ADAM ADAMS, NOBLE TOWNSHIP.

Settling in this township thirty-six years ago, Mr. Adams was for a quarter of a century well known throughout the county, both as an auctioneer and a farmer. For some time he has been virtually retired from active labors, having cast the heavier burdens of his life upon younger and more vigorous shoulders.

Adam Adams is a native of Ohio, born March 28, 1838, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Ferry) Adams. His parents were both born in Hagerstown, Md., and were identified with the agricultural interests of that locality. In 1836 they started overland for what was then the West, traveling withteams into the State of Ohio, where the family lived for over a year (during which period Adam was born). The next destination was Ogle county, Ill., where the father had entered land, some time before, and where the family arrived in 1840. This tract, which was in constant course of improvement, remained the family homestead for many years, both parents dying thereon -- the father in 1892, and the mother in 1897.

During his long residence in Ogle county Jacob Adams raised a large, industrious and in every way a useful family, and was himself a leader in the good and progressive works of the community. Of his family of seven sons and one daughter, all are living except one son.

It was in Ogle county that Adam Adams reached manhood, through the usual developing processes of attending the primitive schools of those times, and assisting his father in breaking out the farm with ox teams, clearing the land and doing such other strenuous duties as fall to the faithful son of the Western pioneer. In common with thousands of other young men, who tired of the monotony of farm work, he was taken with the gold fever, and engaged in placer mining in the Pike's Peak region, Montana and Idaho; but, aftertwo years and a half of this nomadic life, he returned toOgle county, remaining there until 1870, when he started for Iowa.

Mr. Adams, with his wife and family,drove from Illinois by team, and at once settled on the Noble township farm, which he has since brought from nature to a fine state of cultivation, and thorough improvement in buildings and agricultural appliances. He has also spent seven yearsin Texas in the development of rice lands, of which he now holds a large and valuable tract. For about thirty years our subject was one of the best known auctioneers in the county, which business is now carried on by his son John.

Adam Adams was married November 19, 1859, to Frances Cea, a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Shaffer) Cea, natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania, who both died in Carroll county, Ill. Eight children were born to their union. The other members of the family were as follows: Elizabeth, now deceased, formerly Mrs. E. Blanchard; Albertus, who resides in Montana; William (deceased); Walter, who lives in Texas; Alice, now Mrs. S. Sunderman; John, of Cass county; Frances, Mrs. L. Neltz; and Adam, also a resident of Texas.


From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 247-248.