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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN ALBERT ADAMS. This prominent agriculturist of Johnson County is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of productive land in township 45, range 25. His father, Judge Daniel Adams, was a very popular man in this locality, and departed this life February 7, 1892. He was born December 18, 1813, in Wilkes County, N. C, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan McCreary, was a native of Howard County, Mo.

In the year 1834 the father and grandfather of John Adams emigrated to this county. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, and bought two land-warrants in township 45, range 25. Daniel Adams bought one warrant, entitling him to one hundred and sixty acres of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15 of this township. The grandfather built a house on section II, in which his widow now lives, and made that place his home until his death, which occurred in June, 1870. He was married twice, his first wife having been Miss Abby Gill Adams, who departed this life when our subject was about seven years of age. Her family included ten children, namely: Daniel, Susan, Elizabeth, Thomas, Abraham, Jackson, Margaret, Hugh, Jane and George. Jane, Margaret and Hugh are the only survivors.

The father of our subject lived at home until his marriage with Miss McCreary, in January, 1840. He then entered three hundred acres of land from the Government, located on sections 14 and 15, on which he built a log cabin and resided until his death. This cabin, which is still standing on section 14, was built of logs, which he hewed himself and hauled to the spot with oxen on a solid-wood wheel wagon. Mr. Adams died February 7, 1892. His widow, who is still living, resides on the old homestead, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

The parental household included twelve children, all of whom are living with one exception. John A., of this sketch, was the eldest. Annie E. married William H. Denton, the proprietor of a grocery in Warrensburg. William P. married Josie McCurdy, and has been engaged in farming in Kansas since 1876. Abby J. is at home with her mother. Christina became the wife of A. W. McCoy, and they make their home in Cass County, Mo., on a farm. Elijah married Lulu Smith, and is now an extensive farmer of Sumner County, Kan., having located there in 1876, soon after his graduation from the Fowler & Wells School of Phrenology in New York; he also taught school for several years. Susan Ellen has for the past eighteen years been engaged in teaching in the Foster School at Warrensburg. Thomas married Kate Goodrich, and makes his home on a good estate in Sumner County, Kan., where he also located in 1876. Clara Emma married William Thornton, who is engaged in the general merchandise business in Blackstone, Kan. Robert H. lives on the old home place with his mother. Mary F. died when ten years of age; and James L., who graduated from a St. Louis medical school, is a prominent physician of Morgan, Minn.

Our subject was born October 16, 1841, and remained at home, aiding in carrying on his father’s farm, until the war broke out. He enlisted July 24, 1861, as a member of Company B, Twenty-seventh Mounted Infantry, under Col. B. F. Grover and Captain Isminger, and after being mustered out at Benton Barracks returned home, January 27, 1862. April 1 of that year, however, he again enlisted, this time in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, under Col. John F. Phillips and Capt. Melville Foster. From that time until he was mustered out and discharged at Warrensburg, Mo., April 27, 1865, he was on guard duty through the state, protecting the property and lives of the inhabitants from all invaders.

Upon his final return home, Mr. Adams resumed farming pursuits with his parents, remaining at home until his marriage, September 27, 1866, with Miss Dorothy Mack, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 2, 1847, and was the daughter of Gotfried Mack. Soon after his marriage Mr. Adams erected a small cabin on forty acres of land belonging to his father. This he cleared of the brush and trees, cultivating it in a most intelligent and profitable manner. In September, 1872, he bought another forty-acre tract from his grandfather’s estate, for which he paid $10 per acre. He was greatly prospered in the cultivation of his eighty-acre farm, and has since been enabled to enlarge its boundaries, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres, all of which, with the exception of about fifteen acres, is under a good state of cultivation. He has his farm finely drained and underlaid with about two miles of drain tiling. Besides his farm he also has about seven acres of orchard, stocked with choice trees, and for twelve years owned and ran a steam-thresher.

To Mr. and Mrs. Adams there have been born ten children. Benjamin F. was born February 19, 1868; Margaret A., born December 31, 1869, married John W. Williams, who is engaged in farming near Nevada, Mo.; Sophia J., born December 12, 1871, became the wife of Daniel Burford, and is living near Prairie City, Mo.; Archie G., born December 1, 1873, is now attending the normal school; Jessie was born September 8, 1875; Daniel G., October 5, 1877; Emma F., September 18, 1879; John A., November 4, 1881; Effie E., December 18, 1883; and Elmer E. E., April 2, 1888.

Mr. Adams is greatly interested in the cause of education in his district, and is now serving as President of the School Board. He is giving his children the best advantages for an education, and the older ones are attending the normal school at Warrensburg. The Adams School, which is located near the home of our subject, was named in honor of his father. Our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Colonel Grover Post No. 78, at Warrensburg. He is also connected with the Select Knights of that city, and belongs to Sandstone Lodge No. 137, A. O. U. W., of Warrensburg. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and with his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which meets in a building located near his farm. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the term, and is one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of the township.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

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