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Leander L. Adams

Leander L. Adams, a retired farmer and stock-raiser of Maynard, is a well worthy of a representation in this volume, for he has long made the county his home and is numbered among its representative citizens. He was born in Mansfield, Cattaraugus County, N. Y.. January 18, 1831, and is a son of Albygence and Diana (Latin) Adams.  His father was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1801, and is of English descent. His mother, a native of New Haven, Conn., born 1799, was of Scotch lineage. By their marriage were born four sons and one daughter, namely: Clarinda, who became the wife of George Fullmer, of Rock County, Wis., who now follows farming in Whiteside County, Ill., where they live with their four children; Abner, who owns and operates four hundred acres of farming land near Helena, Mont., wedded Arabella Wheeler in Janesville, Wis., who died, leaving two children; Theodore II, died in Janesville, Wis., at the age of fifteen years; Leander L., is the fourth in order of birth and is followed by George R., who is engaged in farming in Harlan Township. In Brush Creek he was joined in wedlock with Martha Hiner, and unto them have been born four children.

Leaving his native State, our subject emigrated to Wisconsin, whence he went to California in 1856. After two years he returned to Iowa and the following year went to Illinois. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was assigned to duty with the Army of Tennessee, participating in the battle of Perryville, Ky., and then with his regiment went to Nashville, Ky., and then with his regiment went to Nashville, Tenn.  He then enlisted under provisions of general orders from the War department which authorized recruiting for the marine service for volunteers, and became a member of the First Mississippi Marine Brigade. He was assigned to duty on the United States Steamer "Baldie." on which he served from March 11, 1863, until January 24, 1865, under command of Com. Porter, with the squadrons above Vicksburg, doing patrol duty. The first engagement in which Mr. Adams participated as a marine was at Duck Creek on the Tennessee River, then at Goodrich Landing, Greenville, Miss., Richmond, Ark., the siege of Vicksburg and Ft. De Russa, on the Red River expedition under Gen. Banks.  Returning to the Mississippi River they went down to New Orleans and had a fight at Bayou Sara, followed by a full day's engagement at Old River Lake, in Arkansas, and the battles at Grand Gulf and Haines Bluff. During his service in the First Mississippi Brigade of United States Marines, he traveled many thousands of miles on the Father of Waters and its tributaries, and experienced some trying and exciting times. On receiving his discharge from the service Mr. Adams returned to Illinois. For two seasons following he was employed on the Mississippi River from Stillwater to St. Louis, and on the 1st of January, 1867, arrived in Maynard where he yet makes his home. In June, 1855, he had entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government and now gave his attention to its cultivation.  On the 7th of February, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Cline, daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Gray) Cline. Her father was born at Burks Station, Va., April 1, 1815, and her mother in Washington County, Ohio, November 11, 1822. They were married December 5, 1839, and in 1850 came in town, locating in Delaware County, whence they came to this county in 1856.  They were the parents of twelve children, but only four are living -- David, who enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, died of disease in 1863; Philip, who married Hattie Roberts, and after her death wedded Sophia Fox, of Brush Creek, has three sons by his second marriage and on daughter, Mrs. Dollie Bing of Maynard, by his first marriage. Mrs. Adams is the next younger. Amaziah, who served five years in the Fourth United States Infantry, has the honor of having participated in the Captain Jack War, and was with his command when that notorious chieftain was captured. Samuel married Ella Warner, of Cherokee County, and resides on a farm near Quimby, Iowa. The mother of Mrs. Adams died in this county April 11, 1888, and her father four days afterward.  The parents of Mr. Adams have long since passed away. His mother died in Wisconsin. in 1845, and about fourteen years afterward the father returned to his old home in New York where he departed this life in 1867. Three generations of their family lay buried at Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y., where he was laid to rest.

Mrs. Adams was born February 22, 1848, in Washington County, Ohio, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, all of whom are yet living -- Ida A., born in Harlan Township January 13, 1870, is at home; Nettie L., born May 6, 1871, is teaching the fourth term in the same school which is unquestioned evidence of her success in that profession; Estella C., born July 15, 1872, and Henry L., born November 28, 1875, are both attending school.

Mr. Adams had had a rather peculiar history both as a soldier and civilian. He has traveled much and seen a great deal of the world but is now settled comfortably in Maynard, where he hopes to spend the remainder of his life in ease and quiet. At the Presidential election of 1860 he voted with the Republican party and then supported the Democrat party until 1872, when he again became a Republican and is now one of the staunchest advocates of its principles. In religious belief both he and his wife are liberal but have led useful and upright lives. He is a member of Reynolds Post, No. 47, G. A. R., and a man who by his genial disposition, gentlemanly deportment and open course through life has won the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has come in.