Samuel Singmaster

As printed in 1903

SAMUEL SINGMASTER. No history of Keokuk county would be complete without mention of Samuel Singmaster, who for many years contributed largely to the development of the county ami to its progress and improvement along substantial lines. He was a man whom to know was to respect and honor.

Without ostentation or display, he lived so as to win the high regard and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. There were no exciting chapters in his life history, yet there was much worthy of emulation, for he was always true to his friends, faithful to his family and reliable and trustworthy in business. He passed away April 18, 1899, and it is safe to say that no death in the community has ever been more deeply regret ted than that of Samuel Singmaster. He accomplished much in life that yet benefits those who knew him and he left to his family an untarnished name, which is above great riches.

Mr. Singmaster was born in McCungie, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1807, and was therefore ninety-one years of age when called to his final rest. His parents were also natives of Pennsylvania and were of German lineage. In their family were eight sons and one daughter. During his early youth Samuel Singmaster labored industriously upon his father's farm, receiving but limited educational privileges. He served a three-years' apprenticeship in a tannery of Philadelphia and afterward worked for two years in the same establishment for the small salary of seventy-two dollars per year. When twenty-four years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Perry county, Pennsylvania.

An important event occurred in his life the following year, for he was married in Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Mary C. Seischolts, a young lady then twenty-two years of age. For many years they traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all. They reared, too, a family who have been a credit to their name. The year after his marriage Samuel Singmaster and his brother Jacob established a tannery in Millerstown, Perry county, which they conducted successfully for a lew years, when they sold out and with the proceeds built a larger tannery in the same town. Their business increased until it enabled them to employ sixty men. However, they sold their second factory in order tk> build a still greater one and the third one was sold to Mr. Miller, their brother-in-law. He found it impossible to pay promptly and after a time the tannery was destroyed by tire, causing a total loss, as there was no insurance. Mr. Sing-master and his brother never tried to collect the consideration and therefore they suffered to a considerable extent from the lire.

About that time our subject removed to a more western district in Pennsylvania and turned his attention to farming, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he made partial payments. In speaking of this period of his life he said he had "four workhorses with one eye among the whole drove." lie possessed a resolute spirit and determination and from early morning until dewey eve he was found in the fields, and in harvest time he reaped a good crop of wheat, about fifteen hundred bushels. This brought a good price, one dollar ami a half per bushel, and enabled him not only to meet his indebtedness, but also to have one thousand dollars clear as his earnings. He then sold his farm and purchased a larger one of one hundred and forty acres, paying one-half of the amount down. A year later he sold this place at a good profit and at that time took up his above in Millerstown. about thirty miles from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a home worth fifteen hundred dollars. With his remaining capital, and also a sum that he borrowed, he embarked in the cattle business, purchasing droves of from sixty to one hundred head of cattle in Ohio and driving them to the Philadelphia market. This enterprise also proved a profitable one. He also drove some sheep and horses to market, but he Eoun !

that lie could realizenothing off of these and accordingly confined his attention to dealing in cattle. One of the marked characteristics of Mr. Ringmaster's career was the readiness with which he recognized that business conditions would prove either profitable or disastrous, and choosing, of course, the former, he carried forward his labors until they brought to him a very desirable competence. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west he made his way to Missouri, in 1842, but finding that he could not obtain a clear title to land in that state he came to Iowa. He was pleased with the west and in Keokuk county he purchased in 1843 a claim on which were a few hogs and cattle, buying these of George Washington Maley, one of the honored pioneers of the county. He paid fifteen hundred dollars for a tract of land comprising three hundred and twenty acre- Returning home he sent out Frank Xorih to take charge of the purchase. In 1X44 lie sold Ins real estate in Millerstown for fifteen hundred dollars. Of this amount fine hundred dollars was paid in cash and for the remainder he took wooden clocks and leather, but while the family were en route from the Keystone state to Keokuk county, Iowa, the weights of the clocks were either lost or stolen between Pittsburg and Burlington, and in consequence the timepieces sold for a mere trifle. He retailed the clocks and leather among his neighbors in Iowa, but as he gave credit to many new acquaintances he afterward found that it was difficult to make collections. lie however brought with him one thousand dollars, which in 1844 he invested 111 calves, and thus he became one of the first cattle dealers of Keokuk county. lie was assisted in his work by his son Charles and it was a noticeable fact concerning the family history that the father and sons always worked together in entire harmony, continuing business aa family affair through main years. For a long period Mr. Singmaster carried on his stock-raising interests with success. His first large sale was hundred head of cattle, which brought him twenty-five hundred dollars. His first home was a primitive log cabin, such as was common in pioneer times, and after he had made his sale of the one hundred head of cattle he had his sons haul lumber from Iowa City, with which he erected a larger and more modern residence, which remained his home until his death. As time advanced his profits increased, he made judicious investments in real estate, becoming one of the most extensive land owners of this part of Iowa. The business was conducted by the father and sons until the time of the death of William Singmaster, his youngest son, in 1891. When Charles, another son, arrived at the age of fifty-two years, his father deeded to him eight hundred acres of land on which he yet resides, while the son Thomas remained in partnership with the father until the latter's demise. The Singmasters probably became more widely known through their importations of fine horses than in any other of their business transactions. In 1875 the firm began business in this way, William and Charles having charge of the enterprise while the father furnished the capital. In that year they imported four head of horses and gradually increased the number until their importations were very extensive, and between the years 1884 and 1888 each son imported from eighty to one hundred and forty head.

When Mr. Singmaster removed to Iowa, the family consisted of himself, wife, and five children, namely: Charles F., born February 29, 1834; Sarah, born June 15, 1836; Eliza, born March 9, 1838; Thomas, born Febrbnary 16, 1840: and James, born July 4, 1842, died on June 16, 1866. The same year another child, Henry, was added to the family. He was born October is, 1844, and died December 18, 1845. Will-

As printed in A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.