Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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Samuel D. Falls and Kate Shumaker




Husband Samuel D. Falls 1

           Born: 25 Apr 1825 - New Castle, Lawrence Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: John Falls (1790-1837) 2 3
         Mother: Margaret Dickson (1772/1790-Aft 1877) 1


       Marriage: 

   Other Spouse: Ann Elwood (      -1855) 1 - 15 Jan 1850 1



Wife Kate Shumaker 1

           Born: 12 Nov 1839 - Mercer Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: Joseph Shumaker (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Mary Matthews (      -      ) 1




Children
1 M Joseph D. Falls 1

           Born: 22 Feb 1857 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 May 1858 1
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Did Not Marry


2 F Flora Falls 1

           Born: 23 Jun 1859 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



3 M William H. Falls 1

           Born: 1 Nov 1861 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



4 F Margaret Falls 1

           Born: 25 Jul 1864 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



5 F Mary Falls 1

           Born: 10 Sep 1867 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Sep 1871 1
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Did Not Marry


6 F Lillie Falls 1

           Born: 18 Mar 1872 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 




General Notes: Husband - Samuel D. Falls


When a boy, he learned the carriage and wagon-makers' trade, and followed his trade in different sections of the country for some twenty-five years, about twelve of which were spent in Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois.

On the day of his second marriage, he started from Oneco, Illinois, to Kansas, taking with him a stock of goods, intending to engage in merchandising. But just at that time the troubles growing out of the slavery question culminated, putting a stop to all business, and producing a general chaos throughout the state, and in a few days after his arrival in Kansas, Mr. Falls shipped back his goods to Illinois, and as soon as practicable, returned with his wife, having run the gauntlet several times in getting out of the reach of the "border ruffians."
While stopping at the Free State Hotel, in Kansas City, Missouri, he participated, with a number of other Free State men, in the defense and rescue of John Brown from being captured and hung by a band of these bushwhackers, and on his way East, he carried from Kansas City to St. Louis, the dispatches announcing Quantrell's bloody raid upon Lawrence, Kansas.
Some two years later, Mr. Falls moved to Homestead County, Minnesota, where he purchased a farm, and remained about ten years. On February 13, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, 9th Minnesota Infantry, and was assigned a position in the commissary department at St. Paul.
Having been seriously injured while in the service of the government, Mr. Falls was discharged in the following May, and subsequently repaired to Washington, bearing with him the certificates of a board of ten surgeons, to the effect that his condition was most critical, and that, in their opinion, he could live but a very short time. In an interview with President Lincoln-that prince of philanthropists, who never turned a deaf ear to the story of a wounded soldier-Mr. Falls received a letter to Secretary Stanton, recommending the calling of a board of surgeons to assess the damages in the case. This Mr. Stanton refused to do, and ordered Mr. Falls' certificates and papers filed away in the office of the government, and it was with much difficulty that Mr. Falls secured the surrender of the same, although they were essential to him in the establishing of his claims. This was accomplished through the influence of General Halleck.
Some years passed away, and in the meantime, by skillful medical attention, Mr. Falls recovered from his injury to a considerable degree, though not wholly. He then applied for a pension, and after much delay and opposition arising from "red tape" influence, it was finally secured for him by means of a special act of Congress.
In the autumn of 1871, Mr. Falls returned to New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, which he then made his residence, for the purpose of claiming some fifty-three acres of land, which came to be located in the city limits, and belonging to the estate of his father, John Falls, deceased, said land was later held by Henry C. Falls, on the plea of limitation.


General Notes: Wife - Kate Shumaker

from Oneco, Stephenson Co, IL

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Sources


1 —, History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 183.

2 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 90.

3 —, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 137.


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