Margaret Amelia Adams
Relationship: Margaret Amelia Adams is my 2nd great-grandmother on my father's mother's side.
Parents: She was born March 22, 1843, in Farmland, Randolph County, Indiana to Henry Adams and Lilly Newton Wilson.
The earliest record I have of Margaret is the 1850 US Census. She was living in Monroe Township, Randolph County, Indiana. The census lists her with both parents Henry Adams and Lilly Newton Wilson. It shows that her father Henry was 41 at the time of the census and was born in Maryland. He was a farmer and the value of his Real Estate owned was valued at $800. Lilly was 30 years old and born in the state of Delaware. Others listed are her half-brothers John Quincy Adams, James Edward Adams (both born in Maryland), and her full siblings William Henry Adams, Mary and Caroline Adams (all born in Indiana). This gives a close approximation of when the family moved to Indiana - in approximately 1840-1841. I have not been able to find her father in the 1840 census.
Here is a picture of her father Henry Adams.
It's not the best, but still an incredible find. I found this on Ancestry and it was uploaded by a person that calls herself ernurse1964. ernurse1964, thank you so much for sharing from another nurse descendant (me!). I was an OR nurse for the first half of my nursing career. ernurse1964 is a descendant through Margaret's half-brother John Quincy Adams.
A funny little story about this line comes to mind. My grandmother Nancy Louisa Campbell Dudley told me that her great-uncle was John Quincy Adams. She said this with a straight face, and no further explanation. As a child I believe I jumped to a little conclusion and believed that she meant the 6th president of the United States. When this grandmother died is when I began in earnest to do some genealogical research. One of the things I was trying to prove was that relationship to the 6th president of the United States. Well, I did not prove that, but what I did prove was that my grandmother had the best dry sense of humor of anyone I know! That little stinker of a grandmother. Yes, we are related to John Quincy Adams...just not THE John Quincy Adams (6th president of the US). You got me Grandma!
1860 Census: In the 1860 United States Federal Census Margaret is still living at home with her father, but her mother Lilly Newton Wilson died in 1855, and Henry has married for the 3rd time on 14 February 1956 to Ann Mills Ford. I do wonder if this is how Margaret will meet her husband Joseph Nelson Mills? Ann Mills is the daughter of Morgan Mills and Rebecca Jane Driver. Morgan is the brother of Jacob Mills - father of Joseph Nelson Mills.
Spouse: She married Joseph Nelson Mills on 28 July 1866 at Randolph County, Indiana. She would have been about 23 years of age and Joseph Nelson Mills was 18 years of age.
It appears that Joseph's mother signed for his permission to marry. Joseph's father Jacob Mills died in 1856 when Joseph would have been 8 years old. Joseph's mother would then marry for the 3rd time in 1856 to Charles Redpath. Which is why the permission comes from Mary H. Redpath.
Here is a picture of Margaret's husband Joseph Nelson Mills probably taken about the same time as Margaret's picture at top above.
1st two known children born in Indiana:
On 28 March 1867 Margaret and Joseph Mills welcomed their first child into the world.
Mary Rosetta Mills was born at Farmland, Randolph County, Indiana. She lived a short life and at just a little over 1 year and 3 months of age she died 4 July 1868.
Margaret was already pregnant with her 2nd child at the time of the death of her first child.
Phoebe Jane Mills was born a little more than 3 months after her sister died. Born 26 October 1868 also in Farmland, Randolph County, Indiana. Phoebe was most likely named after Joseph's oldest half-sister Phebe Mendenhall. And that Phebe was most likely named after her grand-mother Phoebe Canaday.
1870 Census: By 1870 a lot has changed in the life of Margaret Amelia Adams. Margaret and Joseph Nelson Mills are now living in Houston County, Minnesota. Joseph's mother Mary is listed as having died there in the 1870 Mortality Schedule for Houston County, Minnesota. Her cause of death was listed as Consumption also known as Tuberculosis. I have never found Charles Redpath in that 1870 census. This county lies across the Mississippi River from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, at the very furthest southeast corner of Minnesota. I have found some information which may be the reason Margaret and Joseph Mills moved with his mother to Minnesota. Joseph's Uncle Elisha Mills was living at this same location also in 1870 and 1880.
Picture of Joseph Nelson Mills' mother's death listed in the US Federal Census Mortality Schedules for 1870
1st known son born
Silas Nelson Mills was born 17 July 1870 in Houston, Houston County, Minnesota. Silas married and eventually moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He had one son: Charles DeHart Mills and he died 6 March 1927 at Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. As far as I know Charles DeHart Mills had no children.
Joseph and Margaret are back living in Indiana.
2nd known son born
Henry Orlando Mills was born 14 July 1877 in Montpelier, Blackford County, Indiana. Died 10 September 1879.
1880 Census: In 1880 Joseph and Margaret are listed as living in Nottingham Township, Wells County, Indiana.
Joseph Nelson Mills, White, Male, 32 years of age, Married, Farmer, Cannot write. Born in Indiana and does not list a place of birth of father or mother.
Margaret A, White, Female, 37 years of age, Wife, Married, Keeping house. Born in Indiana, Father born in Maryland, Mother born in Maryland.
Phebe J., White, Female, 11 years old, daughter, At School, cannot read, Born in Indiana, Father born in Indiana, Mother born in Indiana.
Silas N, White, Male, 9 years old, Son, At School, Sick with Ague, Cannot read, Born in Minnesota, Father born in Indiana, Mother born in Indiana.
Ague is a term meaning sick with fever and chills.
One more known son was born after the 1880 census.
Jacob Earl Mills was born 8 September 1883 at Keystone, Wells County, Indiana. He married, but never had any known children.
1900 Census: In 1900 Joseph and Margaret are living in Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana. In the town of Montpelier.
Mills, Joseph N, Head of family, White, Male, Born April 1848, Age 52, Married, Married 33 years. Born in Indiana, Father born in Ohio, Mother born in N. Carolina, Laborer, Can read, Can write, Can Speak, Owns Free from Mortgage a House.
--, Margaret, Wife, White, Female, Born March 1843, 57 years old, Married, Married 33 years, Mother of 5 children, 3 still living, Born in Indiana, Father born in Maryland, Mother born in Maryland. Can read, Can write, Can speak
Mills, Jacob, Son, White, Male, Born September 1883, 16 years of age, Single, Born in Indiana, Father born in Indiana, Mother born in Indiana, Occupation: Oil well pumper, Can read, Can write, Can speak
In 1900 their daughter Phoebe was already married and living with her husband and 5 children in Muncie, Center Township, Delaware County, Indiana.
In 1900 their son Silas was already married and also living in Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana with his wife and one son. His occupation was also an Oil well pumper.
In 1907 Margaret Adams Mills (known here as Mrs. Joe Mills) placed a quilt containing 1560 pieces into an exhibit at the fair in Montpelier, Indiana. (I wish I had a picture - a color picture of the quilt!)
1910 Census: In 1910 Joseph and Margaret continue to live in Montpelier, Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana. They owned a house on Adams Street.
Mills, Joseph N, Head, Male, White, 62 years of age, Marriage 1, Married 42 years. Born in Indiana, Father born in Virginia, Mother born in Maryland. Speaks English. Occupation: Laborer, Odd Jobs, working own account, out of work: no, Number of weeks out of work in 1909: 10, Can read, Can write, Owns Free of a mortgage a house
--, Margret, Wife, Female, White, 67, Married 1, Married 42 years, Number of children: 5, number now living 3. Born in Indiana, Father born in Maryland, Mother born in Maryland, Speaks English, Occupation: None
In 1910 their daughter Phoebe is living back in Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana. Her husband Abraham Campbell was a laborer at a steel mill there. 6 of their 10 living children are still at home.
In 1910 their son Silas continues is living in Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana. He is a Driller for an Oil well. His one son is now 12 years old.
In 1910 their son Jacob is living in Robinson, Crawford County, Illinois. He is married and has no children. His occupation is a Tool Dresser in the Oil fields.
On 15 October 1919 Margaret Amelia Adams Mills succumbed to a case of acute colitis and passed away in Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana at the age of 76. Here is a copy of her death certificate.
Here are pictures taken of church records, births, marriages and deaths from their family bible. Photo copies sent to me from my second cousin Linda Ann Campbell many years ago.
After a review of all 5 known children of Joseph and Margaret I do believe the only living descendants as of this post are from their daughter Phoebe Jane Mills. She had 10 children and all of them, but one have many living descendants. (23 April 2023)
Here is a picture of Joseph Nelson Mills and Margaret Amelia Adams in their later years at their house in Montpelier, Blackford County, Indiana - on Adams Street.
Margaret’s husband Joseph Nelson Mills died 12 May 1931 from apoplexy due to arteriosclerosis. Here is his death certificate. The death certificate is where I first obtained Joseph's mother's maiden name. It gave me a little piece of the puzzle, but then I had to find that she had married prior to Joseph and at the time of their marriage her last name was Mendenhall.
