Francis D. Adams Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1461-1462 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	FRANCIS D. ADAMS, deceased, late of Groton, Brown county, was a 
native of the old Green Mountain state, having been born in Waterbury, 
Vermont, on the 21st of February, 1838, while it can not be denied that 
he possessed to a marked degree the noble characteristics which ever 
typify the sturdy sons of New England. He was reared and educated in his 
native state and there remained until about the year 1861, when he came 
west to the state of Michigan, locating in Grattan, Kent county, where 
he became associated with his brothers, George and John, in the 
manufacturing of furniture, wagons and carriages. To this enterprise he 
was giving his attention at the time when the dark cloud of war cast its 
pall over the nation, and he forthwith subordinated his personal 
interests to the needs of his country. He effected the organization of 
Company D, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and was elected 
second lieutenant of the same, later being prompted first lieutenant, 
while he acted in the capacity of adjutant general. Mr. Adams was in 
active service for two and one-half years, and his record was that of a 
loyal and valiant son of the Republic. After victory had crowned the 
Union arms it was his privilege to participate in the grand review, in 
the national capital. 

	After the war Mr. Adams continued his residence in Grattan and 
Lowell, Michigan, until 1880, when he came to Groton, South Dakota, 
where he forthwith identified himself most intimately with local 
affairs, his mental powers and long business experience well equipping 
him for leadership. He here became associated with S. W. Weber and H. C. 
Sessions in the organization of the Farmers' Bank, which was later 
reorganized as the Brown County Bank, and of this well known and popular 
institution he served as a director until his death, while he also made 
large and judicious investments in lands in the valley of the James 
river. He ever kept in touch with civic and public affairs, was 
progressive in his ideas and did his part in promoting the development 
and material prosperity of his home city, 

	In politics Mr. Adams gave an uncompromising support to the 
principles of the Republican party, and in 1892 he was elected to 
represent his district in the state senate, this being the third general 
assembly after the admission of South Dakota to the Union. In the 
council chambers of the commonwealth he proved anew his loyalty and his 
ability, being recognized as one of the valuable working members of the 
senatorial body and being made chairman of the important committee on 
appropriations. In 1895 Governor Sheldon appointed Mr. Adams a member of 
the state board of regents of education' and here his influence was 
exerted in a most helpful way. He continued incumbent of this office 
until he was summoned from the field of life's labors. His religious 
faith was liberal, mainly in doing good to those around him. Fraternally 
he was a member of the Masonic order, in which he had attained the 
Knights Templar degrees, his funeral services being conducted under the 
beautiful and impressive ritual and ceremonies of this time-honored 
fraternity. The death of Mr. Adams occurred on the 17th of January, 
1899, and the community manifested a sense of personal bereavement, for 
he was a man who ever held friendship as inviolate and one who had made 
his entire life count for good. He was kindly and considerate, tolerant 
in his judgment, earnest and sincere in all things. It is needless to 
say that the passing away of such an individual must leave a distinct 
void. 

	On the 15th of March, 1871, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to 
Miss Jane Ashley, of Grattan, Michigan, she being a daughter of Sheldon 
Ashley, a pioneer of Kent county, that state, and an influential 
citizen. Mrs. Adams survives her honored husband, as do also their four 
children, namely: Persis E., who is the wife of Robert Reynolds, of 
Groton; George Sheldon, M. D., who is a member of the medical staff of 
the state hospital, at Yankton; John Francis, who is a student in Rush 
Medical College, in the city of Chicago; and Charles Edwin, who is a 
student in the University of Minnesota.