Samuel Daniel 'Sam' Wilkins, Sr. was born August 10, 1880 in the Black Walnut District of Halifax County, Virginia, a son of Robert T. 'Bob' Wilkins (c1820-c1887) and Nancy Henriette Ladd (c1838-unkn).

He was a grandson of William Wilkins (c1790-1856) and Mary Wilson (c1786-unkn); a great grandson of Thomas Wilkins (1765-1844) and Susannah Pace (1759-1819); a 2nd great grandson of William Wilkins (c1728-c1790) and Sarah Averett (c1731-c1794); and a 3rd great grandson of John Wilkins (c1700-c1758) and Mary Kimbrough (1703-c1748).

After his mother's death sometime after 1880, Sam and his minor siblings were spread by their father to his married children's homes. Their father was said to have spent his remaining life traveled from one child's residence to the other. He died around 1887.

Migration to North Carolina

After the death of their father Sam and older brother, Richard (1875-1948), not satisfied with their living arrangements, decided to go out on their own. So around 1895 they walked south from Alton, Virginia to Person County, North Carolina. Sam and Richard's first appearance in Person County, North Carolina records was in the 1900 US Census, Sam in Olive Hill Township as a wage hand, age 29, born 1870, in the household of G. R. Rogers and brother, Richard already married 3 years, with wife and two daughters, living in the Woodsdale Township.

Sam D. Wilkins married Lonie Painter, aka 'Katie' April 26, 1903 in the Flat River Township in Person County, a daughter of William J. Painter (1859-1937) and Mary Elizabeth Yarboro, aka Mollie Bet (1858-1929).

In 1910 Samuel D. and Lonie lived in the Roxboro Township of Person County. They had three daughters, Addie Mae, Thelma O. and Gladys R. Sam worked as a farmer, an occupation he held his entire life, mostly as a share-cropper.

In 1917 Sam registered with the US Armed Services, giving his age as 39, born August 10, 1878, and employed as a farmer with W. D. Yarborough. No evidence has surfaced of his ever serving in the military.

In 1920 in the Roxboro Township of Person County, the family of Sam D. and Katie L. had grown to eight children, Addie M., Thelma O., Gladys R., William L., Cecil V., Garland B., Ola F., and Margarette C.

In 1926 Sam bought 200 acres from J. J. and H. W. Winstead for $6,000. This land was known as the John Wagstaff land in Woodsdale Township, Person County, North Carolina, adjoining Zeb V. Barnett and Wesley Long to the north, J. P. Williams on the east, J. T. Jordan and S. C. Barnett on the south, and Mrs. J. H. Shore on the west, being the track of land conveyed by W. T. Bradsher to the late J. W. Winstead, and conveyed to J. J. and H. W. Winstead by J. D. Winstead and K. C. Wagstaff.
Sam sold the land back to J. J. Winstead in 1929.

In 1930 Sam D. and Lonie were in the Woodsdale Township of Person County with eight children, Leonard W., Cecil V., Garland B., Ola F., Katie M., Sam D. Jr., Garnell and Rachel L. Addie, Thelma and Gladys had married and moved away. Sam Sr. and son William were farming together.

In 1940 Sam and Lonie were in Woodsdale Township, Person County with three daughters at home, Garnell, Rachel and Katie L. with husband John E. Harris. Son Garland Wilkins lived next door with his wife Mary.

In 1953 Sam and Lonie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their ten remaining children. Lonie would die the following year.

Mr. Samuel Daniel Wilkins Sr. died May 27, 1961 at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He was buried along side his wife of 51 years, Lonie at Stories Creek Primitive Baptist Church cemetery.

This biography was provided by RememberThem August 2020.