Adams, Newton H. -- 1844 - 1933

ADAMS, WEAVER, GAEBE, SCOTT, RINGEON

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 2/7/2012 at 16:21:37

N. H. ADAMS, 84, HERE 68 YEARS DIED THURSDAY
Pioneer, Honored Resident
Was In Seed Business Three Score Years
FUNERAL ON SUNDAY
Son, Burton H. Adams, Passed Away On January 8 This Year

Newton H. Adams, 89 years old. for three score years an active business man and 68 years a respected citizen of Decorah, passed to his reward at about 9 a. m. Thursday morning at the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Burton H. Adams at 509 Broadway.

Mr. Adams, born October 8, 1844 at Talmadge, Ohio, was the son of Cyrus and Mary A. (Weaver) Adams, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Newton Adams came to Decorah with his father, previously an agriculturist, In 1865 and was associated with him for a time in the C. Adams and Son general store, then located on the corner which has been the business location of Mr. Ben Bear for more than a half century. The father remained here until his wife's death In 1881 and two years more removed to Michigan, where he made his home until his death In 1903.

In Seed Business in 1866. Newton Adams was reared and educated in Ohio, attending a military school in Cleveland and later working with a wholesale boot and shoe concern in the same city. He was 21 when he came to Decorah, entering a partnership with his father, but soon afterward, in 1866, entering the wholesale seed business, which he conducted continuously until 1925 — for 59 years—and building up a reputation for selling the finest seeds obtainable. His two sons, Burton H. and Walter C., also were in the seed business as the Adams Seed Company until the death of the son. Burton H. Adams on January 8 of tins year, the unexpected passing of Burton H. Adams being mourned by his legion of friends.

Mr. Newton Adams, despite his advanced age, had been in fine health until the past month or so,
But had been failing for several weeks. Death, however, was unexpected. He had been confined to his bed since Sunday. Mr. Adams is the third of Decorah’s pioneer residents to pass away in recent weeks. In the two previous weeks the deaths of C. R. Williams and Mrs. Nancy Morss, both 94 years old.

Funeral Services Sunday. The funeral services for Mr. Adams were conducted Sunday at 3 p. m. at the Congregational church. Rev. J, P. Burling officiating and burial was in Phelps cemetery.

Mr. Adams is survived by one son, Waiter C. Adams, of Mankato, who was here for the funeral; a daughter, Grace D. (Mrs. W. L. Gaebe) Los Angeles, and one sister. Mrs. Ella Scott of Fresno. Calif., and a granddaughter, Miss Helen Adams, teacher of speech in Decorah High School.

Other grandchildren. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Adams. Jean. Beth and Howard, of Mankato, and Margaret Ringeon, daughter of Mrs. Grace Gaebe.

Pallbearers at the funeral were J. T. Beard, W. F. Baker, G. Frank Baker, W. B- Ingvoldstad, Robert Price and Oscar Rosell, business associates and friends.

Those from out of town who attended the funeral were S. R. Chamberlain, Misses Nelle and Clara Baker of St. Paul, Mrs. Cora Hicks Kotchel and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Riley and children of Mason City, Mrs. Robert Thomson and Mrs. E. A. Auchmoody of Cresco.

Mr. Adams was married October 8, 1869 to Miss Carrie E. Adams, the daughter of Henry and Deborah Adams of New Ipswich, N. H. Mrs. Adams father lived with Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Adams in Decorah the last few years of his life after retiring from farming In the East.

Mrs. Newton Adams, who died in 1926 was a niece of Rev. Ephriam Adams, one of the founders of Grinnell College, and met Mr. Adams while visiting here with her uncle, who was one of a group of twelve, known as The Iowa Band, a number of young missionaries who came to Iowa in 1848. Ephriam Adams was a graduate of Andover College and was one of the preachers of the pioneer days in Decorah.

Mr. Adams had been identified with the Masons and Odd Fellows and was a member of the Congregational church. He was one of the last survivors of the detachment which guarded the body of President Lincoln while it lay in state in Cleveland. He was identified with the Republican Party and in his younger days voted for Lincoln for president.

Source: Decorah Journal May 17, 1933

Submitted by Stacey Gossling ssgossling@msn.com

Phelps Cemetery
 

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