WILLIAM J. ADAMS

ADAMS, GORE, PETTERSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/15/2020 at 23:19:46

WILLIAM J. ADAMS, an honored pioneer of Iowa, crossed the Mississippi before the Territory had become a State, making the journey from Tennessee. The country at that time was wild and mostly uncultivated, but Mr. Adams possessed the true pioneer spirit, and "came to stay." He was prepared to meet and overcome the difficulties which beset the early settler. How well he succeeded his present position fully indicates.

The subject of this biography was born Nov. 18, 1829, in Weakley County, Tenn., and remained at home until he attained to years of manhood. He was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Gore, the wedding taking place Sept. 18, 1851. Mrs. Adams is a native of Union County, Ill., born Nov. 5, 1832, and is the daughter of Joshua D. and Mary (Petterson) Gore, both natives of Johnson County, S. C. From there they removed to Lee County, Iowa, in the spring of 1842, and made their home here for two years, thence removing to McDonough County, Ill., where they lived one year, and then returned to Lee County, where they spent the remainder of their days. The mother departed this life Feb. 7, 1879; her husband survived her four years, dying in 1883. The record of their family is as follows: Nancy J. was born in 1828; E. E., Dec. 28, 1830; Rebecca, Nov. 5, 1832; Martha, Aug. 25, 1835; Owen P., Feb. 20, 1837; Josiah P., Jan. 20, 1841; Thomas, July 8, 1843; : Mary Ann, Jan. 7, 1845; Sarah A., Jan. 1, 1848; Susan A., Oct. 23, 1850; John F., July 18, 1853.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born the following: Joshua T., Sept. 26, 1852; Alice A., May 22, 1854; Nancy J., Nov. 28, 1855; Mary E., Feb. 28, 1858; Lucy M., Nov. 25. 1859; William R., Oct. 30, 1863; Owen, Sept. 22, 1867: Effie, March 27, 1870; Frank, May 24, 1873. Five of the children are yet living.

After coming to Iowa Mr. Adams located upon a tract of land on section 25, in Montrose Township. His neighbors were few and far between, and the first few years of his labors were passed in comparative solitude. He set himself about the improvement of his land, working as well as he could with the limited conveniences at hand, and in due time reaped the reward of his labors in the picture before him of smiling fields and growing grain. He became prosperous, established a comfortable homestead, and is now enjoying all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Beside his farm estate he has three town lots in Galland, this county. His children have been carefully reared and well educated, and the family are members in good standing of the Christian Church. Politically Mr. Adams is an uncompromising Democrat, and uniformly casts his vote in support of the principles of that party. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and has always occupied a prominent position in Lee County.

Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF LEE COUNTY, IOWA
CHICAGO: CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 1887
 

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1887