Pickens then married to Selina Louisa Lenoir, also a native of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in 1832.

They had several children, including James, Samuel, William, John, Mary, Louisa, and Israel.

Samuel Pickens died on June 23, 1855, leaving his widow an estate that was valued at nearly half a million dollars in 1860 and over 200 slaves.

[1] The main house at Umbria began as a raised Carolina-type cottage during the 1830s, with a principal floor over a full, ground-level brick basement.

[2] The principal floor was fronted with a full-width porch supported by six Ionic columns set directly under the main roof.

This floor contained four rooms, with the central doorway accessing a large parlor from the front porch.

An additional entry point from the porch was located to either side of the main doorway in the form of jib window.

A gallery on three sides with twelve Doric columns wrapped the house around the rear courtyard.