Richard Adams

Richard Adams, one of the enterprising agriculturists of Turman Township, Sullivan County, was born March 31, 1845, in Devonshire, England, a son of William G. and Mary Ann (Tucker) Adams, both born in England. Six children were born to these parents in England and one in Illinois, namely: John, now deceased; William, residing in Turman Township; Thomas, deceased; Richard, subject; Samuel, deceased; George, deceased; Henry, born in this county and now deceased. The parents came to America when Richard was yet a small boy. The family located in Clark County, Illinois, and remained there about five years, when they moved to Turman Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, where the father and mother both died. The father was always a farmer, and in his political views a Democrat. Both he and the good wife were members of the Baptist Church.

Richard Adams, of this memoir, had but little opportunity to obtain an education. He attended school taught in a log building, the floor and seats of which were made of puncheon, the latter resting on natural sticks for legs. there were no desks in front of the seats, but a board against the wall served for the scholars to write on. there being no windows, the light was admitted through greased paper covering an aperture in the wall. He remained at home until he was of age. He enlisted in the Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Regiment, being a member of Company I, the date of his enlistment being August, 1863. He was wounded in the left arm at Richmond, Kentucky, and was honorably discharged on account of disability. After the close of the rebellion he resumed farming with his father and continued until the latter's death, when he inherited a part of the old homestead. He now owns a farm of five hundred and one acres, upon which he resides and carries on a general farming business in which he is highly successful, and he has a nice set of buildings, recently erected. Politically he is a supporter of the Masonic Order at Graysville.

Mr. Adams has been married five times.

His first wife was Mary Well, born in Ohio. One daughter was the fruit of this union, Martha, now deceased.
His second wife was Rebecca J. Chandler, born in Casey, Illinois, now deceased. One daughter was born of this marriage, Lula, who died aged six years.
For the third wife Mr. Adams married Louisa Ash, born in Greene County, Indiana, and she is also deceased. Two children were born of this union -Rebecca, deceased; and Minnie, wife of John Osborn, residing in Turman Township, and have two children, Mabel.C. and Hazel.
For the fourth companion Mr. Adams married Martha Burnett Adams, a widow of the subject's brother Thomas. She is also deceased, and three of her children were reared -Made, unmarried and at home; Gertrude, wife of William Lottery and mother of two children, Harold and Martha E.; and Bertha, who married George Burton and has two sons, Forest A. and Hubbard.
His present wife's name was Lulu Rogers, who with her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 270-271.