Samuel Adams was a pioneer of that part of Vermilion County now known as Newell township. He came in the year 1825, and with his wife settled among the Indians, who outnumbered the white people for some time ten to one. There were three families who came together from Harrison County, Kentucky, at this time all coming in two horse wagons, and it took three or four weeks to make the trip. The party camped along the roadside as they were coming. The party consisted of Samuel Adams. John Adams his cousin, and Joseph Martin a brother-in-law of Samuel Adams' father.

Samuel Adams had his wife and two children with him on this trip. They all took up their abode on the state boundary line and soon Mr. Adams had a log cabin erected with a stick and clay chimney. This stood on section 22 Newell township, the old family homestead. He entered eighty acres of land from the government for which he paid one hundred dollars. This property has always been in the hands of the family since. Samuel Adams was a noted dealer in hogs which he raised for the home market. His earliest trading points were Eugene and Perrysville on the Wabash River, and later he hauled produce to Chicago.

It took about eighteen days for the trip. It was necessary to ford the rivers, for no bridges had been built, and to camp out along the road at night. Homemade clothing was .used and the second wife of Mr. Adams was noted for her skill in weaving. She made blankets and coverlets for the beds and material for the household use.

Mr. Adams' wife who came from Kentucky with him died in the 'forties and he married Sarah Rayle (or Kayles?) as his second wife. She was a widow with five children. She was the daughter of Luke Kayles (or Rayle?) who was an early pioneer of Vermilion County, and was the first owner of land on the North Fork, of the Big Vermilion River. Samuel Adams died at the age of eighty-one years in the year 1881, and his second wife, one year later at the age of seventy-four. He was the father of thirteen children by his first wife.

He married Nancy Martin on February 7, 1822 in Newell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois. He married second Sarah Susan Wiles on April 30, 1848 in Vermilion County, Illinois.