Samuel Sullivan

Samuel Sullivan was the Ohio State Treasurer from 1820 to 1823. He was the first manufacturer of fine pottery in Zanesville, Ohio.

Biography Samuel Sullivan was born on his father's plantation near Wilmington, Delaware on April 10, 1773. His parents were David and Jane Sullivan, whose ancestors came to America with Lord Baltimore. The plantation was near the mouth of Christina River, in view of the Delaware River. As a youth, both parents died, and he was left penniless by mismanagement or dishonesty by the administrators of the estate.

Sullivan entered a pottery near Philadelphia, served an apprenticeship, and later engaged in business in that city. In 1793, he very nearly died while tending to the sick during an epidemic of Yellow fever. He married Mary Freeman. He served until February 4, 1815. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate for Muskingum County, for a two-year term commencing on December 6, 1819. On February 15, 1820, Ohio State Treasurer Hiram M. Curry resigned under a cloud. A bond of $140,000 was required to take office. In those days, there were no bonding companies, and William Henry Harrison asked to be the first to sign Sullivan's bond. He declined, saying that he preferred bondsmen from Muskingum County. A bond several times the required amount was secured in less than an hour. He was appointed postmaster on October 13, 1825, and retired from public life July 24, 1828. He continued in business for a few more years before retiring to his Falls Township farm. He died there October 15, 1853.

Family Sullivan's grandson, Samuel Sullivan "Sunset" Cox was named after him.