Samuel A. Adams

March 10, 1839 - July 19, 1920

Samuel Adams was born in Vermont to Abraham and Miranda (nee Bartlett) Adams.  However, the Census records indicate that his parents relocated to Wisconsin in the 1840s.  In fact, the obituary on Samuel Adams mentions that he came to Sheboygan (Wisconsin) with his parents when he was six years old which would have been about 1845 based on his birth year.  Although that obituary indicates that Samuel Adams came with his family to Sheboygan, the Adams family must have then re-settled in Forest Township, Fond du Lac County, possibly as early as 1847.  The 1847 Territorial Census for Forest Township lists an A. Adams family consisting of 3 males and 4 females.

The 1850 Federal Census for Forest Township, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin shows an Abraham (41) and Miranda (34) living with six children:  Samuel (10), Amelia "Emily" (10), Mortimer (8), Helen (5), Emory (3) and Noble (1).  The 1860 Federal Census for Forest Township, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin lists an Abram (57) and Miranda (43) Adams with ten children:  Samuel (21), Emily (19), Mortimer (17), Emory (15), Helen (12), Noble (10), David (8), Frances E. (5), Eugene (3) and Arthur (6 months).   The 1870 Federal Census for Forest County, Wisconsin indicates that Miranda Adams (53) is widowed living with the following children:  Noble (20), David (18), Frank (15), Eugene (13), Ernest (10) and Delysle (8).

An 1862 plat map of Forest Township, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin shows an A. Adams owning 80 acres in Section 13 of that township.  A. Adams may have been for Abraham Adams and that acreage was probably the location of the Adams family when they were enumerated in the 1850 Census and the 1860 Census for Forest Township.*

On November 17, 1861; Samuel married Melissa Jane "Minnie" Heath 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 his 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 grand daughter, 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).   Finally, the 1920 Federal Census for York Township shows a Samuel Adams (80) living with his grand daughter, Alice (nee Young) Benedict (24) and her husband, Rollie Benedict (28); and Samuel's daughter, Cynthia (nee Adams) Young (47).

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.

Early records for the York Center Methodist Church indicate that Samuel Adams was baptized on April 28, 1889.

Other immediate members of Samuel Adam's family that are buried at York Center Cemetery include:  his wife, Melissa (nee Heath) Adams; his father-in-law, Jeremiah Heath; his two sons, Chancey Adams and Hubert Adams; his daughter, Mary Adams; his son-in-law and daughter, Edwin Young and Cynthia (nee Adams) Young; his grand daughter, Alice (nee Young) Benedict and her husband, Rollie Benedict; and one great-grandson, Edwin Benedict.

*The 1862 plat map of Forest Township, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin also shows other properties near by that my have been the families of our persons that later settled York Township, Clark County, Wisconsin.  Click on the following link to see more information about York settlers that came from Forest Township in Fond du Lac County:  York - Forest Townships Tie