Theodore A Adams

ADAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/14/2010 at 21:42:52

For twenty-two years Theodore A Adams has been a passenger engineer on the Northwestern railroad, having ever discharged his duties with circumspection and faithfulness. He now resides in a pretty home at No 229 Cedar street, Boone. He was born January 30, 1858, in Monroe county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Nathaniel and Matilda (Curry) Adams. The father was born in New England. He served in the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a private and was killed in the battle of Petersburg. Matilda Curry was a daughter of Riley Curry, who was born in Ireland and upon coming to the United Sates settled near Perry, Iowa, where he followed agricultural pursuits. Mrs Adams subsequent to her first husband’s death married Andrew J Hutson. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in Perry, Iowa. Mr and Mrs Adams had four children: John H of Valley Junction, Iowa who married twice, Maria who married John Cameron of Des Moines, Iowa, Theodore A, of this review, and frank of Valley Junction, Iowa.
Theodore A Adams spent the fist years of his life in Wisconsin, attending school in the little village of Ripon, that state. After his father’s death the family removed to Iowa, and he completed his education in the schools of Grand Junction. He entered upon the duties of life by assisting him stepfather and the latter’s brother, who were engaged in building operations and in moving houses. After leaving home Mr Adams first worked for a Mr Hughes on a farm fives mils north of Beaver, Iowa, being at that time about eighteen years of age and receiving in remuneration for his services eighteen dollars per month and board. There he remained for a year and then worked for his brother John who conducted a livery stable at Grand Junction, remaining for about two years. At the end of that time he first took up railroad work, becoming a brakeman on the Rock Island railroad of February 20, 1878. His run was from Grand Junction to Fort Dodge, and there he continued until October 17, 1879, when he became brakeman on the Northwestern between Boone and Belle Plaine, holding that position until the fall of 1880. He next was fireman for the same company for two years ad in January 1883, was promoted to engineer, his run being in Iowa between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. For the last twelve years Mr Adams has held the passenger run between Boone and Omaha. He has shown himself capable it eh discharge of his duties and stands high in the estimation of his superior officers. Many are those who know him in Boone and he also has many acquaintances among the passengers who travel regularly on his run and who esteem him as a reliable, trustworthy official.
On May 12, 1879, Mr Adams was married in Grand Junction, Iowa Miss Mary Luce, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Luce, the former a carpenter by trade. To this union were born six children. Frank of Grand Junction, Iowa was born March 15, 1880. He is a graduate of the Boone schools and is now a conductor on the Northwestern railroad, making his home with our subject. He is prominent in Masonry, having become a Shriner at the age of twenty-one being at that time one of the youngest in the state. Etta May, who was born in Perry, Iowa September 16, 1882, is now Mrs Edward Painter, of Leadville, Colorado. Ollie, who was born in Boone, February 1, 1885, married R W Weaver and they are now living in Des Moines. Cleo, who was born in Boone April 4, 1893, is clerk to the foreman oat the round house of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and resides at home. Charles is deceased and another died in infancy. Mrs Adams is a member of the Presbyterian church, the services of which her husband also attends. The latter is politically independent, preferring to follow his own judgment in giving his support to such candidates as he considers best fitted for the position to which they aspire, irrespective of party lies. Fraternally he belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and is popular in that organization. He has many friends in Boone, all of whom speak of him in the highest terms of appreciation.

1914 Boone County History Book