Historical Rosters Database

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Samuel Finney Adams

Roster ID 714
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:Samuel
Middle Name:Finney
Last Name:Adams
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1860
Biography & Genealogy:Samuel Finney Adams, Class of 1860. Genealogy: Born Bedford County, Virginia, 1838; Parents- John Adams and Elizabeth (surname not known); no record of grandparents; Marriage- In January 1866, Miss Susan A. Dooley, daughter of Joshua and Anne Dooley; Issue: Samuel, Robert, Howard, Bertie, Jessie. VMI Record: Entered 1857 and graduated in 1860, standing 5th out of 41. Military Record, Civil War: Commissioned 2nd Lt. and served as drillmaster in Richmond; then Adjutant, 1st Battalion Kentucky Cavalry; 2nd Lt. 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry; commanded guides and couriers, Brig. Gen. W. Preston's Division, August 1863 & on Preston's staff at Chickamauga; later on staffs of Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones, Maj. Gen. John Breckinridge, and BG John Echols. Career: teacher (briefly) and Civil Engineer; was City Engineer of Danville (VA); Chief Engineer of the Danville & Western Railway; Assistant Engineer on Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Died at Bedford Springs, Virginia on July 23, 1900.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

VMI Archives
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450
archives@vmi.edu
540-464-7516