Born September 14, 1823, in Somerset county, New Jersey, near the village of Harlingen. At the age of fourteen years in 1838 he left home for New York city, and was then a stranger in a strange land. He commenced life in that city as errand boy in a store. New York at that day was not the New York of today. Samuel then left New York in 1843, and settled in Philadelphia, where he lived until 1856, except the years 1846 and 1847, during which time he was in business in Salem, New Jersey, where he became acquainted with Caroline F. Townsend, daughter of Captain Jonathan Townsend. They were married, on June 28, 1847. Mr. Dumont moved west with his family and landed in Dubuque in April, 1856, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1864, when, his health giving way from long-continued close confinement to business, he was compelled to try out-door life. He chose Butler county, Iowa, as his future home, and moved there with his family and mother-in-law. He had about all the advantages and disadvantages of a pioneer life. He settled on section 28, township 92, range 18, west of the fifth principal meridian, on raw prairie land. Here the family resided, Mr. Dumont engaging in farming until 1879, at which time the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad was built and the town of Dumont located on his farm. Since 1879 he has devoted his time and means to build up a prosperous town and a successful lumber business. Mr. Dumont has frequently been honored by his fellow citizens with offices of trust, serving the township of Pittsford in several positions. For four years he was a member of the county board of supervisors, three years of which time he was chairman of the board. He was a member of the House of Representatives from the Sixty-first district, composed of Butler and Grundy counties, in the Twelfth General Assembly, and also of the Thirteenth General Assembly, when Butler county comprised a district. He was again a member when the new code of 1873 was adopted. Mr. Dumont has been a successful man in life, his success being brought about by push, perseverance and energy.

Born September 14, 1823, in Somerset county, New Jersey, near the village of Harlingen. At the age of fourteen years in 1838 he left home for New York city, and was then a stranger in a strange land. He commenced life in that city as errand boy in a store. New York at that day was not the New York of today. Samuel then left New York in 1843, and settled in Philadelphia, where he lived until 1856, except the years 1846 and 1847, during which time he was in business in Salem, New Jersey, where he became acquainted with Caroline F. Townsend, daughter of Captain Jonathan Townsend. They were married, on June 28, 1847. Mr. Dumont moved west with his family and landed in Dubuque in April, 1856, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1864, when, his health giving way from long-continued close confinement to business, he was compelled to try out-door life. He chose Butler county, Iowa, as his future home, and moved there with his family and mother-in-law. He had about all the advantages and disadvantages of a pioneer life. He settled on section 28, township 92, range 18, west of the fifth principal meridian, on raw prairie land. Here the family resided, Mr. Dumont engaging in farming until 1879, at which time the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad was built and the town of Dumont located on his farm. Since 1879 he has devoted his time and means to build up a prosperous town and a successful lumber business. Mr. Dumont has frequently been honored by his fellow citizens with offices of trust, serving the township of Pittsford in several positions. For four years he was a member of the county board of supervisors, three years of which time he was chairman of the board. He was a member of the House of Representatives from the Sixty-first district, composed of Butler and Grundy counties, in the Twelfth General Assembly, and also of the Thirteenth General Assembly, when Butler county comprised a district. He was again a member when the new code of 1873 was adopted. Mr. Dumont has been a successful man in life, his success being brought about by push, perseverance and energy.