William Adams suffered great tragedy when both his parents, George and Charlotte Adams, died of smallpox in 1862, in Reynolds County, Missouri. George was 56 when he died. Charlotte was 45 when she died. Four of their children died in 1862, most likely of the smallpox as well. Those children who died in 1862 were Eliza, age 26; Richard, age 18; George, age 8; and Daniel, age 3. The loss of six family members in such a short timeframe must have been devastating. George and Charlotte are buried in Rayfield Cemetery, Lesterville, Reynolds County, Missouri.

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