Samuel Lahm
Encyclopedia
Samuel Lahm was a lawyer, politician, and U.S. Representative
from Ohio
.
He was the father of Frank Samuel Lahm, a noted expatriot and pioneer balloon
ist, and the grandfather of Brigadier General Frank Purdy Lahm, aerial pioneer, student of the Wright Brothers
, and the first military officer to fly an airplane. He married Almira Brown of New Hampshire
and was related by marriage to Daniel Webster
.The couple had five children: Marshall, Edward, Frank Samuel, Charles Henry, and Helen Rebecca. The two eldest sons served in the 115th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
during the American Civil War
and died in service within three weeks of each other, by sickness. In 1855 Almira Lahm died and Lahm remarried, to Henrietta Faber of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Lahm and Henrietta had three daughters.
Born in Leitersburg, Maryland
, Lahm completed preparatory studies and then taught school. He attended Washington College (now Washington & Jefferson College
in Washington, Pennsylvania
. He subsequently studied law. Lahm was admitted to the Ohio bar
in 1836 and moved to Canton, Ohio
to open a practice. He served as the master of chancery
from 1837 to 1841 and prosecuting attorney of Stark County
from 1837 to 1845. He served two terms as member of the Ohio Senate
in 1842. He was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1844 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lahm was appointed as a brigadier general
in the state's antebellum militia
, and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division of Ohio during the Mexican War.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress
. However, he was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirtieth Congress
and served from March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849.
Retiring from politics, he engaged in agricultural pursuits and sheep raising.
He died in Canton on June 16, 1876, and was interred in West Lawn Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
He was the father of Frank Samuel Lahm, a noted expatriot and pioneer balloon
Balloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
ist, and the grandfather of Brigadier General Frank Purdy Lahm, aerial pioneer, student of the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
, and the first military officer to fly an airplane. He married Almira Brown of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and was related by marriage to Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
.The couple had five children: Marshall, Edward, Frank Samuel, Charles Henry, and Helen Rebecca. The two eldest sons served in the 115th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
115th Ohio Infantry
The 115th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 115th Ohio Infantry was organized Massillon, Ohio and mustered in September 18, 1862 for three years service under the command of Colonel Jackson A...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and died in service within three weeks of each other, by sickness. In 1855 Almira Lahm died and Lahm remarried, to Henrietta Faber of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. Lahm and Henrietta had three daughters.
Born in Leitersburg, Maryland
Leitersburg, Maryland
Leitersburg is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 523 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Leitersburg is located at ....
, Lahm completed preparatory studies and then taught school. He attended Washington College (now Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. He subsequently studied law. Lahm was admitted to the Ohio bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1836 and moved to Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to open a practice. He served as the master of chancery
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
from 1837 to 1841 and prosecuting attorney of Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
from 1837 to 1845. He served two terms as member of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
in 1842. He was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1844 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lahm was appointed as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the state's antebellum militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division of Ohio during the Mexican War.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress
29th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, two House seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.-Leadership:-Senate:* President: George M. Dallas * President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum...
. However, he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirtieth Congress
30th United States Congress
The Thirtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, during the last two years of...
and served from March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849.
Retiring from politics, he engaged in agricultural pursuits and sheep raising.
He died in Canton on June 16, 1876, and was interred in West Lawn Cemetery
West Lawn Cemetery
West Lawn Cemetery is in Canton, Ohio adjacent to the McKinley National Memorial. It was the original resting place of William McKinley until his memorial was built, and has graves of other notable Cantonians.-History:...
.