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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
SAMUEL MIDDOUR, of Oskaloosa, was born in Franklin County, Pa., March 30, 1839. There he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of his native county. When he was seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of tanner and currier, receiving for his first year's wages only his board. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman for a number of years, and later on engaged in business for himself. At the time of Lee's raid in Pennsylvania, when the battle of Gettysburg was fought, the rebels took from him all his stock, wagons and harness, and, in fact, cleaned him out. Having lost everything he concluded to come west, which he did, locating in Mt. Morris, Ogle Co., Ill., where for a number of years be was engaged in the business of raising, buying and selling stock. In 1880 he came to Oskaloosa, leaving his family at the old home. In 1882 he brought his family to this city, where he embarked in his present business, which is the tanning of whang leather and the manufacture of gloves from skins tanned by a process peculiarly his own. Mr. Middour was married in Ogle County, Ill., to Miss Hattie A. Little, a daughter of William Little, of Frederick City, Ind. By this union there are three children-Eldridge W., Lulu and Mina Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Middour are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was originally an old-line Whig, but has officiated with the Republican party since its organization. His parents were Jacob and Barbara (Hess) Middour, who were farmers and natives of Pennsylvania. They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and raised a family of six sons and two daughters John, Jacob, George, Joseph, Samuel, Catherine, Elizabeth and David, all now living at the old home in Franklin County, Pa., with the exception of Samuel. Mr. Middour is a quiet, unostentatious citizen, devoted to the interests of his business, and an indefatigable worker, and to his efforts alone is due the success that has been attained by the Oskaloosa Tanning Company, of whose business he is Superintendent.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy