Biographical Sketch of John Adams, Johnson County, Missouri, Montserrat Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** John Adams, one of Johnson county's pioneers, is a successful and prosperous farmer and stockman of Montserrat township. He is the sixth child born to his parents, Thomas and Sarah Ann Adams, his birth occurring on the old homestead belonging to his father, February 8, 1856, which place is now owned by his brother, George. Thomas Adams was born in 1820 in North Carolina. When he was fourteen years of age he came with his parents to Missouri. The Adams family settled in Johnson county the year the county was organized, in 1834. They re- sided on the farm now owned by Mr. Sproat and on this place John Adams, the father of Thomas Adams, died in 1867. Thomas Adams was an indust- rious, intelligent agriculturist. He was chiefly engaged in raising cattle and sheep on his splendid farm of 400 acres of land, 160 acres of which he had entered from the government, but he also kept a few horses and mules. The Adams farm was at that time heavily timbered and in the first years following the civil War there were no fences in the county worthy of the name, practically all the land being open prairie. Thomas Adams enlisted in the Civil War with the Union army and served throughout the struggle of four years, serving at first with the home guards. He had married many years prior to the war, in 1846, and to him and Sarah Ann Adams were born the following children: Jane, the wife of George Roberts, Knob Noster, Mo.; Martha, who died in Oregon; Mary, the wife of Tom Clare, Jefferson township, Johnson county; Amanda the wife of Timotny George, of Montana; Bettie, the wife of J. W. Dawson; John, of this review; James, Warrensburg, Mo.; Annie, the wife of James Ivy, Columbus, Kansas; George, on the old homestead, Montser- rat township; Sallie, the wife of John Dillingham; Jullia, the wife of Walter Hay, Walla Walla, Washington; and Thomas B., Miami, Oklahoma. The barn, which Thomas Adams erected many years ago, is still standing on the homestead, now owned by George Adams. This barn is exception- ally worthy of mention, having been built of black walnut. An immense walnut tree, which was at least six feet in diameter and sixty feet to the first limb, had been blown down and from it were sawed the boards of genuine black walnut, now so very valuable and scarce, and they were used in the construction of this barn. At least sixteen foot lumber was obtained from the limb. The father's death occurred January 4, 1888 and in August, 1910 the mother joined him in death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Adams were fine, estimable, worthy citizens, who nobly did their part in the work of upbuilding the county and state. At the age of 24 years, on March 2, 1880, John Adams began farming for himself. He is now the owner of 520 acres of valuable farm land in Johnson county, practically all of which tract is under cultivtion or in meadow. Two hundred acres of the place are annually farmed. Mr. Adams gives much time and attention to raising Herford cattle, having at present 102 head on his farm, with a high priced, registered male, "San Pedro, I" at the head of the herd. He usually keeps from five to six hundred dollars worth of hogs each year and a few sheep. John Adams and Eliza- beth Marshall were united in marriage March 2, 1880 and to them were born eight children: Lillie F., born December 10, 1880, the wife of S. V. Dudley, of California; Everett E., who is farming on a place south of the home place; Almon, a member of Company B, 61st Infantry, National Army; Myrtle, the wife of Mr. Hildebrand, residing on a farm one mile from the home place; Lula May, the wife of Frank Judd, Berts- ville, Johnson county; Ora, the wife of Mr. Lee McGraw, residing with her father, for whom she is keeping house; Charles, at home; and Estelle, the wife of Mr. John W. Sullivan, Warrensburg, Mo. Mrs. Adams departed this life February 22, 1917 at the age of 61 years. She was a brave, noble, highly estimable woman, one whose gentle, kindly, pure- minded spirit exerted a marked influence for good in her community and in her home, one who has been sadly and deeply missed by her scores of freinds. She was, and Mr. Adams is, a worthy and consistent Christian, a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Adams is at present the school director in his home district. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================