SAMUEL A. RUTHERFORD, one of the old citizens of the township of Lancaster, now resides with his brother, William Rutherford, whose biography appears else where in this work. Samuel A. was born in Dauphin County, Pa., near Harrisburg, Aug. 13, 1832. He remained at home until he was twenty-nine years of age. He had learned the shoemaker’s trade, which occupation he followed for fifteen years of his life. At the beginning of the Rebellion he enlisted in the army on Aug. 18, 1862, at the time of the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 troops to defend the “Stars and Stripes” of his country. He was a member of Co. B, 127th Pa. Vol. Inf., which was attached to the Army of the Potomac under Burnsides, Hooker, and the several successive commanders who had charge of that army. He was in the battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862, and later at Chancellorsville, in which he was prostrated by a shell but was not seriously hurt. He afterward took part in numerous hard fought battles, but fortunately escaped without serious injuries. After re-enlistment, and having served his country for one year he was discharged in August, 1863, and immediately afterward came to Illinois, where he has since resided, with the exception of a short time spent in Minnesota, where he owns 160 acres of land partly improved. He never was married, and in politics is Republican.

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