James Sams

James Sams Sr. was born April 2, 1785 in Spottsylvania County, Virginia and died January 26, 1849. He may have been the son of Joseph and Nancy Pratt Sams. He married Permelia Ann Kelly, daughter of Captain Joseph Kelly and Elizabeth Mallory. She was born June 19, 1791 and died July 26, 1855. They lived in Clark County, Kentucky until about 1824 when they moved to Henry County, Kentucky. They became the parents of the following children: Joseph, Elizabeth, William, Fannie, Sarah Ann, Eliza, James Jr., Urial Mallory, John, Nancy, Jane Kelly, Griffin, and Permelia. James and Permelia are buried in Sams-Kelly Cemetery in Henry County, Kentucky.

James Sams Jr. was born in 1820 and died in 1909. He married Cassander Cox, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Kelly Cox of Scott County. She was born April 22, 1824 and died August 4, 1855. She is buried in Sams-Kelly Cemetery in Henry County, Kentucky. They had three children, (1) Mary Elizabeth married Milton Taylor, then Mr. Nunnley, (2) William Thomas married Emma Robinson and (3) Albert. After Cassander's death, James married Sarah Wills, born November 22, 1838 and died October 17, 1868. She is buried in Sams-Kelly Cemetery in Henry County, Kentucky. They had two daughters, (1) Alice married Joseph E. Lillard January 8, 1874 in Grant County, Kentucky, and (2) Callie married Vardman Vawter. James moved to Carrollton, Kentucky and operated a sawmill. After his second wife's death he moved to Grant County where he married Angeline Lale/Lail February 15, 1871. They had three sons, (1) Noble, born about 1874 (2) Melvin, born about 1876, married Daisy Franks, October 18, 1905 in Kenton County, Kentucky, daughter of James Perry Franks and Mary Alice Beach. She was born 1877, died in 1918, and is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Grant County, Kentucky. After her death, Melvin married Mrs. Lora Triplett Humpston, and (3) Malcolm Sams who became a doctor and married Amry Cummings.

James Jr. is buried with his third wife, Angie, in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Grant County, Kentucky. He is the only child of James and Permelia Sams who lived in Grant County. He owned a farm on Crittenden-Mt. Zion Road.

Researched by T. J. Beach
Published in Footsteps of the Past, September 22, 1994
Additional research by Beulah Wiley Franks, 2001.

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