Adams, Charles S. 1851 - 1918

ADAMS, STETSON, CRAIN, DODGE, MONGER, COLLIER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/25/2021 at 13:14:29

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 29 Aug. 1918.

Chas S. Adams, one of Volga Cities best known and most highly respected citizens, died suddenly last Friday evening about seven o'clock.

Mr. Adams had been in poor health for a year or more but had really felt better Friday than for some time previous, laughing and joking with his friends. Toward evening he ate a hearty supper and while in the midst of a conversation, gasped a few times and passed away, death being due to heart trouble.

Mr. Adams was slightly more than sixty-seven years old having been born May 7th, 1851, at Lowell, Mass. He was the son of Captain Shubael P. Adams and Lydia E. (Stetson) Adams, both of old colonial families. His father was a member of the legal profession and served as a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature from 1835 to 1857. In the latter year he became a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, where he became distinguished as a lawyer, and as a leader of the Republican party.

C. S. Adams was a lad of six years when the family moved to Dubuque. He was a graduate of the Dubuque High School, and continued the higher education in the Bayless college of that city.

In 1872 he entered service of the C.D. & M. R.R. Co., now a part of the C.M. & St. Paul system, and for sixteen years was actually engaged as a skilled locomotive engineer. The first eight years of their wedded life while he was employed on the railroad was spent partly in Dubuque and partly in West Union.

On the 12th day of May, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Crain of Volga City. Four children were the issue of this union, Harriet, who "came and went" in the brief space of a month, William J. and Shubael P. of St. Joseph, Mo., and Edna, who has made her home with her parents. There are two grandchildren, Dorothy Jane, and Margaret Louise.

In 1888 Mr. Adams established his home in this city, where he became associated with Mr. E. W. White in the mercantile business under the firm name Adams & White. He was a member of the board of education for twenty-six years and has always been prominent and active in local affairs. He was secretary of the opera house company and took especial pride in that fine building. The esteem and confidence of the citizens of Volga were expressed in him last spring by his almost unanimous election to the office of mayor. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of American Yeomen, Modern Brotherhood of America and the Mystic Toiler.

He took a keen and active interest in political affairs but never sought for political honors.

Of a cheery genial disposition he made hosts of friends who learned to value most highly the sterling integrity of his character.

The immediate surviving relatives in addition to the widow and children are: Mrs. Mary A. Dodge, San Francisco, Mrs. Kate L. Monger, Miss Nell B. Adams, Mrs. J. C. Collier and John T. Adams of Dubuque and Bert Adams of Washington, D.C.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Presbyterian church, the pastor Rev. B. F. Pearson officiating, being assisted by Rev. W. H. Smith of the M.E. church. An exceptionally large concourse of friends from all over the county; many from the surrounding counties and several auto loads of railroad men from Dubuque were present to pay their last tribute to Mr. Adams, a man whom they had loved and respected, and this great body of close friends have tendered their sincere sympathy to the bereaved wife, children and relatives.