George W. Adams, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of George W. Adams
GEORGE W. ADAMS. Among the native born citizens of Porter county was the gentleman whose name introduces this personal record. Mr. Adams, by his long residence in this county and his important official relations, was well known as a citizen and as one of unquestioned honor and integrity. He was born June 29, 1842, the sixth in a family of twelve children, two of whom were sons and ten daughters. His parents were Henry S. and Jane (Fleming) Adams. Of the large family, three survive. Lucinda is the wife of Samuel Stoner, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Margaret is the wife of Edward James, of Valparaiso, Indiana, a carpenter by trade; and Henrietta is the wife of Tony Massie, a citizen of Valparaiso, and a barber in calling. The father was a native of Bucyrus, Ohio, and was born April 10, 1803. He was an agriculturist and a self-made and self-educated man. The Adams family is traced to old England and the subject is a lineal descendant of the Adams family which produced John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. When the family followed the star of empire westward from the Bay state, where they lived, they located first in St. Joseph county, Michigan, and then in Porter county, settling in Morgan township. They located on one hundred and sixty acres, building a small frame house and beginning their struggle with the soil still in its primitive virginity. Indians were plentiful. Father Adams accumulated three hundred and twenty acres, all in Morgan township. He was an old-line Whig and upon the birth at the Republican party advocated its principles. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and in the early days services were held in the homes of the people. The church, which now stands in Morgan township and which was known as the "Adams Church" was erected on land presented by Mr. Adams when he was a deacon. Some of his relatives were soldiers in the war of 1812. He was a township trustee and a soldier in the Black Hawk war. His wife was a native of the Old Dominion, but removed from Virginia in childhood and was reared in Ohio. The wife of Henry Adams was a stanch Christian character, a loving mother and a devout member of the Christian church.
Mr. Adams of this review was for the most part reared in Porter county and his vocation was that of an agriculturist. For short periods he was, however, engaged, in the hardware and the insurance businesses. He witnessed a wonderful development of this section and contributed to the same. He shared the hardships of primitive conditions. The school he attended was a log cabin, sixteen by twenty feet in dimensions, and was just north of the present residence of Daniel Stoner. On rough log-benches the children conned the Elementary spelling hook, Davis arithmetic and learned the capitals of the states by singing them. They also wrestled with mental arithmetic. This was a subscription school. Mr. Adams remained beneath the parental roof-tree until the attainment of his majority and when he started out in life his only capital was a horse given to him with saddle and bridle by his father.
Mr. Adams was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Stoner, a daughter of one of the county's leading families. Two children were born, but they and Mrs. Adams passed away. On December 1, 1903, the subject was united with Mrs. Joanna (Wise) Redker. This lady is a native of Porter county and was born February 10, 1861, the eldest of seven children, four of whom were sons and three daughters, born to Samuel and Eliza (Shreves) Wise. Elizabeth became the wife of Joseph Mandlin, of Champaign county, Illinois, and they have three children; Albert, a member of the Wade & Wise Company of College Hill, Valparaiso, married Jessie Wilson and they have two children; Harry, the youngest son, is a telegrapher and lives at Knox, Indiana. Father Wise was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred near Lima, that state, on February 15, 1835, and his demise on July 2, 1878. He was a farmer and a veteran of the Civil war, serving gallantly in that conflict and in an engagement losing one of the fingers of his right hand. He was honorably discharged at the termination of hostilities. He was a Republican and a gallant member of the Grand Army of the Republic. The Wises came originally from the Empire state, and Mother Wise was a native of Ohio and a devout member of the Christian church. She still lives in Valparaiso, her years numbering sixty-eight. Her husband was only about forty-six when summoned to the hereafter. Mrs. Adams was reared in her native county and educated in the public schools. She was the mother of six children by her first marriage, the number being equally divided as to sons and daughters. Three survive, as follows: Pearl M. is the wife of R. B. Dorman, of Greenwood, Mississippi, where he holds a prominent and lucrative position with a wholesale hardware firm; she was educated in the public schools and is a musician. She and her husband are members of the Presbyterian church, and the latter is a Mason of high degree. Claude, a resident of Porter county, makes his home with his mother. He was educated in the public schools and is a practical agriculturist and a Republican. Hazel graduated from the public schools in 1909 and subsequently took a commercial course in the University of Valparaiso. She is a gifted musician and clever in her studies. In the summer of 1911 she visited in Mississippi, where her sister resides. She is still a member of the parental household.
The Adams estate of one hundred and twenty acres of good land in Morgan township is known as "Idlewild," and is the abode of hospitality. Mrs. Adams is a lady of cordial and genial manners and an able exponent of the best home ideals. Mr. Adams was a Republican and cast his first vote for the great and good Lincoln. At divers times he has served as delegate to the county conventions. In 1882 he was appointed superintendent of the Porter County Infirmary and held this important position until 1889, to the satisfaction of the people. His position was a difficult one and entailed more rare than under present conditions, with the modern infirmary. He was kindly as well as able in his supervision of the unfortunates, and often bravely met the opposition of the public. On May 4, 1912, occurred the sudden death of this worthy citizen of Porter county, George W. Adams, and a community mourns his loss, for he commanded its respect.
He was a member of the Adams Christian church in Morgan township, as is also Mrs. Adams.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 453-455
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook