Fayette County Genealogy Project[Source: Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book
of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.; Uniontown, Pa.: S. B. Nelson, 1900; page
1185] "SAMUEL SMOCK was born in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., June 19, 1820. Barnett Smock, of Revolutionary fame, was his grandfather, who with his wife, in 1793, came on foot from New Jersey to Westmoreland county, Pa. He was a common laborer. Their children were: Elizabeth, Abraham, Henry and Mary. Henry Smock 9father) was a son of Barnett and Elizabeth Smock, and was born in New Jersey in 1790, being three years old when his parents came to Westmoreland county. In 1808 he was married to Miss Shepler, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Baxter) Shepler. They had eleven children: Ruhama, Mary, Philip, Jane, Lucinda, Samuel, Barney, Isabella, Sarah, Margaret and Caroline. Samuel Smock was a very poor boy. In 1839 he went to learn the blacksmith trade with James Beazel of Belle Vernon, and possessed of but scant clothing, worked barefooted in the shop until he could earn enough money to buy a pair of brogans. In three years he had learned his trade, owned a good suit of clothes and had managed to save seventy-nine dollars and forty-two cents. He now went to work in earnest to help his parents to secure a home for them and one for himself. In 1844 he went to Perry township and worked two years, saving five hundred dollars. He next worked in Westmoreland county, when he went to Ohio, and after a short stay, moved to Belle Vernon, where he worked for twenty-five dollars per month. He soon bought a lot and built a house and shop and for twenty-one years pursued his trade at this place. At the end of that time he had accumulated fourteen thousand dollars. Selling his property he…" [end of page; no further information.] |