Biography - James A. Adams
JAMES ALEN ADAMS was born in 1830, probably in Lawrence County, which is
located in east Illinois. He was just sixteen years old when both of his
parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Adams, died in 1846. Four years later in 1850, I
find James A. Adams enumerated on the 1850 U.S. Census with the William Adams
family in Lawrence County. William Adams was James' Uncle, the brother of
Samuel. James as well as the other children of Samuel and Elizabeth went to live
with friends and relatives after the death of his parents. In 1860 James A.
Adams appeared on the Knox County, Illinois census. Between 1850 and 1854 James
migrated to Knox County, Illinois. Here he married Amelia Jones on 29 June 1854
[the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a James A. Adams marrying a Amelia
M. Jones in Knox County on June 29, 1854]. Amelia was the daughter of Leonard
Jones and Permelia Putnam. James A. Adams was the Elba Township Supervisor in
1866.
James was a member of the Yates City Masonic Lodge #448 in 1873. Although
Freemasonry is not a religious organization, Master Masons believe that faith
must be the center of their lives. They believe that all people are the children
of God, and that no one has the right to tell another person what he or she must
think or believe. They believe each person has a responsibility to be a good
citizen and that Honor and Integrity are the keys to a meaningful life. On
December 3, 1874 James obtained his third degree. When a person takes his third
degree he becomes a "Master Mason", this is the highest degree in Masonry.
One of the first churches to hold services in Elba was the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Prior to the erection of the church building, services were held at
parishioner's homes. James and Amelia attended the Methodist Church in Nebraska
and probably began their affiliation in Elba. James would not allow anyone to
call him "Jim". He said his name was in the bible and that "Jim" was not.
James and Amelia moved to Iowa in 1879. Their two oldest sons, Albert and Arthur
and their wives remained in Knox County until after 1880 where they were found
still living in Elba, Illinois. The other children went with their parents to
Iowa. In 1882 James demitted from the Yates City, Illinois Masonic Lodge, and in
August 1883 his membership was transferred to York Nebraska Lodge No. 56.
Just before his death in 1897, James and Amelia traveled to Colorado to visit
with his daughter. It's not clear if they planned to live there, but James was
advised that the mountain air was detrimental to his health and that he should
return to Nebraska. He died on March 22nd, just days after his return.
Contributed by Judy Weaver.
