William Adams

             Owing to the great number of changes that take place in the population of our counties it is now only occasionally that we come upon a person of advanced age that has been born upon native soil. One, however, is to be found in William Adams, who was born in Clark county, this state, on May 16, 1836. His ancestry includes in its roll some of the sturdy settlers of Kentucky, where were born his parents, martin and Jane (Davis) Adams, who were among the earliest pioneers of Clark county. They were staunch Presbyterians and each lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. Of  this family there are still surviving besides William two brothers and one sister, the brothers living at this time Indiana and the sister in Denver, Colorado.

            The domestic life of Mr. Adams has not been one of the uninterrupted smoothness inasmuch as his home has been repeatedly invaded by visits from the death angel. His first wife, Charlotte Kisler, was not permitted to live to see her children grow to maturity, but five of these are still living. The three children of the second wife, Sarah S. Swartz, have also joined their mother in the great beyond. Following this Mr. Adams was married to a sister of his second wife, Eliza Swartz, after whose death he was joined in marriage to Sarah Heuser. The children now living referred to above are Anna Belle Scott, Jennie Gilmore, Elizabeth Ogg, Martin A. and Minnie Smith.

            Mr. Adams is well known as a splendid business man and an aggressive, public-spirited citizen. He ahs been called upon by his fellow citizens to serve them in many public capacities. In 1880 he served as Township Assessor and filled the office in a praiseworthy manner. In 1895 he demonstrated his ability as a party figure, assisting to bring about a complete change in the political complexion of county affairs, the usual Democratic majorities being wiped out and the county offices placed into the hands of the Republicans. In waging this fight Mr. Adams used as his instrument the columns of the New Albany Tribune.

            Mr. Adams is a loyal Methodist in his religious affiliations, as were also his wives. He ahs for a long term of years been a most faithful and helpful worker in promoting the growth and progress of church life in the community. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the New Chapel Methodist church since 1883, and served as president of the same for twenty years. He was also president of the building committee, which constructed one of the finest church edifices in Clark county in 1883, every dollar for the same passing through his hands, for which a strict and satisfactory account was given.

            The farm now occupied by Mr. Adams consists of one hundred and thirty-one acres, and has been his home since 1837. Two of his children, Mrs. Gilmore and Mrs. Scott, occupy nearby farms to that of their father. In addition to this farm Mr. Adams owns tracts of land in Utica and Washington townships. He is a man well preserved is keenly alert tot eh questions of the day. He has lived to see many changes in the community where he has maintained his residence for over fifty years. There are only two heads of families now occupying the same houses they died in 1857 in his neighborhood. He recalls the days before the use of coal for fuel on the river. Andrew Van Dike, a pioneer wood hauler, furnished the ferry with its fuel in those days and in after years assisted Mr. Adams in threshing grain.

Source: Baird’s History of Clark County, Indiana by Capt. Lewis C. Baird, 1909. Page 693, 694.