New England has furnished many of the most intelligent agriculturists of the West. They farm on scientific principles, and are consequently enabled to secure greater and better results than those who cultivate the soil without regard to the laws that underlie the entire structure of rural economy. John Q. Adams received his early and valuable experiences in rugged old Vermont, and these have been invaluable to him in his career in the West. His parents were Abial A. and Irene (Gray) Adams, the former of English-Scotch descent, the latter ascended from pure Scotch ancestry. They settled in Newport, Orleans Co., Vt., where they lived, reared a large family of children, and closed their eyes to all earthly scenes. Abial was a farmer, but being of a mechanical turn of mind, was also engaged as a carpenter. He lived until August, 1879. His wife died in 1855.

Of the thirteen children in the family of which John Q. was the fourth, ten were boys. He was born in Newport, Vt., July 12, 1831. He early left the parental roof, being only sixteen when he entered the college at Burlington, Vt., where for two years he applied himself to his books, with the exception of the winter seasons, when he taught school in order to secure money to pay his way. He came West at an early day, as we find him in Freeport in 1851 working at the carpenter’s trade and teaching school. He evidently possessed a venturesome disposition, as in 1853, when only twenty-two years of age, we find him on board a steamer bound for California. Here in the mines he labored for five years, and in search of the yellow metal met with fair success. He returned to Freeport in February, 1858, and soon thereafter settled on a farm in Florence Township. Since then, with the exception of a year and a half passed in Freeport working at his trade, he has followed farm life.

Mr. Adams was married in Florence Township, Feb., 18, 1858, to Miss Julia, daughter of Conrad and Harriett (Searl) Van Bucklin. The former was a native of New York, and his wife of Massachusetts. This worthy couple lived for a time in Lewis County, N. Y. In the spring of 1835, very early in the history of this county, they located in Florence Township. Here Conrad died Nov. 3, 1877. His widow still resides in the township. Of their family of seven children, Mrs. Adams is the eldest. She was born in Lewis County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1833, and coming here two years later has consequently passed almost her entire life in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are the parents of nine children – Morris, Hattie I., Oscar C.A., Eva A., Lincoln, Florence J., Grant, Clara E. and William A. Grant died at the age of two and a half years; Morris married Minnie Pattow, and resides in Grundy County, Iowa; Hattie is the wife of L. W. Wolf, of Franklin County, Iowa; Oscar resides in O’Brien County, Iowa, where also live Lincoln and Eva.

Mr. Adams has served as Supervisor of his township for two years, in fact has held all the offices with the exception of Collector, and is at present Treasurer. He is a member of Excelsior Lodge No. 47, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Adams and wife are both members of the Evangelical Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 213.