Piatt County IL Archives Biographies.....Adams, Peter 
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Kaylynn Loveland gram2five@gmail.com February 29, 2008, 5:44 pm

Author: Portrait and Biographical Album of DeWitt and Piatt Counties

ADAMS, Peter; page 259
	Peter Adams, a pioneer of Piatt County is distinguished in its history as one
of the first settlers of Cerro Gordo Township, with which he has been closely
identified as one of its most intelligent farmers since the early days of its
settlement.  He is a native of Harrison County, Ky., born Septmeber 13, 1818,
and a son of Angelo and Elizabeth (Killem) Adams.  His parents are supposed to
have been natives of Maryland and early settlers of Kentucky.  One of this
brothers, named Isaac, is said to have been a soldier in the War of 1812.  His
father and mother had nine children, of whom he is the sole survivor.  His
maternal great-grandmother was of Irish birth. 
	When Mr. Adams was about two or three years old his parents left their Kentucky
home for another one amid the primitive wilds of Ohio.  The family resided
several years in Greene County, whence they removed to Madison County, in the
same State, six years later.  The mother had preeviously died in Greene County,
and there our subject was reared and educated in its early subscription schools.
 The school that he attended was built of logs, had a puncheon floor and was a
rude structure in general.
	In the fall of 1839, animated by the spirit that had empelled his forefathers
to push forward into newly-settled countries, our subject became a pioneer of
this portion of Illinois.  For some years after he came here he carried on
farming on rented land, but in 1849 he purchased his present farm, on which he
has since resided for a period of more than forty years.  He was one of the
first pioneers to locate in this vicinity, and purchased his land, which then
comprised a tract of forty acres, directly form the Government, paying therefor
$1.25 per acre.  He had many hardships to endure, many sacrifices to make, and
much hard work to do before he evolved his now finely improved farm from the
wilds of nature.  He is now the possessor of one hundred and ninety-three acres
of land, which is in a fine condition and forms one of the choicest farms in
this neighborhood.  When he came to Illinois he made the journey on horse-back
and his only possessions were a horse, a saddle and bridle and $40 in money. 
From this small capital he has acquired a goodly competence and is to-day
numbered among the substantial men of his township.
	Mr. Adams' first marriage, which took place October 9, 1845, was with Sarah J.
Peck, a daughter of Adonijah and Mary Peck, of whom further mention is made on
another page of this work.  By that union he became the father of four children,
of whom two are living - Angelo, in Willow Brance Township, and David S., also a
resident of that township.  Those deceased are Mary E. and one who died in
infancy.  Our subject was a second time married, April 7, 1868, Miss Rebecca
Johnston becoming his wife.  She was born in Ashe County, N. C., March 11, 1844.
 She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Sapp) Johnston, who were also natives of
North Carolina.  In 1860 she removed with her parents from her native State to
Kentucky, and from there to Ohio in 1864.  Subsequently they spent three years
in Henry County, Ind., whence they came to Illinois in 1867 and settled in Macon
County, where the mother died in the year 1871.  The father departed this life
in Jackson County, Ore., in 1887.  These worthy people were the parents of nine
children, of whom the following are living:  Francis, a resident of Mitchell
County, N. C.; Samuel, who resides in Kansas City, Mo.; Martha, wife of William
Carver, of Cass County, Mo.; Aaron, a resident of Beardstown, Ill.; Jesse,
living in Idaho; and Sarah, wife of William Huggin, of Oregon.
	The biographer found Mr. Admas to be an intelligent, well-informed gentleman,
of a social disposition, who conversed interestingly of his pioneer life and
gave many important facts in reference to the early history of the pioneers of
Piatt Cunty which are worthy of preservation.  Mr. Adams is justly esteemed by
the large circle of friends that he has gathered around him during his residence
of more than fifty years in this county, with whose history he has been
connected from its early settlement and in whose upbuilding he has been no
unimprotant agent.  He and his amiable wife are doing all in their power to
forward the cause of religion in their community, and their names are associated
with many deeds of kindness and charity.  He is identified with the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, while she is a member of the Christian Church at Cerro
Gordo.  He is sound in politics and is a faithful adherent of the Democratic
party.  He served at one time as Road Commissioner of Cerro Gordo Township for a
number years, and has also been School Director.

Additional Comments:
Published by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1891

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