JOSEPH H. SAMSON, County Superintendent, Jonesboro, was born April 30, 1820, in Berkshire, Franklin Co., Vt., and is a grandson of William Samson, born in 1733, whose son Jonathan was born May 8, 1781, in Newberryport, Mass., and died in February, 1870. He was raised a farmer, but during the last thirty years of his life he was a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He was married twice, the first time in 1800 to Lucena Titus; she was the mother of five children, of whom only Ozima is now living. After the death of his first wife he was married a second time to Sally Powell, born 1782, in Manchester, Vt.; she died November, 1853, in Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio. She was the daughter of William Powell, who was one of the sharp-shooters under Col. Stark at the battle of Bennington, Vt., in the Revolutionary war, while opposing the British Commander Burgoyne. Mrs. S. Samson was the mother of five children, four of whom arrived at maturity and had families. Their names are Sarah, Thomas, Joseph H. and Almon. Our subject was educated partly in Vermont and Oberlin College, Ohio. He was a tiller of the soil in early life, and taught school twenty-five years. He has followed various occupations in his life. Has kept store and station, has been Deputy County Clerk and Deputy Sheriff. He has been County Superintendent for four years, and was elected a second time in November, 1882. Mr. Samson was joined in matrimony, March 1, 1860, in Jonesboro, to Miss Mary J. Brown, born February 21, 1841, in this county. She is a daughter of Francis H. and Abigail (Meadows) Brown; she is the mother of three children — Ed, born August 3, 1861; Clara, born February 13, 1865, and Dona, born December 10, 1871. Mr. Samson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Jonesboro Lodge, No. 111, of which he has been Master for many years. He is also a member of "Egyptian Chapter, No. 45." In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 111-112.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
 |
Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
