William Benjamin Sammons was born 26 July 1812 on the frontiers of Tennessee, son of Robert C. Sammons and Elizabeth (Crafton) Sammons. He married Martha Arrena Nobles (1814 - 1890) and they may had seventeen children. He died at the age of 90 on 19 November 1902 at Fairview, Wilson County, Texas, and is buried at Fairview Cemetary.

William and Martha Arrena “Hinna” Nobles (1814 North Carolina - 30 Jul 1890 Fairview, Wilson County, Texas) were married in Gibson County, Tennessee on 10 April 1832. Their children were:

1. Nancy Wesley Sammons, the eldest (8 April 1833 in Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee - 1909 Valley, Garland County, Arkansas) married Isaac William Riley (1829 - 1863), mother of:
   1. David Riley (born 9 January 1852 Garland County, Arkansas), twin
   2. Daniel Riley (born 9 January 1852 Garland County, Arkansas), twin
   3. Mary Ellen Riley (8 October 1852 Arkansas)
   4. Cordelia Riley (born 1857 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas)
   5. George Riley (born 1860 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas); possible twin to William
   6. William Riley (born 1860 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas); possible twin to George
2. John Daniel Sammons, eldest son, born 22 September 1834 Gibson County, Tennessee
3. Elizabeth Lula Sammons (29 March 1836 Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee - 18 October 1901 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas) married James Benjamin Nobles (1832 - 1893)
4. Catharine Sammons (1839 Gibson County, Tennessee - 19 October 1892 Fairview, Wilson County, Texas)
5. Shad Allen Sammons (born 1 March 1842 Gibson, Gibson County, Tennessee - 5 Aug 1906 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas) married Harriet Emily Sammons. Their children were:
   1. Ida Sammons Smith
   2. Stella Sammons
   3. Walter Allen Sammons
   4. Fred Sammons
6. Susan Sammons (1844 – 1901), twin
7. Robert Sammons (born 1844 Gibson County, Tennessee), twin
8. Andrew Jackson Sammons (16 September 1846 Gibson County, Tennessee - 26 December 1815 Sonora, Sutton County, Texas) married (1) Mary E. Henderson 10 October 1852 - 3 November 1898) with whom he had four children; (2) widow Susan F. (Patterson) McBroom, with whom he had three children. They settled near Ovalo, Taylor County, Texas.
9. Ida Mae “Babe” Sammons (1847 - 1847), d.s.p.
10. William Washington Sammons (7 January 1849 Polk County, Arkansas - 19 December 1938 Navasota, Grimes County, Texas) married (1) Martha Ann Oates (1846–1905) in 1867; (2) Nannie B. Smith 
(1852–1932) married 1907
11. Jourdan “Jordie” Landin Sammons (18 February 1850 Hot Spring County, Arkansas - 14 July 1911 Floresville, Wilson County, Texas), twin, married Mary Delilah Crunk (1849 - 1927)
12. Neil Andrew Simmons (1850 - ), twin
13. Mary D. Sammons (22 December 1852 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas - 1927)
14. James Monroe Sammons (20 October 1854 Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas - 25 July 1934 Fields, Beauregard Parish, Louisiana) married Elizabeth "Bettie" Tollett on 23 October 1878 in Wilson County, Texas.
15. William Benjamin “Wiley” Sammons (22 February 1857 Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas - 16 September 1943 Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas) married Dorcas Ophelia Owens (1859 - 1938)
16. Arrena Lucretia “Creesy” aka Arina Sammons (19 March 1859 Arkansas City, Arkansas County, Arkansas - 1937)
17. Martha Lula “Gussie” Sammons (12 February 1861 Polk County, Arkansas - 18 September 1896 Wilson County, Texas) married Joseph Sirus Timberlake (1860 - 1928)

Early Marriage

William farmed and grew prosperous in Gibson County. He and Arrena's parents (John Nobles' family) were founding members of Salem Baptist Church on 18 October 1847.

About 1848, William and Arrena sold their land, left their church, and moved their eight children, including a newborn, to Arkansas.

Sammons Boys in the Civil War

On 18 July 1861, John, Shad, Robert, and two of their Nobles cousins, joined the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company F of Colonel Borland's First Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers, later to be known as the Third Arkansas Cavalry.

"They came out of the wilds of Arkansas and Texas and were the roughest lot of humanity I ever saw. They rode like they were part of the horse and feared nothing on this earth, either human or animal. When not fighting the Yankees, they were fighting each other. They swore most fearfully and drank like demons. Despite their roughness of character with their six-shooters in close combat, they were a formidable Instrument of War." - a Tennessee Cavalryman

During the summer months of 1861, while in bivouac in Northern Arkansas, the 3rd Arkansas lost three men killed as the result of "personal encounter", or "died as a result of personal disagreement". John Daniel was wounded from "accidental discharge of a firearm" in September 1861. If John and his brothers were involved in these violent encounters, it's possible that his wound may have been retribution disguised as an accident, or at least attributed as such.

Almost a year later John Daniel was released from service on 18 July 1862 because of failure of his wound to heal. Later John served as a blacksmith with VanDorn's armies.

On 16 December 1862, a brigade from the 3rd Arkansas raided Holly Springs with Bedford Forrest in "the greatest cavalry raid in the Civil War". Co. F itself was not part of the raid, but some men, whose horses were strong enough, were selected to participate. No specific names were recorded.

• 19 September 1863 - The 3rd Arkansas Calvary fought at Chicamauga under General Forrest.
• 9 December 1863 - William Washington Sammons joined Company G, 1st Arkansas Cavalry, one month short of his 15th birthday.
• 27 December 1863 - Shad and five others were wounded at Mossy Creek Station and left on the field as the 3rd retreated.
• 5 January 1864 - Shad was captured and sent to Nashville
• 10 January 1864 - Shad was enrolled in Camp Chase stockade
• 17 January 1864 - Shad was forwarded to Louisville "for exchange"
• 23 January 1864 - Shad was shipped to Rock Isle prison camp

Most records of 3rd Arkansas Cavalry were lost after March 1864. What happened to Robert and William Washington? Neither are on the parole lists.

• 25 February 1865 - Shad arrived at Ft. Columbus, New York, for exchange.

A Family Divided

On 4 March 1865, Andrew Jackson Sammons joined the Union Army, enlisting with Company E, 7th Illinois Cavalry at Alton, Illinois.

• 5 March 1865 - Shad Allen Sammons was exchanged to the South
• 7 March 1865 - Shad was at General Hospital, Camp Winder, Virginia
• 25 September 1865 - Andrew was discharged from service for health reasons

After the War

John became a blacksmith and hardware store owner in Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas.

Shad went into real estate around Hot Springs, and became an upstanding citizen.

Robert migrated to Fairview,Texas, with his father, then went on to the Panhandle, where he became a horse rancher.

William Benjamin moved the remainder of his family to Fairview, Williamson County, Texas, in 1872, where he raised hogs and became quite prominent.

Andrew first married Mary E. Henderson; and later Susan F. (Patterson) McBroom, with whom he had three children. They settled near Ovalo, Taylor County, Texas.

Arenna lived to be 78, saw all her sons survive the war, and lived long enough to see over sixty grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

William Benjamin died in 1902 at the age of 90. By the time of his death, his progeny numbered over 100.

Notes

• Catharine is enumerated in the 1860 Census as being 21 years old, born c.1839 in Tennessee; however, the 1880 Census twenty years later shows a 37-year-old Catharine born c.1843 in Arkansas. There doesn't appear to be any way to reconcile these as the same person. Did the first Catharine die, with the second being named after her? Children then were often named given the same name as a previously-deceased sibling. Or is the second Catharine a wife of one of the boys?
• Dean Sammons Wolboch’s family history records Robert’s birth year as 1847; however, the 1860 U.S. Census estimates his birth year as 1844. If born in 1847, Robert would have been only 14 when the brothers enlisted in the Confederate Army. As it is noted in Wolboch’s history that Andrew was just one month shy of 15 on the date of their July 1861 enlistment, this would clearly conflict with the earlier birth date for Robert. It appears that the Census date must be correct; however, this conflicts with Shad's 1844 birth year. Could Shad and Robert be twins?
• Although a useful starting place and fascinating to read, Wolboch's family history is rife with errors and should be carefully fact-checked.
• The transcriber for the 1860 U.S. Census shows Jourdan Sammons' entry as illegible.

Sources

• The William Benjamin Sammons Family in the Civil War, compiled by Dean Sammons Wolbach; posted on RootsWeb. Sources listed by Wolbach:
  • Salem Baptist Church records quoted in letter from Mary Nell Fairless, Rte 4 Trenton TN 38382 to Mary Lou Sammons Martin, 28 April 1985. ibid., Request for letter of Dismission in Salem Baptist Church Records.
  • Calvin L. Collier, Maj., USAF (Ret), The War Child’s Children - A Story of the Third Arkansas Cavalry, Pioneer Press, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1965, pg 1. Collier, op. cit., pg 4.
  • Military record for W.W. Sammons Collier, op. cit., pg 89. Military, and POW records for S.A. Sammons.
  • Certificate of Voluntary Enlistment for Andrew Jackson Sammons, 4 March 1865.
  • Application for invalid pension for Andrew J. Sammons, 23 Sep 1865
  • Declaration for Widow’s Pension and Declaration for Children under 16.
• United States Census, 1860, database with images, Family Search: 18 February 2021), William Sammons, 1860.
  • Name: William Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 48; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1812; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Arrena Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 46; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1814; Birthplace: N C; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Allen Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 18; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1842; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Robert Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 16; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1844; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Andrew Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 13; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1847; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: William Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 11; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1849; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: [illegible] Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 9; Event Date: 1860;Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1851;Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: James Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 5; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1855; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Wiley Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 3; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1857; Birthplace: Tennessee; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Catharine Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 21; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1839; Birthplace: TennesseeRace: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Mary Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 8; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1852; Race: White; Page: 6.
  • Name: Arina Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 1; Event Date: 1860; Event Place: Hotspring Township, Hotspring, Arkansas, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1859; Race: White; Page: 6.
• United States Census, 1880, database with images, Family Search: 15 January 2022), William Sammons, Justice Precinct 2, Wilson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 148, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
  • Name: William Sammons; Sex: Male; Age: 68; Event Date: 1880; Event Place: Justice Precinct 2, Wilson, Texas, United States; Event Place: Precinct 2, E.D. 148, Wilson, TX, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1812; Birthplace: Tennessee, United States; Marital Status: Married; Occupation: Farmer; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: Self; Relationship Code: Head; Father's Birthplace: Virginia, United States; Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, United States; Household Identifier: 12476061; Person Number: 0; Sheet Letter: B; Sheet Number 36; Sheet Number and Letter: 36B; Volume: 2; Affiliate Film Number: 1333; Affiliate Line Number: 00047; Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and RecordsAdministration (NARA).
  • Name: Arena Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 68; Event Date: 1880; Event Place: Justice Precinct 2, Wilson, Texas, United States; Event Place: Precinct 2, E.D. 148, Wilson, TX, United States; Event Type:Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1812; Birthplace: North Carolina, United States; Marital Status: Married; Occupation: Keeping House; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: Wife; Relationship Code: Wife; Father's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States; Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States; Household Identifier: 12476061; Person Number: 1; Sheet Letter: B; Sheet Number: 36; Sheet Number and Letter: 36B; Volume: 2; Affiliate Film Number: 1333; Affiliate Line Number: 00048; Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
  • Name: Catharine Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 37; Event Date: 1880; Event Place: Justice Precinct 2, Wilson, Texas, United States; Event Place: Precinct 2, E.D. 148, Wilson, TX, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1843; Birthplace: Arkansas, United States; Marital Status: Single; Occupation: At Home; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter; Relationship Code: Daughter; Father's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States; Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States; Household Identifier: 12476061; Person Number: 2; Sheet Letter: B; Sheet Number 36; Sheet Number and Letter: 36B; Volume: 2; Affiliate Film Number: 1333; Affiliate Line Number: 00049; Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
  • Name: Martha Sammons; Sex: Female; Age: 19; Event Date: 1880; Event Place: Justice Precinct 2, Wilson, Texas, United States; Event Place: Precinct 2, E.D. 148, Wilson, TX, United States; Event Type: Census; Birth Year (Estimated): 1861; Birthplace: Arkansas, United States; Marital Status: Single; Occupation: At Home; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter; Relationship Code: Daughter; Father's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States; Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States; Household Identifier: 12476061; Person Number: 3; Sheet Letter: B; Sheet Number 36; Sheet Number and Letter: 36B; Volume: 2; Affiliate Film Number: 1333; Affiliate Line Number: 00050; Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
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