Obit: Adams, Melissa J. [Heath] (1843 - 1917)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: ADAMS

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 04/19/1917

MRS. S. A. ADAMS (1843 - 1917)

Mrs. S. A. Adams died at her home last Thursday. She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband, one daughter and a step-daughter. She was 73 years of age. The funeral was held at the York Center Church, Clark County, April 15.

1880 Federal Census, York, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Melissa Adams
Birthdate: 1846
Birthplace: New York, United States
Relationship to Head: Wife
Spouse's Name: S. A. Adams
Spouse's Birthplace: Vermont, United States
Father's Birthplace: New York, United States
Mother's Birthplace: New York, United States
Race or Color (Expanded): White
Ethnicity (Standardized): American
Gender: Female
Martial Status: Married
Age (Expanded): 34 years
Occupation: Keeping House
Page: 474
Household Gender Age
Spouse S. A. Adams M 41
Melissa Adams F 34
Child: Chansy Adams M 14
Child: Syntha Adams F 7
Child: Mary Adams F 3
Child: Hubert Adams M 7M
Parent: J. Heath M 70

1900 Federal Census, York town, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Samuel A Adams
Residence: York town, Clark, Wisconsin
Birth Date: May 1839
Birthplace: Vermont
Relationship to Head-of-Household: Self
Spouse Name: Melissa J. Adams
Spouse Birth Place: New York
Father Birthplace: Vermont
Mother Birthplace: Vermont
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name:
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 38
Estimated Marriage Year: 1862
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Enumeration District: 0034
Sheet Number and Letter: 3B
Household ID: 60
Household Gender Age
Samuel A Adams M
Spouse: Melissa T Adams F
Child: Cynthia Young F
Alice Young F
Sadie Gibson F

1910 Federal Census, York, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Samuel A Adams
Birthplace: Vermont
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Family Number: 81
Page Number: 4
Household Gender Age
Samuel A Adams M 71y
Spouse Melissa J Adams F 66y
Child: Cynthia Young F 38y
Alice Young F 15y
Child: Sadie Gibson F 21y
John Kronberger M 24y

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Melissa "Minnie" Adams

October 27, 1843 - April 11, 1917

Melissa "Minnie" (nee Heath) Adams was a daughter of Jeremiah Heath and wife of Samuel A. Adams, a pioneer of York Township. Minnie Adams was the mother of Cynthia Adams, who later became Cynthia Young, and whose only child was Alice Benedict, wife of Rollie Benedict. She was born in New York State and came to Wisconsin (near Plainfield) when she was four years old (circa 1847).
On November 17, 1861; Melissa Jane "Minnie" Heath married Samuel A. Adams in Greenbush Township, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. For some time, they lived in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin and also in Minnesota. The 1870 Census for Elysian Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota lists a Samuel Adams (31) living with his wife Melissa (27) and son, Chancey (4). That census also shows that their son, Chancey was born in Minnesota. Therefore, the Adams must have been in Minnesota as early as 1866.

The obituaries for both Samuel and Melissa Adams indicate that in 1878, they came to York Township, Clark County. They probably moved to the original Adams farm that was located in Section 4, across the road from the farm belonging to her husband's brother-in-law and sister, David and Emily (nee Adams) Rogers.

The 1880 Federal Census for York Township, Clark County, Wisconsin lists a S. A. Adams (41) living with his wife, Melissa (34), his father-in-law, J. Heath (70) and four children: Chancey (14), Cynthia (7), Mary (3) and Hubert (7 months). The 1900 Federal Census for York Township shows a Samuel Adams (61) living with his wife, Melissa (56); his daughter Cynthia Young (28); his granddaughter, Alice Young (5), and a boarder, Sadie Gibson (12). That Census also indicates that Samuel and Melissa Adams had six children but only one (Cynthia) was living in 1900. Similarly, the 1910 Federal Census for York Township lists: Samuel A. (71) and Melissa J. (66) Adams; their daughter, Cynthia Young (38) and grand daughter, Alice Young (15); and their adopted daughter, Sadie Gibson (21). 

The adopted daughter, Sadie Gibson, is believed (based on birth dates) to have been a daughter of Samuel D. Gibson, another early pioneer of York Township. She married Otto H. Post on February 8, 1916 in York Township.

The obituaries for both Samuel and Minnie Adams indicate that six children were born to the union of Samuel and Melissa Adams. The 1900 Census for York Township also annotates that they had had six children but only one (Cynthia Young) was living in 1900. Therefore, there must have been two other Adams children in

addition to the two sons (Chancey and Hubert) and two daughters (Cynthia and Mary). Perhaps two other children died as infants.
Other immediate members of Minnie Adam's family that are buried at York Center Cemetery include: her husband, Samuel A. Adams; her father, Jeremiah Heath; her two sons, Chancey Adams and Hubert Adams; her daughter, Mary Adams; her son-in-law and daughter, Edwin Young and Cynthia (nee Adams) Young; her grand daughter, Alice (nee Young) Benedict and Alice's husband, Rollie Benedict; and one great-grandson, Edwin Benedict.