WHITE CO, AR - H. K. ADAMS  - Bio
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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H. K. Adams, merchant at El Paso, Ark., and one of the leading 
citizens of that city, was born in Rockingham County, N. C., January 
29, 1846, being the son of Samuel and Francis (Reid) Adams. Samuel 
Adams was a farmer by occupation, and a native of Virginia, but most 
of his life was passed in North Carolina. 

He was married in that State (where he had a  fine farm), and died 
there in 1870, at the age of sixty-three years. He was magistrate for 
a number of years, and an energetic, enterprising citizen, and in 
whatever place he resided that locality might well consider itself the 
better for his citizenship. His wife died in 1854. She was a sister of 
Ex-Gov. Reid, of North Carolina, and her mother was a lady of national 
fame, who had near relatives on the supreme bench of Florida. 

H. K. Adams is the fifth in a family of eight children, five of
whom are now living: Fanny B. (wife of J. W. Thompson, teacher in the
Edinburgh High School, in Cleburne County, Ark.), Henrietta (wife of 
W. P. Watson, a farmer of Monroe County, Ark.), Reuben (a teacher in
Prattsville) and Frank R. (a printer, married, and residing in Texas.)
Those deceased are: Samuel F. (who lost his life at the hands of
raiders, in 1865), David R. (died in college at Madison, N. C., aged
eighteen) and Annie E. (who died in infancy.) 

H. K. Adams was reared on a farm, receiving a good common-school 
education at the district schools, and at the age of twenty-one 
launched his bark and began life for himself. He had nothing with 
which to cope with the world but a stout heart and his wit, and though 
it was rather discouraging, he never lost heart, and as a natural 
result was successful. He began first as a clerk in a country store at 
Boyd's Mill, N. C. 

A year later he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fifth North Carolina 
Regiment, and served until the surrender, in May, 1865, participating 
in the battle of the Wilderness and numerous other skirmishes, but 
through his entire career was never wounded. At the battle of 
Spottsylvania he was taken prisoner and held at Point Lookout and 
Elmira, in all about six months. He was again captured on the retreat 
from Petersburg, a few days before the surrender of Gen. Lee, and 
carried to Point Lookout, and remained in prison six weeks after the 
close of the war. 

After this Mr. Adams returned to his native State and engaged in 
farming until 1869, then coming to Arkansas (St. Francis County) where 
he resided two years. His next move was to El Paso, and after tilling 
the soil some two years he was engaged as clerk for W. H. Grisard, a 
prosperous merchant, for several years. 

For two years he was with C. P. Warren, and at the end of that time 
(1884) formed a partnership with J. T. Phelps and J. C. Harkrider, 
under the firm name of Adams, Phelps & Co. A short time later Mr. 
Phelps sold his interest to the other gentleman, the firm name 
becoming Adams & Harkrider. Mr. Adams eventually purchased the entire 
stock, and after a time formed a partnership with B. A. Neal, whose 
interest he bought, and then Mr. J. T. Booth purchased an interest, 
and since that time the firm has been known as Adams & Booth. They are 
doing a splendid business, and carry a well-assorted stock of general 
merchandise. Being wide-awake merchants and eminently responsible they 
command the respect of the entire community. 

Mr. Adams was united in marriage June 7, 1874, to Miss Florence 
Harkrider, a native of Alabama and a daughter of W. H. Harkrider, a 
farmer and mechanic of White County. Their union has been blessed with 
ten children, six of them now living: Martha F. (born in April, 1875), 
William S. (born [p.127] in July, 1876, died in August, 1883), Hugh 
K., Jr. (born in March, 1878, and died in September, 1879), David C. 
(born in November, 1879), Dean (born in May, 1881, died in August, 
1883), Eva E. (born in November, 1882), Horace E. (born in July, 
1884), Sarah Florence (born in November, 1885, died in July, 1886),
Myrtle I. (born in January, 1887), and Grace (born in February, 
1889). Mr. Adams is giving his children all the advantages of good 
schools, and is determined that they shall have every opportunity for 
an education, regardless of expense. 

Himself and wife are members of the El Paso Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and Mr. Adams is at present a member of the school board and a 
notary public. He has served his township as bailiff for a number of 
years. In addition to his mercantile business he owns a small farm, 
which is carefully cultivated and yields excellent crops. In his 
political views he is a Democrat, but not an enthusiast.