SAMUEL WEST, grocery merchant, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., April 2, 1828, and is a son of David and Catharine (Beitnett) West, also natives of Lehigh County, and of German parentage. They grew up and married in their native county, and in 1832 removed with their family to Canfield, Ohio, and settled on a farm. Two years afterward they removed to Leavittsburg, Ohio, and in 1842 came to Mercer County, and located one mile east of Greenville. In 1849 the parents moved into West Salem Township, where they spent the remaining years of their lives. The mother died in 1863, and the father in 1867. They were life-long Lutherans, and Mr. West supported the Democratic party up to his death. They reared three children: Samuel, Mrs. Polly Greenewalt, of Crawford County, Penn., and Mrs. Mary Struble, who died in Wisconsin. Samuel left the parental roof in 1841, came to the vicinity of Greenville, and worked on a farm until his twenty-fourth year. In 1852 he got a government contract to carry a daily mail between Greenville and Mercer. He established a hack line, and carried the first daily mail between those points, which he continued to do for eight years. In 1856 he obtained a similar contract to carry the mail from Greenville to Warren, Ohio, which lasted four years, both contracts ending in 1860. Mr. West then engaged in farming, and in 1863 opened a grocery store in Greenville, which he conducted for one year. He purchased and ran the Greenville Steam Saw-mill for the next two years, and then sold out and went into the clothing business. In the spring of 1871 he disposed of his stock and again engaged in the grocery trade, which he has since continued. Mr. West was married April 6, 1852, to Miss Mary L. Homer, who bore him one daughter, Mrs. Frances Hernevious, of West Salem Township. Mrs. West died, in the Methodist faith, December 23, 1855. In December, 1859, Mr. West was again married, to Miss Maria Knappenberger, who has borne him four daughters and three sons: Minnie, Lydia, Samuel, Alice, John, Harry and May, all living at home. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and Mr. West is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.

History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 834-835