Adams, Walter 1823 - 1908

ADAMS, HUGHES, GEORGE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/31/2005 at 17:22:06

Obituary of Walter Adams

Walter Adams was born in Ontario, Canada, Nov. 18, 1823 and departed this life March 8, 1908, being 84 years, 3 months and 15 days of age.

After making his home in Canada until the age of 23, he moved to Illinois with his wife and one child. Here on the broad prairie he made a home for himself and family.

In 1853, his wife died. Four children blessed this union, one dying in infancy. The other three: Mr. C.M. Adams, Mrs. Adaline Princehouse, and Mrs. Delina White all living in Grinnell.

In 1854, he was again married to Miss Martha Adams of Kewanee, Ill., who for 52 years has been a loving companion and helpmate, and still survives him. To this second union were born five children, Mrs. Emmeretta Hughes, Irvin R. and William A., of Grinnell; Mrs. Eva L. George of Fulton, Ill.; and Wesley, who died in childhood.

In 1875 Mr. Adams came to Iowa and settled on a farm seven miles northwest of Grinnell. This was his home until 1891 when he moved to the town of Grinnell where he resided until the time of his death.

When but a young man, he gave his heart to God and has always been an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist church. His sudden death was a great shock to both family and friends, where he will be greatly missed.

Father Adams was a man of God. “He was a burning and a shining light.” His advantages in early life were few. He was a pioneer and yet at his death it can be said that few lives in this community have exerted a greater influence for good. The secret of his life was Jesus. Biography may go back 84 years to the babe in the cradle, but the heavenly record goes not so far. There is an event greater than the birth 84 years ago; it is the birth into the kingdom of God when as a strong, young man he gave up all for Christ and the light of glory filled his heart. Of this great event, he never wearied telling, the story never grew old. All who have heard his testimony could see the church in his early home, the eloquent plea of the man of God and the message burning into his heart, the mighty struggle before the strong manhood would yield, then the all conquering faith that lifted him to his feet and the “one step” forward as he fell into his heavenly Father’s arms. It was only a moment but it was the crisis of a life.

Some mistake emotion for religion and an awakening for the new birth, but Father Adams pressed on through till he found the light. He had “passed through the sea dry shod.” As the years passed by, his walk with the Master became closer and his light grew brighter. The family altar was the bulwark of his home, he had many delightful experiences when the Savior entered and His presence completely filled the room.

He was always ready, always longing for a revival and his daily and nightly prayer was that God would send a revival that would sweep the community. To many the most familiar picture of his life is that as he stood in the church giving his heartfelt testimony and with the tears rolling down his cheeks, pleading with souls to come to Jesus.

He has fallen from the walls of Zion but it has been with the “trump of God in his hand and the shout of victory on his lips.

” Short funeral services were held at the home Thursday at 11 o’clock. The regular services were at the Mount Pleasant church which had been his church home for many years. It was there that his remains were laid awaiting the resurrection morn.

The pallbearers were Anson Moxley, Wm. Dunn, Alfred Breeden, John Burroughs, George Rasp and Richard Breeden.

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We desire to thank our friends and neighbors for their assistance and sympathy during the illness and death of our husband and father.
THE FAMILY

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Submitter's Comments: Walter Adams' parents: Walter Adams & Freelove Golden His first Wife: Rhoda Warner Obituary probably from Methodist newsletter.

Submitted on Sun Jan 19 14:24:27 2003 by
Sharon Deaver, SharDeaver@aol.com