Samuel James McAfee

  General Notes:

"Samuel J. McAfee Died of Blood Poison
Prominent Elderly Farmer Died Sunday Night After Brief Illness.

Samuel J. McAfee, seventy-nine, a prominent Lancaster township pioneer, died at his home just south of Kingsland, at 10:30 Sunday night, after a shot illness with blood posoning in his right arm, which developed from a slight cut received while butchering on last Wednesday. He passed away a short time after submitting to an operation for the opening of the infected member, which was resorted to as the only means of saving his life. It is probable that the illness would not have been fatal in a younger man.

Mr. McAfee cut the third finger of his right hand while helping to butcher, but gave the wound no attention as it was scarcely more than a scratch. His hand had been criplled several years ago when he lost two joints of the second finger when the digit caught in a heavy pulley. The blood poison began to develop on Friday and he became worse rapidly until on Sunday Mr. McAfee's arm was in a terribly swollen condition. A consultation was held over him on Sunday afternoon and the operation for opening the infected area was decided on. The poson had gained too great a hold on his system, however, and the operation proved of no avail.

Mr. McAfee was born in Pittsurg on December 29, 1839, the son of James and Rachael (Dinsmore) McAfee, natives of County Antrim, Ireland and of Scotch covenanter descent. They moved to Wayne County, OH, a short time after the birth of the decedent. His moter passed away in 1844 and in 1853 he came to Wells County, IN with his father and settled in Lancaster township, near where his present home is located.

Mr. McAfee was married on September 28. 1865 to Miss Rachel Nelson, a native of Wells County, IN and a daughter of James Nelson and wife, of Lanxaster township, who were pioneer settlers of the county. She was a sister of the late Solomon Nelson, of this city. Mrs. McAfee died on November 9, 1871, leaving two daughers. One daughter, Etta A., the widow of William Wasson, of Lancaster township, survives her father and the other, Ella, passed away in young womanhood.

Mr. McAfee was married a second time, September 29, 1873, to Miss Catherine Maddux, who was the daughter of Jacob Maddux and wife, of Lancaster townshop. Two sons were born to this union, Ernest W. and Marion J. McAfee, both of whom survice. The decedent made his home with the last named son, who lived on his father's farm, just south of Kingsland. Mrs. McAfee has been dead for a number of years.

Besides the daughter and sons Mr. McAfee is survived by five grandhilcren and one great-grandchild, the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lantz Wasson, of Lancaster township. He also leaves a brother and sister, namely: William J. McAfee of this city, who just recently returned from a winter visit to Georgia, and Maria McAfee who keeps house for her brother-in-law, James Earl, just north of Murray."

Samuel married Rachel Nelson on 28 Sep 1865 in Wells Co., IN. (Rachel Nelson was born in 1849 in Wells County, Indiana, USA, died on 9 Nov 1871 in Wells County, Indiana, USA and was buried in Murray, Wells, Indiana.)

Samuel next married Catherine Maddux on 29 Sep 1873 in Wells Co., IN. (Catherine Maddux was born on 28 Dec 1848 in Wells County, Indiana, USA, died in 1901 in Wells County, Indiana, USA and was buried in Murray, Wells, Indiana.)