Biography of Samuel M. High, pages 719/720.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Samuel M. High

The history of the Hoosier state is not an ancient one. It is the 
record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness in 
the last century and reaching its magnitude of today without other aids 
than those of continued industry. Each county has it share in the 
story. After all, the history of a state is but a record of the doings 
of its people, among whom the pioneers and their sturdy descendants 
occupy places of no secondary importance. The story of the plain, 
common people who constitute the bone and sinew of the state should 
ever attract the attention and prove of interest to all true lovers of 
their kind.  In the life story of the gentleman whose name leads this 
sketch there are no striking chapters or startling incidents, but it is 
merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals and fraught with 
much that should stimulate the youth just starting in the world as an 
independent factor. Samuel M. High was born August 24, 1855, in Jackson 
township, the son of Peter and Sarah A. (Henderson) High.  The mother 
was a native of Ohio, while the father was born in the state of 
Pennsylvania and came to DeKalb county at the early date of 1846.  The 
battle to subdue the wilderness then being fought in this section of 
the state was entered into by these worthy pioneers, and they, with 
others of that period, laid the foundations for the wonderful 
prosperity that has come to this section of the state. To Peter and 
Sarah High were born three children: Mrs. Letitia Shear lives in 
Auburn; Foletus A. is deceased; Samuel M.  The subject’s father died 
December 26, 188, and his mother on  December 4, 1904. The early 
education of the subject of this sketch was acquired in the DeKalb 
county common schools. Subsequently he engaged in farming and taught 
school, his services as an educator extending over a period of almost 
twenty-five years.  He made all the improvements on his place, 
including a good house, substantial barn, etc.  He is now living on the 
old home place, and is the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of 
splendid land, on which he is doing general farming, at which vocation 
he has been more than usually successful. On July 30, 1897, the subject 
of this review was married to Rosa A. Philips, daughter of Thomas and 
Sarah Philips, he is a native of Ohio and she of Pennsylvania.  As a 
result of this union one child was born, Julius, who died at the age of 
seven years. Mr. High is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, 
to which he gives an active and generous support, having been trustee 
for many years, while the Democratic party enjoys his unswerving 
allegiance.  He was trustee of Jackson township from 1900 until 1905, 
and is on the advisory board at the present time.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com