Parents: John Graham Adkins and Nancy Caroline Covey.

Spouse: Sarah R. Adkins, wife of S. A. Adkins died Feb 10, 1914 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetary, Elcentro, Imperial County, California. Samuel stated in a letter "A beautiful monument was erected for her and myself, as the arrangements are already made for myself at her side" but he died in Milford, Ellis Co. TX at his daughter Edith Whitson's home and it doesn't look like his daughter shipped him to CA for burial but buried him here.

Letter written by Samuel Adkins, dated July 22, 1915, Milford, TX: Your request for a record of my lineal decent is right and I will give you the facts as they stand on the records. My full name is Samuel Adkins and I was born the sixth son of John Graham Adkins and Nancy "Covey" Adkins and was born September 25, 1851, near Tuscaloosa, AL and was united in marriage on the 27th day of September 1869 to Sarah Rebecca Stice near Pellonia, Illinois, County of Massac. Sarah was born on the 5th day of September 1853 near Metropolis, Illinois and was the second daughter of William Stice and Martha Stice.

Children born by this marriage in order of their births are as follows:

Agnes May born Jan 7, 1872
Isabelle born May 23, 1873
Benjamin L. born April 28, 1876
William Edward born Sept 2, 1878
David Walter born March 31, 1881
Florence Lillian born May 12, 1883
J. R. Fredrick born Feb 10, 1885
Herbert Oscar born Oct 26, 1886
Laura Edith born Feb 20, 1889
Loyd Samuel born Jan 14, 1891
Sophia Myrtle born March 19, 1893
John Charles born Sept 13, 1895
(there is more to this letter he wrote)
Signed, Samuel Adkins, July 22, 1915, Milford, TX (at the time this letter was written he was living with his daughter, Edith Whitson)

SAMUEL ADKINS - MILITARY:

Additional notes on Samuel A. Adkins:
Metal on Samuel's jacket in a photo: It appears to be one of a group of badges and insignia struck for and awarded by the Veteran Society to those personnel who had fought on the side of the Union during the Civil War.

CENSUS RECORDS:

Samuel was found living in his father's household:
1860 Metropolis Twp., Massac Co., IL Census, page 23 (153 - 153)
John ATKINS, Sr., age 64, M, Farmer, Value Real Estate $1,000; Value of Personal Estate $500, b: SC
Nancy Atkins, age 56, F, Spinster/Seamstress, b: VA
John Atkins, age 26, M, Farm Hand, b: TN
Joseph Atkins, age 23, M, Farm Hand, b: TN
Samuel Atkins, age 19, M, Farm Hand, b: AL

1870 Waol Twp., Pope Co., IL Census, (15-15)
Waol (Samuel) ADKINS, age 28, Farmer, $400 Real estate value, $210 personal estate value, b: TN (Samuel)
Sarah B., age 18, Keeping house, b: IL (Sarah Becky "aka Rebecca")
William Stice, age 25, M, Farm hand, b: IL (Sarah's brother)
Martha C. Stice, age 10, F, b: IL (Sarah's sister)

1880 Logan Precinct, Pope Co., IL Census, pg. 81c
Samuel Adkins, head, married, M, W, age 38, b: AL > VA > TN; Farming
Sarah Adkins, wife, married, F, W, age 26, b: IL > KY > KY; Keeping house
Agnes M. Adkins, dau., single, F, W, age 8, b: IL > AL > IL
Isabelle Adkins, dau., single, F, W, age 6, b: IL > AL > IL
Benjamin Adkins, son, single, M, W, age 4, b: IL > AL > IL
Edward Adkins, son, single, M, W, age 2, b: IL > AL > IL

1890 - destroyed by fire

1900 4th precinct, Ellis Co., TX, Roll 1630, Book 1, Pg. 114 (208-209)
Samuel A. ADKINS, head, M, W, b: Sept 1841, age 58, married 28 yrs, b: AL > AL > AL, Farmer, Renting
Sarah J., wife, F, W, b: Sept 1853, age 46, 10 of 12 children living, b: IL > KY > KY
Edward/Edmond, son, M, W, b: Sept 1878, age 21, single, b: IL > AL > IL
J. R. Fredrick, son, M, W, b: Feb 1885, age 15, single, b: MO > AL > IL
Herbert, son, M, W, b: Oct 1886, age 13, single, b: MO > AL > IL
Laura Edith, dau., F, W, b: Feb 1889, age 11, single, b: MO > AL > IL
Loyd Samuel, son, M, W, b: Jan 1891, age 10, single, b: AR > AL > IL
John C., son, M, W, b: Sept 1895, age 5, single, b: TX > AL > IL

1910 4th Justice Pct, Ellis Co., TX, pg. 273 (302-304)
S. A. Adkins, head, M, W, age 68, Married 41 yrs, b: AL > VA > TN, Farming
Sary R. Adkins, wife, F, W, age 56, 9 of 11 children living, b: IL > KY > KY
Sam Adkins, son, M, W, age 19, b: AR > AL > IL, Farm Laborer
John Adkins, son, M, W, age 14, b: TX > AL > TN, Farm Laborer
Louise Adkins, grand-dau., F, W, age 10, b: TX > IL > TN

1920 San Jose Twp., Los Angeles Co., CA Census, pg. 128 (1284-37-39)
Sam'l A. Adkins, head, Rent, M, W, age 78, widow, b: AL > VA > TN
Agnes M. Verbick, F, W, age 40, widow, b: AL > AL > US, Occupation: Orange Packer - Fruit Exchange
Orrin Verbick, M, W, age 14, grandson, b: AL < US >AL
Annie Verbick, F, W, age 12, granddau, b: AL < US >AL
Thelma Verbick, F, W, age 8, granddau, b: AL < US >AL

MILITARY CAREER:

Samuel Adkins stated he served as a Bugler Boy during the Civil War for the North. He was 13 years old at the time he joined up in Illinois and marched through Georgia. (per the letter he wrote)

Later we find records indicating that he was really 20 years old.

From the Muster and Descriptive Roll of Company "A", Sixth Calvary, Regiment of IL Volunteers
Name: Samuel Atkins, Rank: Private, Age: 20, Height: 5 Feet 11 inches, Hair: DK (dark), Eyes: Blue, Complexion: DK (dark), Marriage: Single, Occupation: Farmer, Nativity: AL, Joined for service and enrolled: When: August 31, 1861, Where: Alder Springs, IL, By whom: George W. Peck, Period: 3 years
Mustered into Service: When: Nov 19, 1861, Where: Camp Butler, By whom: Capt Pitcher, Residence: Massac Co., IL, Remarks: He re-inlisted as a Veteran
(I have more military info. on Sam Adkins)

Samuel was a Farmer in his earlier career and then later opened several General Stores in TX, OR and CA.

After the death of his wife Sarah in 1914, Sam married a second time to Elvira A. Grant on 14 Apr 1915 in Pomona, Los Angeles Co., CA. I have no other record of her except a picture of her of her wedding day to Sam.