Samuel Henry Switzer was born in Rockingham Co. VA, the first child of  Henry's marriage to Diannah Fry. He was fighting in the Civil War when his father, Henry was killed by stray fire at the Battle of Bull Run. Samuel first married Lavina Kidd abt. 1861  in Fulton Co. IL. Lavina was a descendant of Captain Kidd. She was born abt. 1845, and was the daughter of John and Julia Ann Reynolds Kidd.

 He was listed as a teamster, driver of a team of horses, in the Fulton Co. IL Census of 1880. Lavina died shortly after the birth of her last child in 1879. Samuel H. married Melissa Ann Williams Dec. 1882, in Bond Co. IL. She was born Oct.23, 1864.

Children  1st Marriage

Winnie E. b. 1864, John William b.1869, Dora A. b. Aug.11,1872, Mary Olive b.July 5,1875, Albert L. b.Oct 17,1877, Arabel b.Dec 1,1879

Children 2nd Marriage

Alva Benton b. Oct 17,1883, Charles Vernon b. Oct. 26, 1889,  Frank Jesse b. Jan5, 1892, David Richard b. Sep 8, 1895, Maude E. b. Mar 16, 1903.

Samuel H Statler II, Son of Jacob

Samuel H II  b.Jan.23, 1850 to Jacob Henry Switzer, son of Henry and Mary,  married Anna E. Statler in Woodford Co. IL October 28, 1874, at the Panther Creek Brethren Church. Samuel was raised at Astoria, but Anna was the grand daughter of Rev. James R. Gish, through his daughter, Frances Ellen Gish Statler. Samuel and Anna moved to Lovewell, KS area and raised their 14 children there.

 Samuel H. Switzer Family

 Samuel's Tombstone

 Samuel's Wife and Girls

 Switzer Girls

Samuel&Anna's Wed Photo

Frances Gish Statlers grave

Rev. James R. Gish

James R. Gish was born in Roanoke Co. VA, on Jan.24,1826. He married Barbara Kindig of Augusta Co. VA  and in the fall of 1849 they came by covered wagon to IL.  They were six weeks on the road.  Rev. Gish established his home on Grand Prairie, and the site of his farm became the city of Roanoke, IL. The Gish Family is connected to our family in 3 different strains of the family,  one of which is the marriage of his daughter Mary to James Grandville Switzer. When the Panther Creek Brethren Church was established, James Gish was a founding member, and he financed the moving of the church pews from a site in Virginia to Illinois by wagon.  One of these original pews is in the home of the author. They are shaker style furniture, with blacksmith-made hinges that allow the backs to fold over the seat area.  According to tradition, the pews were old when they were moved to Illinois in the 1850s. The pews are made from heavy chestnut wood and the backs have cherry wood book holders attached.