Notebook:Samuel Huston (5)

E. RANKIN HUSTON, the leading painter of the eastern portion of Cumberland County, is a son of William Huston, who was a most excellent farmer and worthy cattleman, and on his mother's side a direct descendant of the historic Enders family of Dauphin County. Samuel Huston, the paternal great-grandfather, emigrated from Scotland in the early part of the eighteenth century; was a farmer and settled in what was then East Pennsborough Township, but which is now included in the township of Silver Spring. The tract of land on which the original house was built has been known since as the Huston homestead, and occupies a pleasant site some three miles north of the village of Hoges town. His maternal great-grandmother was Isabella Sharon. Samuel Huston died in 1800 ^[1]and his widow. Isabella, in 1804. Both are buried in the Pine Hill burying-ground. They had two sons: John and Jonathan. His paternal grandfather was Jonathan Hus- ton, a farmer, whose wife was Margaret Rankin Mc lntire, a native of Ireland. They had eleven children: Rebecca Eckels, John, John, Samuel, Samuel, Isabella, Isabell (Shafer-King). William, Jane, Talbert, Mary Swiler and Margaret Eckels.

The father of this family died November 10, 1830, aged seventy years, and the mother, August 24, 1846, aged seventy-six years, and both are buried at Silver Spring. William Huston, the father of our subject, was bom on the old homestead, on the original settlement, December 19, 1799/ He spent his youth on the farm; learned the carpenter's trade, and for a number of year- enjoyed quite a reputation as a bridge builder in the western part of this State. March 29, 1838, he married Mary Ann. daughter of Peter and Catherine Phillips, nee En- ders. William Huston was not only a model farmer and ingenious mechanic, but a gen- tleman of sterling character and great physical endurance. He was a descendant of that class of Scotch-Irish settlers who came into the Cumberland Valley from the eastward, and who left here the unmistakeable evidence of thrift and enterprise. Perhaps to them more than any other class this portion of the Cumberland Valley owes its superiority, its fine sense olf right and high standard of moral excellence. He died April 29, 1883, and his remains repose by the side of his parents, in Silver Spring. Mary A., his wife, was born September -J'.'. 1*17. She was a member of Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, and her life, bore the testimony of the sincerity or her profession. Gifted by na- ture with qualites which were rare and desirable, she was appreciated by all who knew her. She was amiable and kind, and in the consistency of her life an ornament to Chris- tianity. She died Occtober 7, 1881, and was buried at Silver Spring.

They had one daughter, who died in infancy, and one son. E. Rankin Huston, who was born September 38, 1848, at the old home-stead. and who spent his earlier years on a small farm, one-half mile north of Mechanicsburg. During the winter season' be attended the public school of the district until he had mastered all the branches embraced in it- curriculum. He subse- quently entered the Pennsylvania College of Trade and Finance, from which he graduated.

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This is in disagreement with Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, which gives the Will date as 15 September 1784, and probate date as 12 October 1784.