SAMUEL ALBRIGHT, of Waddams Township, was born in Berks County, Pa., on the 6th of December, 1819. His father, Jacob Albright, was a native of the same county, and spent his life upon the farm where his death took place April 18, 1838. Jacob Albright married Elizabeth Stout, a daughter of Michael Stout, who was a blacksmith and a farmer combined, and acquired a fine property including 400 acres of land. The mother of our subject died at the homestead in the year 1864. Samuel Albright applied himself to learn the trade of blacksmith when but eleven years of age, working with his father until the time of the latter’s death, whereupon the young man then worked with his brother for two years. After this he started out for himself in Lower Berne, and the next year he removed to Berne and bought ten acres of land, upon which he built a house and a shop, and there worked at his trade and improved his farm for nine years. He then sold out and started in the mercantile business in the same township, and also kept a hotel two years. The removing to Lower Heidlersburg he bought a store building and six acres of land, and engaged in merchandising business three years. The business being done on the credit system which was much in vogue at that time, he lost quite heavily from uncollectible debts. At the end of three years he sold out his store and kept a hotel in the same building for one year, then disposing of all his interests there, next went to Lebanon, where he began putting up patent medicines, and was also engaged to some extent in veterinary work, in which he continued for the space of two years.

Hitherto the labors of Mr. Albright had not satisfied his enterprising mind, and he now started for Illinois, landing in Stephenson County, where he had many acquaintances who had formerly lived in Pennsylvania. He first located in Buckeye Centre and engaged in the blacksmith business for one year, then removed to McConnell’s Grove in Waddams Township, and for four years engaged in blacksmithing at that place; then he bought the place upon which he now lives. There was a small one-and-a-half-story house, log stable and a granary on the premises when he made the purchase, but Mr. A. has since erected a fine set of buildings, making his improvements rank equally with those of any farmer in the community, and expending for this a snug sum of money. He has a vineyard containing one and one-quarter acres, which is very productive, and considered the finest in Northern Illinois.

Mr. Albright was married, the 20th of December, 1842, to Miss Margaret Grubb, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Hollandbush) Grubb, who were natives of Montgomery County, Pa. This union resulted in the birth of seven children: Sarah A. is the wife of Philip Arno, and lives in Freeport; William is at Leaf River, Ogle County; James remains at home; Frank lives at Winters, Ill.; Martha is the wife of John Folgate, who resides in Rockford; Mary is also at home; Charles is a telegraph operator, and James has been veterinary surgeon since 1876 in Stephenson County. He practiced his profession for five years in Iowa, then returned home. While he devotes his attention mainly to blacksmithing, yet he serves at his profession when called upon. He has written several interesting articles for the Veterinary Review, as well as many of the other leading veterinary journals, and has an excellent understanding of the department of medicine and surgery.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 369