| Notes |
- DEATH OF SAMUEL SLOKOM.
ONE OF LANCASTER COUNTY'S PROMINENT CITIZENS PASSES AWAY.
He Begins Life as a Hotel-Keeper and Attains Success as a Banker and Farmer,
A Sketch of His Busy Career.
Samuel Slokom, one of the most prominent citizens of Lancaster county, died at his home at Christiana on Wednesday evening at 0 o'clock. He had been suffering from sarcoma for about two years past, but had been growing much worse of late. For almost a week back his death had been looked for at almost any time, as he was unable, to eat anything of any consequence and he was greatly weakened and wasted away.
Samuel Slokom, the subject of this sketch, was born in Sadsbury township, February 6, 1817, and was a son of Thomas Slokom. His grandfather was Isaac Slokom, who came to this country from England, and first settled In the Wyoming valley[PA]. Before the great massacre he removed to Virginia. The father of Samuel moved to this state In 1798, and settled in Providence township, this county. He married Susanna Miller, a descendant of Jacob Miller, who was born In 1663, emigrated from Germany and purchased a large tract of land In the Pequea Valley. Samuel was the first child born in the colony. Thomas Slokom moved to the
Red Lion, in Salisbury township, in 1815, and erected the hotel which stands there yet. He was proprietor of the hotel until his death, which took place August 1st,
1833. His wife died in Redford, Michigan, nine years later. Of their family of eight children, Samuel was the last to pass away.
After his father's death Samuel came into possession of the hotel property together with forty acres of land. For six years he was a landlord. He sold this property in 1841 and purchased a large farm In Wayne county, Michigan, to which he had an idea of moving. He changed his mind, however, and decided in remain in this county. He purchased a farm in Bart township and lived upon it for six years. He next purchased a thirty acre farm adjoining the village of Christiana, which was the birth place of Dr. D. Hayes Agnew, the famous Philadelphia physician. During his residence of three years on this farm he operated the Noble foundry in Christiana, but sold his interest in 1853 to William F. Baker, who had been a partner for a year. He next lived at Cooperville, on the " Valley road," just west of the Red Lion, where he purchased one hundred acres of land with several residences, store, blacksmith shop and other buildings. He remained there but a year, and then purchased the Boone farm, on which he was for a like period. After that he purchased the old Pownall farm, at Christiana, from James P. Marshall. He moved upon it in 1857 and resided there up to the time of his death. Since he took possession of the farm the greater part of it has been sold off into building lots on which houses in the flourishing little town have been erected.
In 1882 chiefly through the work or Mr. Slokom the Christiana National bank was organized, He became its president, a position that he filled up to the time of his death. For several years he was interested in the banking house of Stehman, Clarkson & Co., of this city.
Mr. Slokom was a Democrat in politics up to the Fremont campaign. He voted for that candidates and seen became a full fledged Republican. He was an active worker in the ranks of the party for many years and was always identified with the Stalwart faction. He was elected a justice of the peace of Sadsbury for three terms of five years each, and the name or Squire Slokom was a familiar one through this section or the state. He was elected county commissioner by the Republicans and served during l1865-66-67. In 1855 he was beaten by only one vote for the nomination for state senator by his party. For a great many years he was a director and president of the Lancaster County Mutual Insurance company.
Mr. Slokom was a member of the Society or Friends, with which he became connected In 1844. He was married in January, 1837, to Mary, daughter of Isaac
Walker, who survives him. Their children are Susan, wife of Thomas J, Houston, of Chester; Dora, wife of William H. Sproul, of the same place; Isaac W., who has been cashier or the Christiana bank since its organization, and Mary R., wife of James Sproul, a Chester county farmer.
Mr. Slokom was a member of the Masonic order. Ha joined lodge No. 43, of this city, November 8, 1843, but afterwards resigned to join the new lodge which was started In Christiana. For many years he was treasurer of the lodge at his own home.
Mr. Slokom as a business man had few superiors. He accumulated a very large estate and at the time of his death was the wealthiest man in the eastern end of the county, his estate being estimated at $100,000, of which at least a fourth in value was real estate. His services were frequently sought after in the settlement of estates. He was a man of excellent judgment and his neighbors invariably went to him for advise on matters of business. He was a frequent visitor to this city. Regularly every Monday for years he came to the city and his business at times brought him here two and three times a week. He was almost as well known here as though a resident of the city. He had a large and powerful bodily frame, strongly marked features and a presence that was notable everywhere. He was intimately acquainted with many public men and with the management of some of the great corporations of the state. Mr. Slokom was of amiable disposition and domestic habits, being strongly attached to his family, his home and his locality. No man in his section would be se generally missed.
Source:
Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. [volumeXXVI – No. 66], Thursday, November 14, 1889, page 1
About Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928
|
1817 - 1889 (72 years)
