is not devoid of good 
things.  He has a wide acquaintance and a host of intimate friends.  He 
has been honored by his party to two elections to the State legislator he 
arose to the expectation of his friends, and acquitted himself in a manner 
alike creditable to himself and this constituency.  He has large business 
interest, being a stockholder in the White National Bank, of Fort Wayne, 
and is also a stockholder in the Garrett Bank.

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