Samuel P. Cummins Best was named after the family doctor. He lived in New Derry, PA and was a private in the Civil War in Capt. Thomas D. Black's Co F, 21st Regiment, Pa Vol Cavalry, enrolled Feb 17, 1864, discharged July 8, 1865 at Lynchburg, Va.

William had a successful contracting business in Latrobe building bridges for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later constructing coke ovens. Elias' widow Nancy Ann lived with her son William Best and his family as late as the 1870 census, by which time Nancy Ann was 89 years old. In 1880 Mary's mother Sarah Richards (1797-1891) was living with William's family.

Samuel B. Best (1824-1885), son of Elias Best, ran away as a boy from Ligonier Valley and settled in Tennessee. Sam owned a store in Winchester and is said to have owned coal land. In 1860 Sam was living with his brother Peter Best and his family in Tennessee. On April 12, 1864 at the age of 40 Sam enlisted to fight in the Civil War in Company C, 25th N. Carolina Infantry, on the Confederate side. He was in Samuel C. Bryson's company and fought at Petersburg, Richmond, Crater, Globe Tavern, and Appomattox. Sam had chronic bronchitis and was hospitalized in Farmville and Petersburg. He was paroled as a prisoner of war at Appomattox Court House, VA on April 9, 1865 and surrendered the following day by General Robert E. Lee.

After the war Samuel returned to Tennessee where on April 17, 1866 he married May Ann Nance (1833-1905) who was a teacher at a girls seminary. She was the daughter of Archibald Nance and Sarah Stevens. Sam was 42 and May was 33 when they married. Their first child Saidee Best (1867-1928) was born in Tennessee. Around 1868 they moved to Westmoreland County, PA where Samuel's brother William gave him a job in his construction business. Sam and May were charter members of the Derry Presbyterian Church where May taught Sunday School. Sam and May had three more children: William Peter Best (1869-1926) who married Mary Mowry, John Samuel Best (1871-1961) who married Jeannette MacAuley (1872-1955), and May Elizabeth Best (1874-1960).

John Samuel Best was born in Derry, PA on Dec 2, 1871. He lived in Youngwood and worked 33 years for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1920 in partnership with John C. Lowe he founded the Best and Lowe Coal Co. John also founded and was president of the Penn Valley Coal Mining Co. He also served on the boards of the Fulton Coal Co. of New York and the Penn Valley Supply Co. John also owned a controlling interest in the Stauffer Connellsville Coke Co. He helped organize and served as a director of the Savings & Trust Co, of Youngwood. John was a Democrat but was not active in politics. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. John Best married Jeannette McAuley June 1, 1893 and had four children: John Raymond Best, Hazel Jean Best who married Floyd C. Kepple, Nellie Louise Best who married Newton Stairs, and Virginia Francis Best.