James Sammons, son of Edmund Sammons and Ann Mariah Hays, was born May 24, 1835, in Morgan County, Illinois.  The obituary of his daughter, Louisa, stated his full name as James Edmond Sammons; this is the only reference as yet found to this possible middle name.  James always spelled his surname Samons.

He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in Companies A and K of the 118^th Illinois Infantry. He filed for and received (after years of wrangling) a veteran's pension.  At right is an image of the pension card.

James married Sarah Ellen Way on November 1, 1855, in Hancock County. Marriage License

Sarah was the daughter of Alvis Way and Martha Barlow, and was born May 15, 1840, in Hancock County.  She died February 1, 1903, in Hancock County; burial at Willis Cemetery, Hancock Township, Hancock County. Tombstone

Excerpt from The Way Family History by Doris E. Barb Pogue, 1933.

Five years after Sarah's death, James married Mrs. Lucy Adelia Cameron (nee Rhea) on December 3, 1908, at Lancaster, Schuyler County, Missouri.  Follow the link to Lucy to view a copy of their marriage license and several family photographs.

Lucy was born November 13, 1856, probably in Hancock Township, Hancock County.  She was the daughter of Calloway Lafayette Rhea and Sarah Jane Smith.  Lucy's first husband was John James Cameron, who died about 1887.  She married, second, Robert T. Wade in 1889; he died in 1904.

James died November 12, 1915, at his home in Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois, and was buried at Willis Cemetery, Hancock Township, Hancock County, Illinois.  Tombstone

Lucy died November 2, 1940, in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, and was buried at Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth, Hancock County.

In an essay about Edmund Sammons, researcher William G. Stewart included documentation on James and family.  To read this essay, visit the following linked page on Charlotte's & Raymond's Roots, hosted by Charlotte Ramsey.  Return to this page with your browser back button.

The children of James Sammons and Sarah Ellen Way were:

i.	Mary Jane Sammons, born April 15, 1858, near Joetta, Hancock County, died March 17, 1923.
ii.	Edmond S. Sammons, born October 11, 1860, near Joetta.  He died at Joetta on December 18, 1930, at the home of the Furchtbar sisters.
iii.	Charles William Sammons, born March 20, 1863, near Joetta; died September 29, 1911, in Illinois.
iv.	Ruth E. Sammons, born about 1865 near Joetta.  We believe she died November 4, 1947, in Peoria County, Illinois, perhaps at the county hospital.  Burial location undetermined, possibly Bushnell, McDonough County.
v.	Louisa "Lou" Sammons, was born October 5, 1867, near Joetta, died at her home in Carthage on April 24, 1945, and was buried Majorville Cemetery, all in Hancock County.
vi.	Stephen Arthur Sammons, born February 21, 1870, near Joetta; died January 12, 1882; burial at Willis Cemetery.  His tombstone was not located during a visit to the cemetery in 2000.
vii.	Ida May "Ide" Sammons, born February 7, 1873, near Joetta; died June 27, 1962, at Colchester, McDonough County.  She was buried at Majorville Cemetery.

Edward Sammons, 55, male, farmer, born VA
Maria, 41, female, born VA
Jonathan, 22, male, born TN
Frances, 19, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Jacob, 16, male, born IL, attended school within the year  [a.k.a. Joseph]
James, 14, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Thomas, 11, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Susan, 8, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary, 7, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Gilbert, 3, male, born IL

James Sammons, 25, farmer, real estate value 800, personal property value 250, born IL
Sarah E, 20, born IL
Mary J, 3, born IL

Sammons, James, 35, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 2500, value of personal estate 800, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Sarah E, 30, female, white, keeping house, born IL, attended school within the year [Probably an enumerator's transcription error; school attendance entries in this column for the Sammons children should have been shifted down one line, to show that Charles had also attended school.]
Mary J, 12, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Edmond [or Edmund], 10, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Charles W, 7, male, white, born IL
Ruth, 5, female, white, born IL
[continued on next page]
Sammons, Louisa, 3, female, white, born IL
Stephen, 3/12, male, white, born IL, born in March [Note the discrepancy in this census record and the inscription on his tombstone.]

Samon, James, white, male, 44, married, farmer, born IL, father born "Te Va", mother
born "Tenn"
Sarah E, white, female, 40, wife, married, keeping house; Is the person sick, or temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties? If so, what is the sickness or disability? [entry illegible, displayed below]; born IL, father born IN, mother born KY

Edmond, white, male, 18, son, single, farmer, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Charles W, white, male, 16, son, single, farmer, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Ruth E, white, female, 15, daughter, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Louisa, white, female, 13, daughter, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Stephen A, white, male, 10, son, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Ida M, white, female, 7, daughter, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL

Samsons [poor handwriting], James, head, white, male, May 1835, 65, married for 45 years, born IL, father born VA, mother born TN, farmer, months not employed - 9, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 111

Sarah E, wife, white, female, Apr 1840, 60, married for 45 years; mother of 8 children, 6 living; born IL, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English

Charles W, son, white, male, March 1863, married for 0 years, born IL, both parents born IL, farm laborer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Lena, daughter-in-law, white, female, Mar 1878, 22, married for 0 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, father born PA, mother born IL, could read, write and speak English

Sammons, James, head, male, white, 74, married (2nd) for 1 year, born IL, both parents born U.S., spoke English, own income, could read and write, owned a farm home free of mortgage; whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy - UA

Lucy A, wife, female, white, 53, married (2nd) for 1 year; mother of 5 children, 4 living; born IL, father born TN, mother born KY, spoke English, could read and write