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JAMES
T. ADAMS
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In
commercial circles at
Findlay
no name is more familiar than that of Adams Brothers, the members of
which have for many years been identified in a conspicuous way with
the industries of the city. Both
individually and collectively these brothers have contributed much
toward the growth and development of the municipality, being active
in connection with the social and educational as well as the
business life of the community. The family is one of ancient origin
and honorable record, the founder of the American branch having come
over while the present
New England
states were still loyal subjects of the king. Richard Adams, son of
this English emigrant, was born in
Massachusetts
, took part as a soldier of the line in the epoch making struggle
for American independence, and after the war located in
Pennsylvania
. The late Rev. William Adams, son of this Revolutionary patriot,
was born in Perry county,
Pennsylvania
, in 1798, removed in 1837 to
Wayne
county,
Ohio
, and in i860 located at
Findlay
, where he continued to reside until his death in 1882. Originally a
member of the Presbyterian, he became in later life a minister of
the
Church
of
God
, in which capacity he was widely and favorably known among
religious workers. This divine was the father of
the Adams' Brothers, referred to above, and whose lives and business
careers it is the intention to set forth in this and the subsequent
biography.
James
T. Adams was born in Perry county,
Pennsylvania
, April 22, 1825, and was ten years old when his parents removed to
Richland
county,
Ohio
. Such education as he received in childhood was obtained in the
schools of
Massillon
, but it was quite limited as necessity compelled him to go to work
for a living when fourteen years old. He became apprentice to a
tinner and after learning the trade was engaged in business at
Massillon
until 1845, after which he went to
Plymouth
,
Ohio
, and worked as a tinsmith for sixteen years. In 1854 he came to
Findlay
, resumed his old business as a tinner and continued at that trade
for the following ten years, when he decided to abandon this line of
work and change his occupation. His next venture was the
establishment of an exclusively hardware store, which he carried on
with more or less success for five or six years, when he disposed of
his interests and began the manufacture of linseed oil. This venture
proving profitable, he continued it for eighteen years, or until
1878, when Mr. Adams joined
his brothers in organizing the foundry and machine business which
goes by their name. The business was carried on as a partnership
until 1890, when it was incorporated as a company with James T.
Adams as president and his brother
Newton
as treasurer. These relations have continued up to the present and
meanwhile the company has steadily grown in favor and prosperity
until their work is familiar in all the marts of northern
Ohio
devoted to that class of goods. During his residence of forty-eight
years at
Findlay
, Mr. Adams has been a familiar feature in the city's life and he
has aided in many ways the general advancement.
The people elected him to the city council and he did such
good work in that position that there was a general insistence on
his retention, and the consequence was that Mr. Adams had to serve
six-
teen years before he was allowed to retire. In addition to his
councilmanic career, he also did good work on the
Findlay
school board, of which he was a member about six years. In 1902 Mr.
Adams erected the
Adams
building— 60x140 feet, five stories—which is constructed of
pressed brick and stone and modern in all of its appointments. Mr.
Adams' religious convictions are in line with Presbyterianism and in
politics, though unobtrusively an earnest Republican, he avoids the
turmoil and bickering of ultra-partisanship. He is the oldest Odd
Fellow in point of service in Hancock county, also belongs to the
Encampment and has filled all the chairs in his lodge In.. 1849
Mr. Adams was married to Harriet L., daughter of Peter Bodine
of Richland
county, and of the three children resulting from this union, the two
survivors are Charles F. and Lizzie wife of John A. Meeks of
Findlay.
NEWTON
M.
ADAMS
This
gentleman is the treasurer of the well known Adams' Brothers
Company, of which his brother James is president, and they have been
connected in business at
Findlay
for thirty-four years. But his activities are by no means confined
to his duties with the foundry firm, his regular occupation being
varied by service in the city council, as chief of the Findlay fire
department, and as president of the City Banking Company, which
position he holds at the present time. As the family history has
been given in the sketch of
James T. Adams, presented above, it will not be necessary to repeat
it further than to say that the name of Adams has been a respected
one in the various states where its representatives have resided and
nowhere else so much as in Ohio, with whose interests they have been
identified for more than half a century of active business life. Newton
M. Adams was born at
Plymouth
,
Ohio
, December 3, 1844, and remained at home until the age of fourteen,
when the family necessities compelled him to seek work for a
livelihood. Going to
Corunna
,
Indiana
, he succeeded in getting employment as clerk in a store, which
position he retained until the turmoil incident to the opening of
the Civil war turned his attention in other directions. In short he
caught the war fever, and in December, 1863, enlisted in Company F,
One Hundred and Twenty-ninth
Regiment
,
Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war
and meantime rose to the rank of corporal.
Mr. Adams took part with his regiment in
Sherman
's memorable "on to
Atlanta
" campaign in the spring and summer of 1864, but when Hood made
his famous break toward Nashville, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth
formed part of the troops sent in pursuit. The most important
battles in which Mr. Adams fought were those at
Franklin
,
Nashville
and
Spring Hill
,
Tennessee
, subsequent to which his regiment was sent to
North Carolina
where it took part in the closing scenes, including the engagement
at Bentonville. After obtaining his final discharge, Mr. Adams
returned directly to his old place at Corunna, remained there three
years and in 1869 came to
Findlay
where he embarked in the stove and tin business. This venture
occupied his attention until 1871 when he joined his brother in
organizing a partnership to conduct the foundry and machine business
at
Findlay
, which nine years later eventuated in the corporation since
officered by the Adams Brothers. He has been one of the important
factors in the success of this popular plant, as he is not only a
man of great energy and perseverance, but is noted
for the clearness and coolness of his business judgment. These
qualities caused him to be elected to the council, where the city
needed his services, also made him a gas trustee and led to his
appointment to the responsible post of chief of the fire department.
In 1868 Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of
Levi Brown, and they have four children: Bestor E.; James T.; Donald
B. and Jeannette. Mr. Adams has long been an enthusiastic Odd Fellow
and by virtue of his military services is a welcome comrade of Post
No. 54, Grand Army of the Republic.
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