Adams Family

ADAMS

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane (email)
Date: 6/26/2019 at 07:58:54

ADAMS FAMILY
"Reflections of Grand River, Iowa 1881-1981"
Page 122, Clarke Pub. Co. Osceola IA. 1981.

Joshua Adams, father of James Michael Adams, was born in Ind., Feb. 19, 1819. He married Tempa C. Smith, and they moved to Tennessee where their five children were born: James, Joseph, Rebecca Vanderpoll, Mary E. Lee and Alonzo. He, along with his wife and children, moved to Decatur Co., Richland Twp., in 1867.

James Adams was born Sept. 19, 1844, in Tennessee, son of Joshua and Tempa (Smith) Adams. On Dec. 27, 1869, he married (1) Mary Ann Whellis, who was born Dec. 5, 1851, in Davis County, Iowa. Her mother died of a stroke when she was four months old, and her father was killed by lightning when she was 3 years old. She made her home with her uncle William Wheelis in Decatur County. James and Mary Ann lived on their farm in Richland Twp. in the community known as Tennessee, so named because most of the early settlers came from the state of Tennessee. To this union were born six children: Rosa, Elmer (died when 3 days old), William, Loura and Laura (twins; Loura died at 2 months), and Franklin. Mary Ann died Jan. 26, 1892. She is buried in Wheelis Cemetery for which her uncle William Wheelis had donated the land from his homestead. James married (2) Ann Beck in 1896. She died in 1900. On Nov. 4, 1914, he then married (3) Laura Snook McKee. In later years they made their home in Van Wert. He died Feb. 25, 1923, and is buried in Wheelis Cemetery.

Frank Adams, son of James and Mary Ann (Wheelis) Adams, was born Aprili 22, 1880, in Decatur Co., Richland Twp. On March 7, 1906, he married Ella Hopkins, born Nov. 22, 1886, daughter of Silas and Sarah (Williams) Hopkins. To this union were born seven children: Armel md. Alberta Zimmerman; Grace md. Euclid Pence; Russell md. Freda Taylor; Truman md. Fern Smith; Rollie md. Lola Johnson; Harland md. Cecil Glazebrook; and Murray Gale died at 1 1/2 years, buried in Wheelis Cemetery, making four generations buried in Wheelis Cemetery.

They lived all their married life on their farm in Richland Twp. in Tennessee community where they were both born. His wife died Aug. 26, 1943. After her death he bought a home in Grand River and lived there until his death on July 16, 1961. Both are buried in Wheelis Cemetery. The descendants living in Decatur Co. in 1980 are Grace (Adams) Pence and Russell Adams in Grand River. Harland Adams lives on a farm four miles south of Grand River.

Copied from "Reflections of Grand River, Iowa 1881-1981" by Stacey McDowell Dietiker, May 26, 2001