Biography - Ziba H. Adams
ZIBA H. ADAMS. Everywhere throughout the boundaries of Knox County, look
which way you will from its center, one can see as fine farms as are to be found
in any county in the state. But a few short years ago, where we now behold
beautiful houses and splendid improvements, it was all one broad uncultivated
tract of prairie land. It is therefore to the agricultural class mainly that the
wonderful advancement which the county has made during the last 50 years is due.
As a representative of the class spoken of and a large land-owner in the county,
as well as a respected and honored citizen and energetic follower in his chosen
vocation, we take pleasure in mentioning the name of Mr. Adams, who resides on
section 17, of Elba Township.
Ziba H. Adams is the son of Hazard and Elizabeth (Wort) Adams, natives of the
New England States. The parents settled in Ohio, where the father followed the
calling of farmer and where both heads of the family died. The children were
nine in number, and Ziba was the third in order of birth. He was born in Luzerne
County, Pa., Sept. 20, 1820.
Ziba Adams was quite young when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio.
There he lived, attending the common schools, developing into manhood and
working on the farm until about 1846. He then came to this county and made a
settlement in Persifer Township, where he was occupied in agricultural pursuits
for about eight years. From the latter township he removed to Elba and settled
on a tract of land on section 17, where he has since made his home. He is the
proprietor of 746 1/2 acres of land in this county, and on his home farm has a
fine residence, barn and other necessary out-buildings, and surrounded by a
happy family he is enjoying the fruits of a laborious and honorable past.
Mr. Adams was married in Persifer Township, April 8, 1847, to Delilah Gullett
[the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Ziba Adams marrying a Delia
Gullett in Knox County on April 9, 1846], daughter of Joshua and Barbara (Housh)
Gullett, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively. Her parents came
to this county in 1844, and first made settlement in Maquon Township, from
whence they removed to Persifer Township, where their lives on earth were ended.
They had seven children, and Mrs. Adams of this notice was the sixth in order of
birth. She was born in Putnam County, Indiana, Dec. 17, 1835, and their children
have likewise been seven in number, named Barbara E., Mary A., Angeline, Villa
M., John A., Austin and Clara M. Angeline died when four years of age; Barbara
is the wife of Enoch Dalton, a farmer of Elba Township; Mary married Henry
Perkins, a resident of Nebraska; Villa became Mrs. Jacob Gray, and resides in
Maquon Township; John, Austin and Clara live on the old homestead. Mr. Adams has
held the office of Constable eight years, and other minor offices. In politics
he is a stanch and active Republican. He is a man of far more than ordinary
ability as an agriculturalist, and what he has of this world's goods he has
acquired through his own perseverance and not as the recipient of any legacy.
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago
