Beight, Samuel is a native Ohioan, born in the county of Mahoning September 25, 1812.  His parents yet living on the old homestead are native-born Americans, his ancestors on his father's side, being Virginians and Marylanders, a numerous family of that name yet living in the latter
State.  His grandfather, on his mother's side, Frederick Klitz, was born in Prussia, and came to the United States when a young man having fled from the military tyranny of that government at the time of the Napoleonic convulsions of Europe.  He died in the summer of 1868, at the advanced age
of 97 years.  The boyhood years of the subject of this sketch were passed on the farm, attending the usual district school in the winter time, until, on the 11th day of August, 1862, the eventful period in our country's history of many a young man, he enlisted as a volunteer soldier, in the 105th Ohio
Infantry, and was mustered into the United States Service, at Cleveland, the 21st day of the same month, as musician of Co.H.  The regiment was ordered into Kentucky immediately after its organization, without either being drilled or equipped for effective duty.  After almost three years of
continuous hard service, marching and countermarching through Kentucky and Tennessee, bravely following in the wake of the rebel guerrilla, John Morgan, without ever seeing or catching him: participating in the campaigns of Chattanooga and Atlanta; "marching through Georgia" and the Carolinas; passing through the impoverished citadel and capital of the would-be Southern Confederacy; marching across the historic battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, the regiment, the war having ended, was mustered out of the service in the city of Washington, June 5, 1865--the first of Sherman's army to cross the Alleghenies after the close of the war.  After returning home
from the army, he attended one term of school at Mount Union College, Stark Co., Ohio, in the autumn of 1865, teaching a district school the subsequent winter, in Lawrence County, Penn.  In the month of July, 1866, he first came into Indiana and again taught a district school the following winter in Noble County.  In the fall of 1867, engaged as clerk and book-keeper with Robert Dykes, Esq., in Kendallville, who was then a flourishing merchant of that town.  Was married the 16th of May, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth E. Fansler, whose parents were old residents of DeKalb County, Ind.  Removed to Steuben County, Ind., in April, 1870, with Isaiah Fansler, being engaged in sawing
the bridge and fence lumber for the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad, the mill being located on the timbered tract of land in Scott Township, known as the Van Horn land.  In the fall of 1871, after the completion of the railroad; he removed to Angola and subsequently engaged
with the dry-goods house of Joseph Stiefel and Son, as clerk and book keeper, holding that position at the time of his election to the office of County Treasurer in 1876.  He was re-elected to the same office in 1878. Mr. Beight has made a very efficient officer, and by his straightforwardness
and courtesy in all his dealings, has won the confidence and good will of the people wherever known, and is now filling for the second time, the most responsible position in the county.
 

Submitted by: Jean Ann Childers