BIO: SAMUEL DARR, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 349-350
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    SAMUEL DARR, a well known citizen and agriculturalist of Monroe township,
  belongs to an old Cumberland county family. His grandfather was born in this
  county, and was a farmer near Newville, for many years, and died there. His
  children were: George, who died near Newville; Henry, who died in South
  Middleton township; Daniel, who died in Newville; and William, father of our
  subject, who died in Monroe township.
    
    William Darr, born in the vicinity of
    
    350	CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  Newville, learned the carpenter's trade, and followed that for a number of
  years. After his marriage he located first at Plainfield, West Pennsboro
  township, and after two years went to South Middleton, and two years later to
  Frankford township. In the latter place he remained eight years, but in 1840,
  he settled permanently on the farm now occupied by his son Samuel, in Monroe
  township, where the remainder of his life was passed, his death occurring at
  the age of sixty-seven years. William Darr married Rebecca Margaret Diller,
  daughter of Casper Diller, of Monroe township, and they had these children
  born to them: William, who lost his life by drowning; Peter and Sarah both
  died in South Middleton township; John died in Carlisle; Samuel; David died
  in Virginia; Annie resides in Allegheny; Eliza is a resident of Carlisle;
  Israel died in Carlisle; Joseph died in Winchester, Va.; Henry resides at
  Harrisburg; and Margaret resides in Monroe township.
    
    Samuel Darr was born in 1829, in South Middleton township, and obtained his
  education in the public schools, after which he learned the carpenter's trade
  with his father, working with him until he was twenty-one years old. Mr. Darr
  then went to Virginia, but after a month there, returned to Pennsylvania and
  secured profitable employment in putting up coal breakers, in Schuylkill
  county, where he remained for fourteen years. His next move was into Snyder
  county, where he followed farming and also ran a small canal boat, until
  1888, when he came to Monroe township. Here he owns a compact little farm,
  which engages his attention and supplies all his demands.
    
    When he was about twenty-two years of age, Mr. Darr married Mary Matilda
  Minich, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Minich, of Schuylkill county, and they
  had five children, the survivors being: Mary A., who married Lewis Goodling,
  lives in Snyder county; Sarah A., who married George Myers, lives in South
  Middleton township; and Maggie M., who married Frank Pantery, lives in
  Carlisle; Jacob M. and Samuel Andrew both died in Snyder county. Both Mr. and
  Mrs. Darr are members of the German Reformed Church at Churchtown.
  Politically, Mr. Darr is a Republican, and was supervisor of Monroe township
  for five years.
    
    That misfortune comes sometimes to those who have spent most exemplary
  lives, was proved by an occurrence which brought great loss and physical
  injury to Mr. and Mrs. Darr, on June 4, 1902. The community was shocked to
  learn that these most highly respected and esteemed residents, had been
  attacked by six burly tramps, who treated them with much severity in an
  attempt to find a large amount of money, which they had reason to think, had
  been paid to Mr. Darr a short time before. This amount they did not get, but
  before they escaped, they secured a valuable watch and some $50 in money. The
  local authorities did their best, but succeeded in capturing and convicting
  but one of the gang, who has the chance of spending almost ten years in the
  Eastern Penitentiary, where he will have an opportunity to ponder over his
  wickedness. The shock and cruel treatment, received at this time, which
  stirred the indignation of the neighborhood, still are felt by Mr. and Mrs.
  Darr.