Samuel and Ada (Savage) Rawlings Family

Family History

Samuel’s wife Ada died from lead paint poisoning.

After Ada died, Sam moved his things into the upstairs ‘attic’ area of the house and lived there from then on.

His son’s family, Albert and Ara Waggoner, and their son Jerry Waggoner moved in and lived in Samuel’s home on the downstairs main level of the house so they could help Samuel out after his wife’s death. Jerry slept in the upstairs attic with his grandpa Samuel Rawlings, who he loved so much.

Places Lived

Samuel lived at 303 Central Avenue, Decatur Illinois. In the back yard of this house there was a buckeye tree that always shed those smooth, brown, round buckeye nuts.

When I (William Major Waggoner) was growing up as a child, I remember my parents taking me to visit with my grandparents Albert and Ara at Samuel’s house. I remember going into the back yard to pick up ‘nice’ buckeyes and take them home with me when we left. I liked going to my great-grandpa’s house.

The house was torn down long ago and no longer exists.

Children

• Helen Rawlings
• Ara Catherine (Rawlings) Waggoner

Photos