Samuel H. Sidlinger was born in Greenville, Darke County, OH, on June 23, 1845. His family moved to Napoleon, Henry County, OH, in 1853. Both Sam and his father, John Sidlinger, joined the 14th OVI Regimental Band in 1861 and were discharged in 1862. Sam was 16 at the time of his first enlistment. Sam then joined the 125th OVI in 1863 and became the Principal Musician. He was discharged in June, 1865.

He married Lucinda Welty on June 30, 1868, in Newton, IA. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Michigan in 1874. He moved to Hutchinson, KS, in 1875 and started a medical practice. In the 1880's he founded the Sidlinger Drugstore, which was a landmark in Hutchinson for 50 years. He served as the Mayor of Hutchinson in the 1880's. Sam died on December 28, 1935 in Hutchinson.