Elijah was the son of Ephraim Adams & Elizabeth Riley. He married Rebecca Buntin on February 9, 1837 in Boone Co, Indiana. They moved to Iowa in 1856. They were the parents of Elizabeth Jane, James Wallace #35487565 (1841-1937), William Harrison #35487490 (1843-1915, Vet; Co K 7th IA Cav, mayor of Smithland and rural mail carrier died when he fell from a wagon and was trampled by his horses), Mariah (1845-1919), and Greenbury Elijah #8412556 (1853 IL - 1947, Ella McCluskey).
CENSUSD 1860 Little Sioux Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 46 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 46 Kentucky
J W Adams Male 18 Indiana
W H Adams Male 16 Indiana
Eliza Adams Female 7 Illinois
John Job Adams Male 24 Illinois
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 56 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 56 Kentucky
Elijah Adams Male 17 Illinois
Thos Jefferson Male 48 Connecticut
CENSUS 1895 Woodbury, Iowa
Palmer Hall Male 63
Elizabeth Hall Female 55
Harry E Hall Male 20
Nellie V Hall Female 16
Fred P Hall Male 13
Rebecca Adams Female 81
Orvil S Adams Male 61
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Wm H Adams Male 26 Indiana
Helen Adams Female 21 Indiana
Earnest Adams Male 3 Iowa
Vernie Adams Female 1 Iowa
William Horn Male 19 Iowa
Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992
Name: G W Adams
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 19 Aug 1887
Event Place: Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Certificate Number: 856
CENSUS 1885 Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
G B Adams Male 28
Ella Adams Female 24
Mary Adams Female 5
Lucy Adams Female 3
Ned Adams Male 1
The Mapleton Press - Thursday, October 26th, 1989 - ... BRIEF HISTORY - In the late fall of 1856, a band of renegade Indians, headed by Inkpaduta. traveled up the Little Sioux River to the Smithland area, and camped beside the river. There were approximately 22 of them. All, or nearly all of them, being outcasts from the Sioux and Winnebago tribes. The camp was located on the farmland owned by Elijah Adams.
Two events that took place in the Smithland area triggered the Massacre. Had these occurrences been known to all Smithlanders and had they been communicated to other settlements, the series of crimes culminating in the massacre might have been prevented. Both events happened on the Adams Farm. The events were as follows:
First event - December, January, and February - human endurance and human patience
were strained to the breaking point. The Indians had not been camped on the Adams farm long
before they discovered unhusked corn under the deep snow in a field south of the Smithland settlement. They sent the squaws to gather the corn. As the Indian women passed through the settlement, carrying corn in blankets slung on their backs, they were accused of stealing it from cribs. According to one source, two Smithland residents obtained switches and began whipping
the squaws, who dropped their bundles and ran pursued and punished all the way.
Second event - When a large grove of elk appeared in the timber on the river bottom, the nearly famished Indians began preparation for a hunt. After the hunt was well underway, an Indian was attacked by a settler's dog which had joined in the chase. The Indian retaliated by killing the dog. Then the dogs owner administered a severe beating to the Indian and forcibly disarmed him. After these two events happened a Militia was formed. They went to the Indians camp and demanded they leave at once. As a precaution they took all their weapons, promising to give them back in the morning.
The Indians were so outraged they left that night. They met up with four braves that had been out hunting. With the four guns they and the tribe headed north, killing as they went. For those of you who don't remember the Spirit Lake Massacre and would like to know more about it can contact their public library. You can find the story, Inkpaduta's Camp at Smithland, in the Annals of Iowa, Volume 39.
There are also some ancestors of Elijah Adams in the Mapleton area who could also tell you
stories about those days. They are Evelyn Nagel and Elwood Nagel, both of Mapleton, Mary
Woodward of Castana, and Lois Stickney and Nancy McIllece, both of Smithland.
CENSUSD 1860 Little Sioux Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 46 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 46 Kentucky
J W Adams Male 18 Indiana
W H Adams Male 16 Indiana
Eliza Adams Female 7 Illinois
John Job Adams Male 24 Illinois
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 56 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 56 Kentucky
Elijah Adams Male 17 Illinois
Thos Jefferson Male 48 Connecticut
CENSUS 1895 Woodbury, Iowa
Palmer Hall Male 63
Elizabeth Hall Female 55
Harry E Hall Male 20
Nellie V Hall Female 16
Fred P Hall Male 13
Rebecca Adams Female 81
Orvil S Adams Male 61
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Wm H Adams Male 26 Indiana
Helen Adams Female 21 Indiana
Earnest Adams Male 3 Iowa
Vernie Adams Female 1 Iowa
William Horn Male 19 Iowa
Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992
Name: G W Adams
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 19 Aug 1887
Event Place: Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Certificate Number: 856
CENSUS 1885 Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
G B Adams Male 28
Ella Adams Female 24
Mary Adams Female 5
Lucy Adams Female 3
Ned Adams Male 1
The Mapleton Press - Thursday, October 26th, 1989 - ... BRIEF HISTORY - In the late fall of 1856, a band of renegade Indians, headed by Inkpaduta. traveled up the Little Sioux River to the Smithland area, and camped beside the river. There were approximately 22 of them. All, or nearly all of them, being outcasts from the Sioux and Winnebago tribes. The camp was located on the farmland owned by Elijah Adams.
Two events that took place in the Smithland area triggered the Massacre. Had these occurrences been known to all Smithlanders and had they been communicated to other settlements, the series of crimes culminating in the massacre might have been prevented. Both events happened on the Adams Farm. The events were as follows:
First event - December, January, and February - human endurance and human patience
were strained to the breaking point. The Indians had not been camped on the Adams farm long
before they discovered unhusked corn under the deep snow in a field south of the Smithland settlement. They sent the squaws to gather the corn. As the Indian women passed through the settlement, carrying corn in blankets slung on their backs, they were accused of stealing it from cribs. According to one source, two Smithland residents obtained switches and began whipping
the squaws, who dropped their bundles and ran pursued and punished all the way.
Second event - When a large grove of elk appeared in the timber on the river bottom, the nearly famished Indians began preparation for a hunt. After the hunt was well underway, an Indian was attacked by a settler's dog which had joined in the chase. The Indian retaliated by killing the dog. Then the dogs owner administered a severe beating to the Indian and forcibly disarmed him. After these two events happened a Militia was formed. They went to the Indians camp and demanded they leave at once. As a precaution they took all their weapons, promising to give them back in the morning.
The Indians were so outraged they left that night. They met up with four braves that had been out hunting. With the four guns they and the tribe headed north, killing as they went. For those of you who don't remember the Spirit Lake Massacre and would like to know more about it can contact their public library. You can find the story, Inkpaduta's Camp at Smithland, in the Annals of Iowa, Volume 39.
There are also some ancestors of Elijah Adams in the Mapleton area who could also tell you
stories about those days. They are Evelyn Nagel and Elwood Nagel, both of Mapleton, Mary
Woodward of Castana, and Lois Stickney and Nancy McIllece, both of Smithland.
Elijah was the son of Ephraim Adams & Elizabeth Riley. He married Rebecca Buntin on February 9, 1837 in Boone Co, Indiana. They moved to Iowa in 1856. They were the parents of Elizabeth Jane, James Wallace #35487565 (1841-1937), William Harrison #35487490 (1843-1915, Vet; Co K 7th IA Cav, mayor of Smithland and rural mail carrier died when he fell from a wagon and was trampled by his horses), Mariah (1845-1919), and Greenbury Elijah #8412556 (1853 IL - 1947, Ella McCluskey).
CENSUSD 1860 Little Sioux Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 46 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 46 Kentucky
J W Adams Male 18 Indiana
W H Adams Male 16 Indiana
Eliza Adams Female 7 Illinois
John Job Adams Male 24 Illinois
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 56 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 56 Kentucky
Elijah Adams Male 17 Illinois
Thos Jefferson Male 48 Connecticut
CENSUS 1895 Woodbury, Iowa
Palmer Hall Male 63
Elizabeth Hall Female 55
Harry E Hall Male 20
Nellie V Hall Female 16
Fred P Hall Male 13
Rebecca Adams Female 81
Orvil S Adams Male 61
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Wm H Adams Male 26 Indiana
Helen Adams Female 21 Indiana
Earnest Adams Male 3 Iowa
Vernie Adams Female 1 Iowa
William Horn Male 19 Iowa
Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992
Name: G W Adams
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 19 Aug 1887
Event Place: Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Certificate Number: 856
CENSUS 1885 Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
G B Adams Male 28
Ella Adams Female 24
Mary Adams Female 5
Lucy Adams Female 3
Ned Adams Male 1
The Mapleton Press - Thursday, October 26th, 1989 - ... BRIEF HISTORY - In the late fall of 1856, a band of renegade Indians, headed by Inkpaduta. traveled up the Little Sioux River to the Smithland area, and camped beside the river. There were approximately 22 of them. All, or nearly all of them, being outcasts from the Sioux and Winnebago tribes. The camp was located on the farmland owned by Elijah Adams.
Two events that took place in the Smithland area triggered the Massacre. Had these occurrences been known to all Smithlanders and had they been communicated to other settlements, the series of crimes culminating in the massacre might have been prevented. Both events happened on the Adams Farm. The events were as follows:
First event - December, January, and February - human endurance and human patience
were strained to the breaking point. The Indians had not been camped on the Adams farm long
before they discovered unhusked corn under the deep snow in a field south of the Smithland settlement. They sent the squaws to gather the corn. As the Indian women passed through the settlement, carrying corn in blankets slung on their backs, they were accused of stealing it from cribs. According to one source, two Smithland residents obtained switches and began whipping
the squaws, who dropped their bundles and ran pursued and punished all the way.
Second event - When a large grove of elk appeared in the timber on the river bottom, the nearly famished Indians began preparation for a hunt. After the hunt was well underway, an Indian was attacked by a settler's dog which had joined in the chase. The Indian retaliated by killing the dog. Then the dogs owner administered a severe beating to the Indian and forcibly disarmed him. After these two events happened a Militia was formed. They went to the Indians camp and demanded they leave at once. As a precaution they took all their weapons, promising to give them back in the morning.
The Indians were so outraged they left that night. They met up with four braves that had been out hunting. With the four guns they and the tribe headed north, killing as they went. For those of you who don't remember the Spirit Lake Massacre and would like to know more about it can contact their public library. You can find the story, Inkpaduta's Camp at Smithland, in the Annals of Iowa, Volume 39.
There are also some ancestors of Elijah Adams in the Mapleton area who could also tell you
stories about those days. They are Evelyn Nagel and Elwood Nagel, both of Mapleton, Mary
Woodward of Castana, and Lois Stickney and Nancy McIllece, both of Smithland.
CENSUSD 1860 Little Sioux Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 46 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 46 Kentucky
J W Adams Male 18 Indiana
W H Adams Male 16 Indiana
Eliza Adams Female 7 Illinois
John Job Adams Male 24 Illinois
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Elijah Adams Male 56 Kentucky
Rebecca Adams Female 56 Kentucky
Elijah Adams Male 17 Illinois
Thos Jefferson Male 48 Connecticut
CENSUS 1895 Woodbury, Iowa
Palmer Hall Male 63
Elizabeth Hall Female 55
Harry E Hall Male 20
Nellie V Hall Female 16
Fred P Hall Male 13
Rebecca Adams Female 81
Orvil S Adams Male 61
CENSUS 1870 Woodbury Township, Woodbury, Iowa
Wm H Adams Male 26 Indiana
Helen Adams Female 21 Indiana
Earnest Adams Male 3 Iowa
Vernie Adams Female 1 Iowa
William Horn Male 19 Iowa
Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992
Name: G W Adams
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 19 Aug 1887
Event Place: Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Certificate Number: 856
CENSUS 1885 Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa
G B Adams Male 28
Ella Adams Female 24
Mary Adams Female 5
Lucy Adams Female 3
Ned Adams Male 1
The Mapleton Press - Thursday, October 26th, 1989 - ... BRIEF HISTORY - In the late fall of 1856, a band of renegade Indians, headed by Inkpaduta. traveled up the Little Sioux River to the Smithland area, and camped beside the river. There were approximately 22 of them. All, or nearly all of them, being outcasts from the Sioux and Winnebago tribes. The camp was located on the farmland owned by Elijah Adams.
Two events that took place in the Smithland area triggered the Massacre. Had these occurrences been known to all Smithlanders and had they been communicated to other settlements, the series of crimes culminating in the massacre might have been prevented. Both events happened on the Adams Farm. The events were as follows:
First event - December, January, and February - human endurance and human patience
were strained to the breaking point. The Indians had not been camped on the Adams farm long
before they discovered unhusked corn under the deep snow in a field south of the Smithland settlement. They sent the squaws to gather the corn. As the Indian women passed through the settlement, carrying corn in blankets slung on their backs, they were accused of stealing it from cribs. According to one source, two Smithland residents obtained switches and began whipping
the squaws, who dropped their bundles and ran pursued and punished all the way.
Second event - When a large grove of elk appeared in the timber on the river bottom, the nearly famished Indians began preparation for a hunt. After the hunt was well underway, an Indian was attacked by a settler's dog which had joined in the chase. The Indian retaliated by killing the dog. Then the dogs owner administered a severe beating to the Indian and forcibly disarmed him. After these two events happened a Militia was formed. They went to the Indians camp and demanded they leave at once. As a precaution they took all their weapons, promising to give them back in the morning.
The Indians were so outraged they left that night. They met up with four braves that had been out hunting. With the four guns they and the tribe headed north, killing as they went. For those of you who don't remember the Spirit Lake Massacre and would like to know more about it can contact their public library. You can find the story, Inkpaduta's Camp at Smithland, in the Annals of Iowa, Volume 39.
There are also some ancestors of Elijah Adams in the Mapleton area who could also tell you
stories about those days. They are Evelyn Nagel and Elwood Nagel, both of Mapleton, Mary
Woodward of Castana, and Lois Stickney and Nancy McIllece, both of Smithland.
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