Sarah was born at a time when the population growth of the county was doubling. The nearest town, Burlington, was known up and down the Ohio River as a shipping point. Iron furnaces were emerging all over the county and shortly after her birth the process of a hot blast furnace, the first in the United States was developed within the county.

Death was a common affair in the home where she was raised. When she was not quite 1 ½ years old her sister Nancy died. At the age of four Sarah’s baby brother, Cyrus died. When she about 7 years old brother, Solomon also died. In 1847 her mother was once again with child. Both mother and infant died and were buried together.

Slavery, emancipation, freedom and the Underground Railroad were on everyone’s mind if not talked about. In the fall of 1849 thirty seven slaves were set free by their owner, James Twyman in Virginia. They migrated to Ohio where a farm was provided for the manumitted people just above the town of Burlington in the county where the Adams family was growing up.

Sarah was united in marriage by William W. Davidson a Minister of the Gospel to Roswell Kilbourne on 10 Oct 1854 in Lawrence County, Ohio. Her husband was born 18 March 1822 in Vincennes, Indiana, and died 30 March 1902 in Ashland, Boyd County Kentucky. He was the son of Roswell Kilbourne and Rhoda Snapp.

Happy with the birth of a son Ira in October 1855 the family settled in Burlington where Roswell worked as a carpenter by trade especially on the river boats running the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Twelve months later a little girl, Myra was born. But death and mourning once again fell like a shadow on Sarah Jane. Her father died 14 days before she gave birth to Myra. And toddler Ira died December 7^th, 1857.

Sarah gave birth to a little girl in 1859 giving her the namesake. As rumors of war loomed two more little girls joined the family. The Civil War progressed while death knocked again with little Sarah dying on the 14^th May 1864. Sarah was home much of the time with the small children and her grieve while Roswell plied his trade as carpenter on the river. The family story related by his daughter Clara was that some time during the Civil War he was held in New Orleans on suspicion of being a northern spy. We do know that in 1865 Roswell was with Captain Warner on a new boat called the Mollie Able.

Roswell did return home and by March 1866 another little girl Mattie entered the world. The family purchased ½ acre near Washington and Davidson Street in Burlington in 1867 very near the Ohio River. They also sold lot 88 in Burlington the same year. The following year Luella was born and in January of 1870 Sarah gave birth to Clara Callie Kilbourne. The girls were blessed with three brothers Frank, Fred and Edgar in the 1870's. Edgar died in 1876.

The family lived in Burlington, Lawrence County, Ohio until 1886 when they moved across the Ohio River to Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky. The family resided on West Front Street between 8^th and 9^th Street, still near river life.

After being ill for several months Sarah died 03 Jul 1898 in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky. The Ashland Daily Independent wrote "The Reaper Death Has Entered Another Home and Claimed for its victim a devoted wife and Loving mother..." and the Ironton Register stated "Good woman Gone..was an intelligent Christian woman who merited by her gentle, useful life the respect and love of all who came within her influence." The funeral was presided over by Rev. Dr. Condit and Rev. A.B. Leonard then the body was removed to Burlington Cemetery, Lawrence County, Ohio.

Eleven weeks after Sarah died her 25 year old son, Fred was also buried in Burlington, Ohio beside his mother and with his siblings.