Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 530. " . . . Samuel and Louisa (Justice) Focht, the latter of whom was a daughter of Allen Justice, who had entered his land in section 15 of Union township of 1835, three years after the Indians had departed from this region. Samuel Focht, who was one of the early commissioners of Auglaize county and in his generation a man of force and influence in this community, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Adam Focht."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 530-531. "Samuel Focht, the eldest of [Adam Focht’s] seven sons, was the "pathfinder" in the family’s migration to this part of Ohio. When about twenty-three years of age he come over here into Western Ohio, looking about for a desirable place of settlement in the new lands country hereabout, and became attracted to the possibilities which awaited settlers in Union township. He first bought the tract on which his son, Allen, is now living, and later bought an "eighty" in the north half of section 10, just southeast of whereof where Uniopolis later was laid out, and his father then disposed of the family interests in Pennsylvania and came out here into the then wilderness with his family, prepared to make a new start. It was thus that the Fochts came to numbered among the pioneers of this region, and the family is still widely represented hereabout.

Samuel Focht was a man of initiative and enterprise and not only succeeded in making a good farm out of the place on which he had settled there along the creek, but he likewise succeeded in impressing his personality upon his pioneer neighbors. He was the second justice of the peace elected in and for Union township, and served two terms in that magisterial capacity. When in the late ‘40s the movement for the erection of a new county here was inaugurated he was one of the earnest promoters of that movement, and in 1851, in the second election held in Auglaize County, he was elected to represent his district on the board of county commissioners, receiving 13,68 votes as against 140 for his Whig opponent. By re-election he served for six years on the board of county commissioners, and thus was a strong force in bringing about proper civil conditions in the county’s formative period. In 1764 he was elected a member of the board of infirmary directors, and for twelve years thereafter was kept in that office. In other ways he did well his part in the community, nor was he unmindful of his own personal affairs, for he increased his land holdings around his original eighty to more than 200 acres and had one of the best farms in the neighborhood. He died on January 7, 1895, in the eighty-third year of his age. Samuel Focht was twice married, and by his first wife, Mary Brethers, was the father of four children, two of whom, William and Sarah, are still living, the deceased members of this family having been Daniel and Matilda. By his union with Louisa Justice he was the father of four children, all of whom are living save one son, Adam, the others besides the subject of this sketch [i.e. Allen Focht] being a daughter, Mary, and a son, Louis Focht."

1821 Birth:171, v. 1, bk. 2, p. 212. Birth date of 29 May 1812 and birth place of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania taken from tombstone in Fairmont Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio.

1840 Marriage:2816 Samuel Focht married Mary Bethards in Allen County, Ohio on 1 February 1840.

1849 Death of Wife Mary:171, v. 1, bk. 2, p. 193. Mary Brethers Focht died on 6 November 1849 at the age of 34 years. She was buried in Fairmont Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio.

1849 Marriage:2817 Samuel Focht married Louisa E. Justice in Auglaize County, Ohio on 2 May 1850.

1850 U.S. Census:2791
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wayne Township)
Enumerated 27 July 1850
Samuel Focht •• 38, male, farmer, real estate value $1,600, born in Pennsylvania
Louisa •• 21, female, born in Virginia
Matilda •• 11, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Sarah •• 9, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Daniel •• 4, male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
William •• 2, male, born in Ohio

1860 U.S. Census:2789
Auglaize County, Ohio (Union Township, St. Johns Post Office)
Enumerated 14 July 1860
Samuel Focht •• 48, male, farmer, real estate value $7,000, personal property value $1,200, born in Pennsylvania
Louisa •• 31, female, born in Virginia, cannot read or write
Matilda •• 19, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Sarah •• 17, female, born in Ohio
Daniel •• 14, male, born in Ohio
William •• 12, male, born in Ohio
Mary •• 8, female, born in Ohio
Allen •• 6, male, born in Ohio
James •• 3, male, born in Ohio
Adam •• 11 months, born in Ohio

1870 U.S. Census:1974
Auglaize County, Ohio (Union Township, Uniopolis Post Office)
Enumerated 23 July 1870
Samuel Focht •• 58, male, white, farmer, real estate value $12,500, personal property value $3,845, born in Pennsylvania, eligible to vote
Louisa •• 39, female, keeping house, born in Virginia, cannot read or write
Mary E. •• 18, female, white, at home, born in Ohio
Allen •• 17, male, white, farm laborer, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Adam •• 11, male, white, at home, born in Ohio, attended school within the year, cannot write
Lewis •• 6, male, white, at home, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Ida •• 2, female, at home, born in Ohio

1880 U.S. Census:2790
Auglaize County, Ohio (Union Township)
Enumerated 12 June 1880
Samuel Focht •• white, male, 68, married, farmer, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania
Louisa •• white, female, 51, wife, married, keeping house, cannot read or write, born in Virginia, father born in Virginia, mother born in Virginia
Adam •• white, male, 20, son, single, farmer, attended school within the year, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Virginia
Lewis •• white, male, 16, son, single, laborer, attended school within the year, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Virginia

1895 Death Record:638, p. 53. (Samuel Focht, Probate Court Death Records, v. 2, p. 5F) Samuel Focht; born in Pennsylvania; 82y 7m 8d; date of death, 7 January 1895; place of death, Union Township; cause of death, old age.

1895 Obituary:290, v. 1, p. 133. (Auglaize County Democrat, 10 January 1895) Samuel Focht died Monday from kidney trouble. 73y. One of Uniopolis earliest and best citizens. Twice elected commissioner of this county. Funeral at Uniopolis.

1895 Tombstone:171, v. 1, bk. 2, p. 212. Fairmont Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Samuel Focht
b. May 29, 1812
Northumberland Co., Penn.
d. Jan. 7, 1895
82y 7m 8d