Marion Sams

**Marion F. Sams** (born abt 1846) served as a private in Company H, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.

## Personal life

Marion Sams was born about 1846 in Sullivan County, Tennessee to Obediah and Elizabeth (Lyon) Sams. He married Margaret E. Thomas (1845-1911) with whom he had two children.

## Civil War service

Sams enlisted as a private in Company H on October 1, 1864 in Carter County, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in October 26, 1864 at New Market, Tennessee.

He is described as 18 years old, 5' 10" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer.

Sams is listed as present for duty throughout his term of service for which muster roll records have survived. Muster roll records from October 1864 through April 1865 have not been found.

When the regiment mustered out on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville, it was noted that he had never been paid, owed $4.87 for clothing, and was owed a $100 bounty.

## Post-war life

Sams moved his family to Jefferson County, Tennessee by 1870 and to Knoxville by 1880 and worked as a carpenter.

Discovered in 1881, Sams had been living a secret life that became public knowledge. The *Knoxville Daily Tribune* reported on August 26, 1881:

> Facts have been brought to light of the recent elopement of a married man in good circumstances in this city with a woman of vice and shame. The man is Marion Sams, a carpenter by trade and a workman in the shops of Burr & Terry. His reputation is that of a man that stood at the head of his trade and did well. He with his family lived in a neat little cottage on Florida street. His wife is a good looking woman of thirty; and looks young for her age. She has a bright, intelligent face and has the appearance of a woman of good business talents. He has two little girls, one 13, the other 11 years old. A *Tribune* reporter called on Mrs. Sams yesterday afternoon and elicited the facts concerning the elopement. With tears in her eyes Mrs. Sams told the story of her desertion which is most too cruel to believe. In reply to numerous questions asked she made the following statement: “My name is Maggie Sams; I have been married to Marion Sams nearly fifteen years. We have two little daughters, Sallie and Mollie, who were perfectly devoted to their father. Mr. Sams was working up to the time of his leaving at the shops of Burr & Terry and made good wages. He always provided us with plenty to eat and I felt it my duty to help clothe the family with the aid of my needle. For many months my husband has not stayed at home on Saturday night, and alleging to inquiries made concerning his whereabouts, that he had been playing cards. Various rumors would come to my ears, but I would refuse to listen to them or believe in his infidelity. About a week ago a lady friend told me that she had seen Mr. Sams riding in a buggy on the previous Sabbath with a woman of disreputable character. I asked my husband about it but he denied the statement. I got down on my knees and with tears in my eyes begged him, for the sake of home, honor and the love for his little ones, to cease his downward career. I promised to forgive all if he would behave himself and be faithful to his marriage trust. He came home last Saturday evening, put on his clean clothes and left without a word of warning or a farewell kiss to me or his little ones. I have learned since that he left the city Sunday morning on the early train going South, in company of a woman by the same [sic] of Lillie Alley. Who and what she is I do not know. I have never seen her in my life.”
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She added:

> “Mr. Sams is not a drinking man; he did in former years drink a little, but two years ago swore off and since that time has never touched a drop—not even beer. He always made us a good support. Although he has acted in this manner, I wouldn't harm him for anything in the world.”
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The *Tribune* continued:

> We learn that Sams is a spare made man about six feet one or two inches high, light hair and complexion, wore a mustache and goatee and was about 35 years of age. Lillie Alley, his paramour, is about 20 years old, with black hair and eyes, dark skin and is about 5 feet 10 inches. She is not at all good looking, being made on the slender order. Sams has been keeping this woman for some time unknown to his wife.
> The guilty couple were at last accounts in Atlanta. A sharp watch will be kept for them, and if arrested they will be brought to justice. The friends of Sams would hardly believe such a thing of him. He has committed one of the cruelest crimes that he could possibly have done. His poor wife must be suffering the miseries of a thousand deaths; his little children fully trusting and loving in their youthful simplicity, can hardly realize that their father has deserted them. It looks nearly impossible for a man to leave a neat little cottage home with with a loving wife and pretty little girls to roam the world with an outcast and homely woman. But such it is, and the sin of the father must fall on the family; a blight must forever rest on the names of the little ones.
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Although this was a troubling situation to his family, Sams was not prosecuted. The *Knoxville Daily Tribune* reported on September 6, 1881:

> We clip the following paragraph from the *Atlanta Post-Appeal* of Saturday:
> It will be remembered that the *Appeal*, of Sunday last, contained a full account of the desertion of his wife and children by Marion Sams, a carpenter of Knoxville, Tenn, copied from the *Knoxville Tribune* and his flight to Atlanta with a girl named Lillie Alley. Through the description given in the *Appeal*, Sams has been traced and a telegram was sent to Knoxville to the Chief of Police last night asking if Sams was wanted. The answer was received this morning by the station house keeper, Buchanan, that he was not. Sams is at work at his trade with Longley & Robinson, and boards opposite the Fifth and Filmore streets.”
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The *Knoxville Daily Tribune* concluded: “There is no law in the State of Tennessee by which Sams can be arrested for deserting his wife. Otherwise he was not an offender and no case can possibly be made out against him. While he may be condemned by society for his act he is guiltless in the eyes of the law.”

The date of Sams' death and the location of his grave has not been found. His abandoned wife applied for a widow's pension on July 2, 1890.

## Notes

1. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census, Knoxville, Tennessee.
2. ↑ ”Incredible Infidility of a Knoxville Man to His Family”, *Knoxville Daily Tribune*, August 26, 1881, p. 4, c. 2.
3. ↑ ”Not Wanted: No Charge Against Marion Sams the Man who Deserted His Family”, *Knoxville Daily Tribune*, September 6, 1881, p. 3, c. 2.”