ADAMS, HENRY C.
ADAMS, CLARKE, PHELPS
Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 16:02:14
Biography reproduced from page 82 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:
Henry C. Adams, one of the most progressive and successful young business men of Iowa, has achieved success by his own efforts, having been thrown entirely upon his own resources when he was but fourteen years old. He was born at McGregor, Iowa. His parents were natives of Germany, from which country the father and mother came directly to McGregor and engaged in the shoe business, making shoes in his own establishment for a large part of the trade. They were the parents of seven sons and one daughter; Henry C. being the second in order of birth. The Adams family later moved to Spencer, Iowa, where the father died when Henry was but a young lad. The eldest son having gone west, our subject was left with the responsibility of aiding his mother, in caring for the younger children, and he has never shirked his duty to them in all these years. He had the usual struggles such as other young men with small financial backing under similar circumstances have had, but he always managed to succeed.
In the public schools of Iowa, Henry C. Adams acquired his education, and by his own exertions became a registered pharmacist at the age of eighteen, being the youngest pharmacist in the state at that time. One year later he came to Algona and engaged in the drug business. Soon he responded to his country’s call for soldiers for the Spanish-American war and served as an efficient hospital steward. After the war was over, Mr. Adams engaged in the real-estate and loan business in Algona, Iowa, branching out into various investments for himself, which proved very successful and now although still a young man of only thirty-five years of age, he has extensive land interests, owning about four thousand acres in Kossuth and other counties and also several thousand acres in the state of North Dakota. His entire property in Iowa is in a high state of cultivation and few men have accomplished as much as he in developing and improving the business and agricultural interests of Kossuth county. He is recognized as one of the prominent breeders of fancy dairy cattle, owning a splendid herd of imported Guernseys and aiding in every possible way to make Iowa one of the leading dairy states of the Union, and Kossuth county the greatest county in that state.
Mr. Adams is also interested in the banking business and since 1911 has occupied the office of vice president of the Algona State Bank. Because of his thorough understanding of practical business methods and his rare executive ability he is well qualified for the various positions he is now holding. His constant application to his undertakings and his remarkable energy have already won for him a success which has placed him in the foremost ranks of the business men of Kossuth county and the state, surpassing many older men in reaching the goal which he sought. If his past record is an index of what his future activities will be, he has a still more brilliant future in store for him.
On the sixth of June, 1900, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Irma D. Clarke, a daughter of Andrew D. and Mary J. (Phelps) Clarke, who were among the prominent early pioneers of Algona, Iowa. Mrs. Adams is a highly intelligent and accomplished young woman, who takes an active part in the social and literary life of Algona and also cooperates with her husband in his work. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have one of the happiest and most comfortable homes in Iowa, where they dispense a cordial hospitality.
Mr. Adams’ political support is given to the progressive republican party. He is prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and is also a Knight Templar and a Shriner. He holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, and of the Congregational church. Mrs. Adams is also a member of the Minneapolis Colonial Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The period of Mr. Adams’ resident in Algona has been sufficient to bring him the high regard and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He is a man of noble character, clear judgment and practical business sense and what he has accomplished represents the full realization of his talents.
(Photo of H. C. Adams accompanies this biography.)
---------------------------------------------Henry C. Adams
Senator from the Forty-seventh district, composed of the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto, was born at McGregor, Iowa. Moved to Spencer, Iowa, where he acquired his education in the public schools, and by his own exertions became a registered pharmacist at the age of 18. He later located at Algona, engaging in the drug business. During the Spanish-American war served as hospital steward. At the close of the war he returned to Algona and entered the real estate and farm loan business, later entering the banking business. Was married June 6, 1900, to Irma D. Clarke. Is prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and is also a Knight-Templar and a Shriner. Is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges. Elected senator in 1916 and 1920. A republican in politics.-Source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Biographies of State Senators, pg. 321
Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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