From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, page 263.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


SAMUEL M. DARRAH

Samuel M. Darrah, superintendent of the city gas works of Wheeling, 
is a member of one of the well-known early families of the upper 
valley.  His father, Robert Darrah, a native of Ireland, emigrated to 
the United States when a young man and settled in Belmont county, 
Ohio, where he was married to Mary A. Milligan, also a native of the 
Emerald Isle.  The father died in 1876 in his eighty-second year, and 
the mother about 1886, aged eighty-two.  Their son, Samuel M., was 
born in Belmont county, August 24, 1836, and was reared on the farm 
until 1854, when he went to Bridgeport, and served an apprenticeship 
in the blacksmith and wagon shop of Henry Wells.  In May, 1858, he 
came to Wheeling and took a position in the foundry of William 
Miller, one of the old iron works of the city, and remained with that 
establishment for a considerable period. Subsequently, with W. W. 
Miller, Thomas Morehead, John Scott and Philip Bail, he opened a 
machine and blacksmith and boiler shop, in which enterprise he was 
engaged for several years. Withdrawing from that company he was 
connected with the Hinge works four or five years, and then, the city 
having taken charge of the gas works he became connected with the 
same, and has so continued in various positions.  He served for some 
time as inspector of the gas works, and im October, 1887, was 
elected, superintendent and re-elected in 1889.  Mr. Darrah is 
prominent socially as well as in business, and is a member of the 
United Presbyterian church, and has fraternal connections with 
several lodges.  Of Wheeling lodge, No. 9, I.O.O.F., he has been a 
member about thirty years, has passed through all the chairs, and is 
a member of Encampment No. 11.  Of Alpha lodge, No. 424, K. of H., he 
has been treasurer and is now financial reporter, and he is treasurer 
of the Fort Henry council, No. 97, N. U.  On October 2, 1860, he was 
married to Margaret J. Robinson, a native of Ireland, and they have 
had five sons, of whom one is deceased, and four living, one in San 
Francisco, Cal., and one in Cortez, Col., and two at home. 


(Linda Fluharty)