Isabella Campbell was born on Curragh Hill, near Coleraine, County Derry, No. Ireland. Her parents (Ephraim Campbell and Isabella Orr) left Ireland in 1863. Her father died en route and her mother shortly after. She and her siblings (James Rogers, Ephraim, George Colin, Alexander, and twins Mary E. and Margaret J.), cared for each other. Three other siblings (Hannah, William Calderwood and Joseph) died in Ireland before they came.

She married John Adams on 16 Dec 1866 in Mount Vernon, MO) and they had seven children (Ephraim, Lenna Leota, Mary, John Alexander, Charles L., Margaret, Fannie, Georgina, and Jennie).

Isabella and John Adams owned a mill and store (Adams Mill in Jasper County). The family had an "impressive residence" that overlooked the mill. John Adams died in 1883, and one of those who worked for her after that time was Sam Knox (descended from Jennie Adams Orr's husband William's sister, Martha Orr Mitchell).

Farmers would bring their wheat to the mill and families would camp for a couple days as it was processed. Thus, the store that Isabella ran would have been a busy place, very much a social gathering point. Her husband, died in 1883, leaving her with young children. Isabelle became known as "Aunt Belle," and she worked tirelessly to keep the family business operating. Usually things went well, but June 10, 1887 a portion of the property was sold a sheriff's auction, presumably because of back taxes. However, she was able to buy the property back for $500 at a later date.

While the first home on the property was a log one, Isabella built the second Adams family home on the property in 1898, with lumber hauled from Golden City. She and John Adams designed the home before his death. It was two stories, with four bedrooms. Drinking water was carried up a hill from a pipe that was attached to the spring at the base of the bluff. The spring water was always used for drinking, while the cistern supplied bathing water.

The mill became less busy because the railroad was situated some distance from it, and was eventually destroyed by fire and flood. Isabelle continued to run the store, but trade declined as railroads and improved wagon roads took most customers to cities such as LaRussell and Avilla. She moved into Carthage and lived with her unmarried daughter, Jennie, at 1029 South Fulton Street.

Isabella was a founder of the White Oak Presbyterian Church, which was first in Avilla and then moved to Lawrence County, where it continued to also serve residents of Jasper County. She is said to have considered educational and worship opportunities for her children to be matters of vital importance.

On October 23, 1909, Mrs. Isabella Adams issued a 20-year mining lease at eight percent royalty, to Henry L. Duncan and others, for land directly east and southeast of the site of the old mill. The mining effort produced few results.

Several years before her death in 1911 she apparently had a stroke. She died without a will, and it was 3.5 years before her estate was settled.

Isabella and John Adams' children were: Ephraim (died as an infant), Lenna Leota, Mary, John Alexander, Charles L., Fannie (died as an infant), Margaret, Georgina, and Jennie.