For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 678
CHESTER C. ADAMS....Chester C. Adams, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Pike township has resided in Muscatine county from his birth to the present time and is widely recognized as a representative citizen and substantial agriculturist of the community. He was born in Pike township on the 18th of August, 1858, his parents being Elias and Jane ( Reamer ) Adams, who were natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. They were married in this county and began their domestic life on a farm in Pike township, the father being actively engaged in its operation until called to his final rest on the 6th of August, 1899. His death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had won an extensive circle of friends during the long period of his residence here. Our subject lost his mother when but a child, and shortly afterward Elias Adams wedded Miss Marth M. Hughes, whose birth occurred in the east. Chester C. Adams was one of a family of five children, the others being as follows : Mary Etta, the wife of Louis Mills, of South Dakota ; Arthur, who is deceased ; Harriet J., the deceased wife of Jesse Burner, of South Dakota ; and Louisa, the deceased wife of Robert Shannon, of Nichols, Iowa.Chester C. Adams attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. After starting out as an agriculturist on his own account he was engaged in the cultivation of rented land for eight years, on the expiration of which period he purchased one hundred and ten acres of his present farm in Pike township. By dint of untiring industry and good management he accumulated capital sufficient to enable him to extend the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now embraces two hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation. The property is lacking none of the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century and the well tilled fields annually yield bounteous harvests.
On the 4th of April, 1882, Mr. Adams was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret McKibben, whose birth occurred in Indiana on the 29th of June, 1862, her parents being J. T. and Jane ( Clark ) McKibben, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They were married in Ohio and came to Iowa in 1867, settling on a farm in Louisa county. Mr. McKibben worked as a grade contractor for five or six years and then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, cultivating rented land for three years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm of one hundred and ten acres in Pike township, Muscatine county, in the operation of which he was busily engaged until his death, which occurred on the 16th of December, 1898, when he had attained the age of seventy-two years. His wife passed away October 17, 1889, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Clark, who lives with our subject in Pike township ; George, who died when thirty years of age ; Rachel, the wife of George Hallock of Nichols, Iowa ; William, who died in infancy ; Flora, the deceased wife of Arthur Sexton, of Iowa City ; Mrs. Adams ; and Susan, who passed away when two years of age. Mrs. Adams taught school for some time prior to her marriage, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that she has acquired. Her two daughters are also qualified to follow that profession. They are as follows : Pearl E., who was born on the 13th of November, 1885 ; and Hazel V., whose natal day was October 26, 1892.
In politics Mr. Adams is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. He has held the office of road supervisor and also served as a member of the school board for ten years, discharging his duties in these connections in a most able manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife and children also belong. Upright and honorable in all relations of life, his word is considered as good as his bond, and he has the entire confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact either in business or social affairs.
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