Col. Samuel Wetherill was born in Philadelphia, and followed the same calling as his father. Afterward he took up the manufacture of white zinc at Newark, N. J., whither he went to introduce the new enterprise. In 1852 he perfected his process, which he patented the following year, and then located in Bethlehem, building the works on the eastern part of the present property of the Lehigh Zinc and Iron Company. He engaged m the manufacture of oxide of zinc, and later erected buildings on the other half of the property, his aim being to produce the pure metallic zinc by a new process of his own invention, which, however, did not prove a thorough success. Before this time the Belgium process for manufacturing metallic zinc had been introduced, and workmen had been brought over from Belgium. In 1860 the proprietors of these firms consolidated, becoming known as the Lehigh Zinc Company.

About this time the war broke out, and Mr. Wetherill enlisted, raising two companies in Bethlehem, the first becoming a part of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, and the other a part of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Mr. Wetherill was commissioned Captain and later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He went through the entire war, taking part in all the engagements in which his command participated. During this time the works were carried on under the supervision of B. C. Webster, and when the Colonel returned he retired from the business, having sold out his interest. For a time he resided in Bethlehem, later removing to the eastern shore of Maryland, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, Sarah Chattin, was of Scotch-Quaker parentage, and was born in Tampico, Mexico, her father having been engaged in business in Tampico. After her parents' death Mrs. Wetherill went to Philadelphia, and in that city occurred her death, at the age of fifty years. Her husband was twice married, having four children by his first union, and two children by his second marriage.