This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sample, Sumwalt, Anderson, Burt, Culver, Ewry, Johnson, Kleinfelder Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Hi.2ADI/2566 Message Board Post: Lafayette Journal and Courier, pg. 1 November 17, 1924 Lafayette, Indiana VENERABLE BANKER IS HEART ATTACK VICTIM Robert W. Sample, Chairman of Board of First Merchants', for 62 years Prominent in Financial World Here, Expires at Age of 91 - City's Oldest Native Son Robert W. Sample, pioneer banker of Lafayette, died suddenly at 4:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at his home, 311 South Ninth street, at the age of 91 years. He had been confined to his home for a week, by a slight illness, but was able to be about the house. Sunday afternoon he suffered an acute heart attck and died a few minutes later. Mr. Sample was the oldest native son of Tippecanoe County, having been born here in 1833. he was one of seven children born to Henry T. and Sarah Sumwalt Sample, and was the only surviving member of their family. His late father was the owner of a large tannery and packing house here, and after attending school in the winter months the son worked during the summer in the tannery. The concern did a very extensive business in the early days. HELPS ORGANIZE BANK After finishing the local schools Mr. Sample went to Cincinnati where he took a course in a business college. He returned to this city and became associated with his father and brother, John Sample, in the tannery and packing house plants. In 1862, when the old First National bank was organized in Lafayette, Mr. Sample became a director of that institution. He served in that capacity until 1890, when he became president of the bank. He held that position until the consolidation of the First National, the Merchants National and American National banks, when he retired as president to take the office of chairman of the board of directors. WIFE DIED IN 1910 In 1855 Mr. Sample was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Anderson. The union was blessed with seven children, four of whom preceded Mr. Sample in death. Mrs. Sample died December 6, 1910. Surviving are two sons and a daughter, Richard B. Sample, president of the Lafayette Savings bank; John T. Sample, teller in First Merchants National bank, and Mrs. Candace Burt. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Dudley Johnson, Miss Elizabeth Ewry, Richard, Jr., and Jack Sample, all of Lafayette. Mr. Sample was a life long member of the Trinity M.E. church. During his long and active life he devoted his time not only to fostering his own interests, but also to the developments of the interests of the community at large. FUNERAL WEDNESDAY The funeral will be conducted from the family home Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. Thomas F. Williams, pastor of Trinity M.E. church, officiating. Burial in Springvale cemetery. NOTE: The mother of Robert W. Sample, Sarah Sumwalt, was the sister of my ancestor, John K. Sumwalt. Their parents were Gottfried (or Godfrey) Sumwalt, and Barbara Kleinfelder. John K. and Sarah Suwalt were born in Baltimore, Maryland. The name SUMWALT was spelled ZUMWALD / ZUMWALT, but was changed along the way. Robert W. Sample was married to Elizabeth Anderson on Oct. 31, 1855. Their children were: *Candace, who was married to Dr. Edgar V. Burt; *Annie A., who was married to Ashley C. Johnson *Elizabeth, died young *Robert W., died young *Mary S., who was married to John Ewry *John G. *Richard, who was married to May Culver