SAMUEL ADAMS, an energetic citizen of Union township, is a native of Allegheny county, Penn., born at Port Perry February 21, 1851. His family have long been residents of that county, the grandfather, John Adams, having settled on the Allegheny river. The children of John Adams were born as follows: Alexander, Joseph, John, Samuel, Lewis, Mary, and an unnamed infant. Of this family Samuel is the only living member, and is residing on a farm near Wellsville, Ohio; John, Samuel and Lewis served in the war between the North and the South. John Adams, son of John, was born in 1820, on the banks of the Allegheny river where his boyhood was passed. On arriving at an age of maturity he was united in marriage with Ellen, daughter of Aaron Tharp, a native of eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Adams located near Port Perry, Allegheny Co., Penn., and he followed teaming in that locality; also worked on the railroad, and in digging coal. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Eva, Samuel, Mary, John, Ellen, James D., and Jennie. Samuel Adams, whose name introduces this biography, was born at Port Perry, in Allegheny county. He was trained to hard manual labor from early youth, having worked in the mines during boyhood. He was the only support of the family while his father was in the army. In 1872 he bought a property in Port Perry, which he still owns. In 1874 he married Minerva, daughter of Benjamin Gilmore, a farmer of Allegheny county, and after marriage Mr. Adams continued working for five years; then attended the Southwestern State Normal School, at California, Penn., afterward returning to Port Perry. He conducted a butcher business at the last mentioned place for about one year, and in 1884 moved to the farm in Washington county, Penn., which contains 100 acres. In 1888 he purchased this place, and since that time has continued to reside upon it. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Church; in politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has held various local offices in Allegheny county. Children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams as follows: Elizabeth, born November 17, 1874, died March 3, 1875; Mary Ellen, deceased in infancy; James G. Blaine, born at Port Perry September 15, 1881, "and is a jewel in the home on the farm, being twelve years of age, and bright as a silver dollar."

Text taken from page 924 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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