Date: January 31, 1900--COL. SAMUEL ELDER: The Death Roll"
Col. Samuel ELDER, one of the oldest and best known of the pioneer citizens of Western Pennsylvania, died at 10 o'clock yesterday morning at his home on his farm near Ligonier, Pa., in his 95th year.  He was in robust health throughout his life until last Wednesday, when he became a victim of the grip.  At noon on Sunday he had a stroke of paralysis, and from then he began to sink rapidly, although he remained conscious until he passed away.
  Col. Elder was born at Path Valley, near Carlisle Pa., in 1805.  He was a son of a distinguished military man and a grandson of Rev. John Elder, who was known as the "Fighting Parson," because of his aggressiveness for the right for peace, whether obtained by force or diplomacy.  The latter's son John Elder, who was a brother of the deceased's father was the founder of Harrisburg, the state capital.  While yet a very young man, Col. Elder embarked in the general store business in Somerset County.  Here he lived many years.  He was the first clerk of the orphan's court of Somerset County, and the register and recorder of that county to be elected by the people.  For a while he was also a prothonotary of Somerset County.  Long before the advent of the railroad Col. Elder and a number of others organized a stage coach line from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia.  Here he became quite wealthy.  He foresaw the coming of the railroad and sold out his interest and invested his wealth in a stage coach line from Independence Mo., to Salt Lake City.  This venture was a failure and he lost nearly all he had made in Pennsylvania.  He than retired and for many years lived on his large farm at Brinton Station.  For the past 20 years he had been living on his farm near Ligonier, Westmoreland County.
   The deceased was a remarkable man in many ways.  He was always an admirer of beautiful horses, and in 1826 sold one of his finest horses to Lafayette, the great French-American patriot, who was visiting in the United States at the time.  He cast his first vote for Jefferson in 1828 and since then always voted the Whig and then the Republican ticket.  Religiously, he was a Presbyterian.  Before his death he was probably the oldest reader of the Commercial Gazette, which he has read daily since childhood.
  Col. Elder was married in December, 1833, to Margaret Anna Bell, a descendant of a pioneer family.  She is still living and rapidly approaching the 90th year of her age.  He is surrounded by nine children, as follows, Mrs. W. W. Patrick, Mrs. F.C. Craighead and John B. Elder of Pittsburgh; Mrs. R.C. Holliday, Baltimore Md, Mrs. M.E. Hudson, Maysville, Cal., E.W. Elder, Redding, Cal; Mrs. Dr. A.V. Miller, Ligonier, and Samuel Elder Jr., and Josephine at home.  The funeral will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m., at Ligonier.