Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 302 - 303  

HENRY W. ADAMS settled on the southern line of Viola Township in the fall of 1876, having homesteaded one-quarter of section 33. The land was in an uncultivated state, furnished with neither fences nor buildings, and he at once entered upon the regular routine of the pioneer, confident that he could hold his own with the enterprising men about him who had ventured on the western banks of the Mississippi, and into a section of country which had not long previously been the tramping ground of the buffalo and Indian. In fact he had the advantage of some of his neighbors, having served a thorough apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which enabled him to put up his buildings with a comparatively moderate outlay of money, and in the best manner. Here he has since pursued the even tenor of his way, being a continuous resident since his first arrival. 

     Mr. Adams is of Irish ancestry, but was born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 19, 1839. His parents, John and Mary (Lindsay) Adams, were born and reared in the North of Ireland, where they were also married, and whence in 1833 they emigrated to the United States. Settling in Oneida County, N. Y., the father followed his trade of a weaver there until 1850, then emigrated to Grundy County, Ill., and materially changed his vocation, engaging now in agriculture. There he spent the remainder of his life, dying about 1856. The mother subsequently removed to the town of Streator, where her death took place several years later, in 1878. 

     The parental household of our subject included six children: Thomas is married, and a resident of Pawtucket, R. I.; John is farming in Greeley Township, this county; Henry W., of our sketch, was the third child and son; Mary A. lives with her brother John; Samuel, during the late Rebellion, enlisted in Company D, 127th Illinois Infantry, and yielded up his life in the service; Andrew died at Streator, Ill., when a promising young man over twenty-one years of age. 

     Mr. Adams received a common-school education, attending mostly during the winter seasons, and after the removal of the family to Illinois, resided in Grundy, Kendall and LaSalle Counties, where, with the exception of three years, during which time he was engaged in the hardware trade at Seneca, he occupied himself in farming. In March, 1862, occurred the important event of his marriage with Miss Louisa S., daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Graves) Howe, the former of whom died in September, 1877, in LaSalle County, Ill., and the latter, still living, is a resident of Viola, this county. A few months later Mr. Adams, leaving his young wife with her parents, responded to the call for additional volunteers, and enlisted in Company G, 127th Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He entered the ranks as Third Sergeant, and in December, 1863, received the commission of First Lieutenant. He was in the midst of some of the hardest fought battles of the war, namely, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and went all through the Atlanta campaign. With his comrades he met the enemy likewise in battle at Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., and marched under Gen. Sherman to the sea. Finally he was present at the grand review at Washington, and on account of injuries received at Savannah, by being thrown from a horse while acting as Adjutant of the regiment, now draws a pension from the Government. 

     Upon his return from the army Mr. Adams resumed farming in the Prairie State, and continued until 1877, March of which year found him in this county. He gradually cultivated and improved his land with the aid of his sons, while he worked at his trade a greater part of the time. Many of the buildings of Viola Township were put up under his supervision, and stand as monuments of his skill and ingenuity. He has been prominent among the people of his township almost from the time of coming here, and served as Justice of the Peace for a period of ten years, and is the present incumbent. Religiously he is a Presbyterian, and socially a member of Seneca Lodge No. 532, A. F. & A. M., and G. A. R. 

     Mrs. Adams was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1844. She was eight years of age when she accompanied her parents to Illinois, and by her union with our subject became the mother of eight children, three of whom died in childhood. The five surviving are Frank C., Fred S., Harry, Clyde and Horace. Mr. Adams is a straight out-and-out Republican, and gives his support to that party.

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