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George R. Adams

A well known and progressive citizen of the vicinity of Maynard, Fayette county, is George R. Adams, who, like many of the enterprising and honored citizens of this county, came from the great Empire state, having been born in Cattaraugus county, New York, June 17, 1840. He is the son of Albygense and Diana (Latin) Adams, the father having been born in 1801 of Scotch and Irish descent, and the mother born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1799, of Spanish and English descent. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, namely: Clarinda, now deceased, married George Fullmer; Abner died in Helena, Montana; Henry died in Janesville, Wisconsin; Leander L., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this book, is also deceased; George R., of this review, is the youngest of the family.

George R. Adams was five years old when he was brought to Rock county, Wisconsin, by his parents in 1845. They located near Janesville and rented land for ten years, then moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, where the father farmed until his death. However, his death occurred in New York, while he was on a visit there. The death of the mother occurred in Wisconsin. They were excellent people, honest, hospitable and successful farmers.

George R. Adams did not enjoy extensive advantages of an early education; however he is a well read man on current questions of the day and is successful in carrying on all forms of every-day business. While yet a boy he “hired out” to do whatever honest work he could get, remaining in Rock county, Wisconsin, until 1855, when he moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he farmed until his enlistment in the Union Army, and after the war closed he remained there until 1867, when he came to Fayette county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land in Harlan township, just west of Maynard.

On January 3, 1871, Mr. Adams married Martha Hiner, of Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Wengert) Hiner, both natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Whiteside county, Illinois. Mr. Hiner was killed by lightning in 1864 and his wife died in Kansas.  She had married a second time, her last husband being O. P. Gray. Eight children were born to Isaac Hiner and wife.

To Mr. and Mrs. George R. Adams four children were born, namely: George Chester, a farmer in Harlan township; Duddthga married Samuel DeLong, of Maynard, Iowa; Bertha Adams is a trained nurse and is living at home; Clarence C. is farming near Fulton, Kansas.

After 1867 Mr. Adams followed farming with his usual success until 1898, when he moved to Maynard and retired, having accumulated a competency for his declining years by his able management and close application to business. He was always considered a good farmer and stock raiser.

On August 15, 1862, Mr. Adams enlisted in Company B, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in Round Grove, and soon the company went in camp at Dixon, Illinois, remaining there until sent to Louisville, Kentucky; their first serious engagement was at Perryville, that state, where Mr. Adams was severely wounded, being shot through the thigh, and he was incapacitated for further service until March 1, 1863. He took part in the famous Atlanta campaign, fought at Buzzard’s Roost, Pumpkin Vine creek, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Adairsville, Seymour, Culp Farm, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station and Atlanta, serving with credit until the close of the war, being paid off on July 1, 1865, at Chicago, Illinois, and discharged on June 12, at Camp Harker, Tennessee. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Maynard. Although a loyal Republican, he has never aspired to public office.  He has hosts of friends in this section of Fayette county where his life has been conducted along honorable and worthy lines.

~transcribed for Fayette IAGenWeb project by Doris A. Smith