The fitting reward of a well spent life is an honored retirement in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. Mr. Deeter is one who has been enabled to put aside business cares, having through former years of activity won a comfortable competence that now enables him to rest from his labors. He was born December 28, 1829, in Newton township, Miami county, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reed) Deeter. His paternal grandparents were David and Elizabeth (Stutzman) Deeter, natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in the Keystone state, but became residents of Ohio and died at Pleasant Hill.

Jacob Deeter, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800, and during his boyhood accompanied his parents on their emigration to the Buckeye state. Eventually a settlement was made in Newton township, Miami county. When they reached the Ohio river on their journey to this state they built a flat-boat and thus proceeded down the stream to Cincinnati. The grandfather entered land in Newton township. There the father of our subject carried on agricultural pursuits throughout a long period, but for some years prior to his death lived retired in the town of Pleasant Hill. He passed away in 1865. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Reed, was born in Virginia, in 1810 and was a daughter of John Reed. Her parents removed to Newton, Miami county, during her girlhood, and here she was married. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deeter were born ten children, namely: Mary, wife of William Mikesell, of Pleasant Hill; Samuel R.; Malinda, wife of David Munich, of Pleasant Hill; Frederick, also of Pleasant Hill; David and Jacob, who died in childhood; Isaac, of Pleasant Hill; Sarah, wife of Henry Martindale, of Dayton; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Washington Whitmer and died at Pleasant Hill, and Mrs. Christina Longnecker, of that town.

The educational privileges which our subject received were very limited, for he did not attend school to any extent after he was fourteen years of age. His father was in poor health and for five years Samuel remained at home, doing the greater part of the work of the farm. At the age of nineteen he was apprenticed to William Holsinger to learn the carpenter and cabinetmaker's trades, and on attaining his majority he came to Covington, where he was employed for a time in making chairs. Subsequently he went to Pleasant Hill, where he entered the employ of Mr. Stutzman, whose business he afterward purchased and then entered into partnership with his brother, Frederick Deeter. They continued in the undertaking business for five years. At that time a hearse was a rare thing in this section of the state, a spring wagon being used to convey the dead to the place of interment; but the Deeter Brothers purchased a hearse and officiated at most of the funerals of the neighborhood. They also took contracts to build houses, and in that business met with prosperity.

At the end of five years our subject sold his interest in the business to his brother and followed carpentering for a time, but later purchased seventy acres of land. He operated that for a year, when his health failed him and he rented his farm. He then began work at the carpenter's trade and also engaged successfully in raising and moving buildings and in purchasing and selling land. He now owns two hundred and forty-five acres of land, a part of which is located in Darke county. In 1895 he took up his abode in Covington, where he owns a pleasant home, and has since lived retired, having no business interests aside from the supervision of his property.

Mr. Deeter was married, in 1855, to Miss Susannah Freshower, who was born on the farm now owned by our subject. She is a daughter of George and Nancy (Burkhart) Freshower, and by her marriage has become the mother of nine children, namely: Elizabeth, who was born November 16, 1856, and is the wife of George Mohler, of Boyd; Ella F., who was born November 28, 1858, and is the wife of Wilkinson Pearson; Malinda, who was born in January, 1861, and became the wife of Samuel McBride, her death occurring in Newton township at the age of twenty-eight years; William F., who was born January 30, 1863, and married Emma Fox; Jacob E., who was born March 11, 1865, and is a resident of Covington; Vina C., who was born December 25, 1867, and is the wife of William Castle, of Dayton; Charles S., who was born March 9, 1870; Lillian, born November 20, 1875, and Emma, born October 6, 1882.

Mr. Deeter is a deacon in the Progressive Dunkard church and is a consistent Christian gentleman. His political support is given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is very earnest in his advocacy of its principles. His manner is kindly and courteous and his genial disposition has won him a large circle of friends. He owes his success in life not to a fortunate combination of circumstances or to the aid of influential friends, but to his own well-directed efforts, and his retirement from business cares is certainly well merited.