SAMUEL L. ADAMS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Halifax county, Virginia,
on October 31, 1863, and his home has always been in the county.
His father, John R. Adams, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia,
was in the Confederate States Army during the late war, and died on
May 28, 1887, aged sixty-four years. His mother, whose maiden
name was Mary A. Stanford, died on July 4, 1874, aged forty-eight
years. On January 12, 1887, he married S. Alice Mitchell, and their
son, John R., was born on January 17, 1888. Mrs. Adams was born
in Halifax county, and her parents are still residents of this county,
Capt. John A. Mitchell and Mary F. (Pringle) Mitchell.
Among the paternal ancestors of Mr. Adams may be named the
Adamses of Boston, and the Tuckers of Virginia, who figured conspicuously
in colonial days. His mother's people, the Stanfords of
North Carolina, were also public men of national reputation, his
great grandfather, Richard Stanford, being elected to the United
States Congress in 1796, and was elected continuously for twenty years
He died in 1816 during the session of Congress, and his remains were
interred in the Congressional Cemetery, and a tall marble shaft at
present marks the spot. Gen. Stephen Moore, of Revolutionary fame,
of the same State, was Mr. Adam's mother's great grandfather. The
ancestral coat-of-arms of Mr. Adam's family bears the inscription of
"Prima" as will be seen on next page.
Mrs. Adam's ancestors were the Jeffersons, Baskervilles and many
others of the old Virginian families, of like reputation.
Mr. Adams is engaged in the insurance business and his address at
present is South Boston, Virginia.
