Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 771-772.

SAMUEL H. GALYEAN, a representative of one of the early families of Lancaster Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Henry County, May 13, 1832, a son of Thomas and Tabitha Galyean. Our subject is the only one of his father’s family who made part of the family after coming to Wells County, they settling in Lancaster Township in 1842. He remained with his father until reaching the age of eighteen years, when he began life for himself. He has spent the greater part of his life in Wells County, and has become one of its most respected citizens. He lived two years in Wayne County, and during that time, November 14, 1852, he married Miss Edith Ellis, who was born in that county September 23, 1833, a daughter of Mordecai and Ruth Ellis. Eight children have been born to this union—Mrs. Mary Alice Grove, living in Nebraska; Thomas M. died in his fourth year; Mrs. Tabitha Olive Fox; John Lee married Della Grove, and lives in Nebraska; Ephraim M. died in his sixteenth year; Samuel H., living with his parents; Rachel C. died in her seventeenth year, and Martha E. at home. Mr. Galyean settled on his present farm in 1853 and for a short time occupied a log cabin. He then built a hewed log house, which has since been replaced by a commodious two-story frame residence, which the family now occupy, and his other farm buildings are correspondingly good. The entire improvements on the land have been made by our subject and his wife. His farm is located on section 19, Lancaster Township, and consists of 120 acres of well cultivated land, all of which with the exception of five acres being cleared from the timber by Mr. Galyean. In politics Mr. Galyean is identified with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Galyean was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in October, 1864, in Company B, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, his regiment being part of the Seventeenth Army Corps. He served until the close of the war, and was in line at the grand review at Washington in June, 1865. Thomas Galyean, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, February 22, 1787. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving a year, and after its close, in 1814, he came with his father, Thomas Galyean, to Wayne County, Indiana. Thomas Galyean, Sr., was one of the patriots of the Revolution, serving four years and six months. He died in Wayne County. Thomas Galyean, the father of our subject, married Tabitha Warren, a native of Tennessee, born in the year 1789. Some years after their marriage they became pioneers of Henry County, where they cleared a farm in the wilderness. They sold their farm in Henry County in 1837 and moved to La Porte, La Porte County, Indiana, where Mrs. Galyean died soon after, leaving five children—Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Joseph Richey; Nancy, Sophia, Jane, and Samuel H., our subject being the only one now living. In 1842 the father came to Lancaster Township, Wells County, and was here married to Mrs. Rachel (Pettit) Scott. He made his home on section 29 on a farm that had been opened up by James Scott, the former husband of Mrs. Galyean, and here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1861. His widow survived him about ten years.



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ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE BIOGRAPHY OF SAMUEL Galyean
(provided by Bill Galyean, wgalyean@access.mountain.net)

Tabitha Warren Galyean, mother of Samuel was actually born Jan 10, 1794 and not 1789
in 1789. She was a Quaker prior to her marriage to Thomas. She was disowned for
marriage contrary to displine. (Vol. 1, pg. 105, Whitewater Monthly Meeting).

Edith Ellis, Samuel's wife, was a Quaker prior to the marriage. She was disowned for marriage
contrary to displine. (Vol 2, pg. 157, Springfield Monthly Meeting)