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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

life and traditions of that region, a region rich in the most thrilling and characteristic history of the American people, at a time when our nation was in its making.

His father was Henry Clay Adams, horn in Charles City county, Virginia, who be- came very prominent in the affairs of the city of Richmond during the period immedi- ately following the Civil war. During that sanguinary struggle he served in the marine force of the Confederacy, and upon its close went to Richmond and engaged in the gro- cery business, continuing the same until the time of his death which occurred at the age of fifty-six years. He was extremely active in all matters of public concern, especially in the matter of local politics, and was for m.any years elected and re-elected to a mem- bership on the city council, an office which he filled to the satisfaction of his constitu- ents in particular and the public in general. He married Elizabeth Frances Haynes, a native of Richmond, where she was born in 1848. Mrs. Adams, Sr., was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cogdill) Haynes, he a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and she of Richmond. Mr. Haynes moved to the latter city while very young and there met his wife and engaged in the grocery business. He died there at the age of six- ty-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Adams were born three children, as follows : William Henry, of whom fur- ther; Cary Elizabeth, who lives unmarried with her mother; Hubert Tyler, who mar- ried a Miss Webb, of Prince George county, Virginia. Mr. Adams, Sr., was survived by his wife and three children, Mrs. Adams be- ing still a resident of Richmond.

\\'illiam Henry Adams, the eldest child of Henry Clay and Elizabeth Frances (Haynes) Adams, was born March 23, 1872, in Richmond, Virginia. He passed his child- hood there, and attended the local schools until he was fifteen years of age. He then applied himself to the learning of the book bindery trade, with his usual industry and aptitude, apprenticing himself to the Everett W'addy Company, in whose employ he re- mained for a period of fifteen years. At the expiration of this time, or in the year 1902, Mr. Adams withdrew from his association with the Everett Waddy Company and es- tablished a business on his own account. In his venture he has been eminently suc- cessful, the volume of business which he

has transacted having grown so rapidly that he has been obliged thrice to change his location for larger quarters in order to ac- coinmodate the developing trade. Later he removed to his present address in Rich- mond, his success still followed him, so that his new quarters are operated to their capa- city. IMr. Adam's rapid rise in the financial and business world has been so great and so obviously the result of his own ability and character, that it was only natural that these (pialities should have been generally in demand, and accordingly, his connections with financial institutions throughout Rich- mond have grown in both number and im- portance. Fle is now the president of the West End Development Corporation and the Glen Allen Corporation, the vice-presi- dent of the Richmond Corrugated Paper Company, the Richmond Bank and Trust Company and the B. W. Wilson Paper Company. He is also the secretary and treasurer of the Virginia Stationan,' Com- pany and a director in numerous concerns, his voice in many cases being the control- ling one in their management. It is not only in this department of activity that Mr. Adams is conspicuous. On the contrary he gives generously of his time and energies to the conduct of public afifairs, and following in the footsteps of his father he plays a conspicuous part in local politics. A staunch member of the Democratic party, he is a prominent figure in its councils in that part of the country. For many j^ears he has served on the Richmond city council, and at the present time is the president of that body. His total term of membership in the council has been fourteen years, during which time he has shown a disinterested interest for the welfare of the city, most creditable to himself and satisfactory to the community at large. Nor has his integrity wanted for guidance from his intelligence, and he has made an exceptionally high rec- ord as a legislator during his long term of office. With youth at his command, and success already smiling upon him, a bril- liant future seems to await him, alike in his private and public careers, nor would it be prudent to set a limit to the position held for him by Dame Fortune. Mr. Adams is prominent in social and fraternal circles in his community. He is a member of Rich- mond Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons, of the commandery and of the