Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 261
CALVIN ADAMS, and honored citizen of Muscatine County since 1848, now residing in Bloomington Township, was born in Pike County, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1827, and is the son of Harvey and Luna (Barber) Adams, the father a native of New York, and the mother of Connecticut. They became acquainted and were married in the Empire State, after which they emigrated to Ohio about the year 1811, settling in Pike County where they resided for several years. Later they moved to Scioto County, where they made their home until coming to Muscatine County, Iowa. Mr. Adams here entered 360 acres of land, and by subsequent purchases added forty acres, making an aggregate of 400 acres, which was situated in Lake Township. Upon that farm he made his home until his death, which occured in 1872, at the age of ninety years. He was an active, enterprising and prominent citizen, and took a great interest in political affairs. During his earlier years he voted with the Whig party, but at its dissolution he joined the Republican party, and until his death gave it his most earnest support. His wife died in 1875 at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife was a member of the Congregational Church. To them were born four children: Lola became the wife of T.J.Loyde, but both are now deceased; Emily wedded J.P.Hitchcock, and they too are deceased; Elizabeth, the widow of David Stewart, who resides in Lake Township, and Calvin, complete the family.

In the common schools of his native State the education of our subject was received. During the earlier years of his life he aided his father in the labors of the farm. He came with the family to Muscatine County in 1848, remaining under the parental roof until 1854, when he was united in marriage with Miss Letitia Moore, a native of Scioto County, Ohio, and a daughter of Cornelius and Eliza (Fryer) Moore, who were born in Virginia. The union of this worthy couple was blessed with a family of four children: Luna, wife of George Beatty, a resident farmer of Moscow Township; Frank, at home; Emma, who is a talented musician, and for the past two years has been teaching in the city of Muscatine, and Alice who is a very successful school teacher.

The first purchase of land made by Mr. Adams in Muscatine County consisted of an 80-acre tract in Lake Township, where he made his home for thirty-four years, there developing one of the finest farms in the community. In 1882 he purchased a small farm of thirty acres in Bloomington Township, upon which he has since resided. His life has been one of industry and enterprise. His business is that of farming and stock-raising, in which he has been quite successful, and has become one of the well-to-do farmers of the county. At the time of his arrival in Iowa, from the city of Muscatine to his home, a distance of six miles, there were but a few log cabins. The country was a wild, unsettled prairie, covered with wild grass, which grew as high as a mans head. Not only has Mr. Adams witnessed the changes which have transformed this region into one of the finest counties in the great State of Iowa, but has participated in the great progress that has been made. He has been prominent in the promotion of every enterprise for the public good, and has given his support to the upbuilding of the social, moral and educational interests of the community. He has held various township offices of trust, and takes great interest in the work of temperance, being an ardent supporter of the principles of the Prohibition party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and deservedly receive the love and esteem of all who know them.

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