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in being transmitted from one generation to the other. Major Adams was born in Bow, Merrimac connty, New Hampshire, about fifty years ago. His father was Rev. John Adams, a Methodist preacher, and a descendant of Rev. Joseph Adams, uncle of John Adams, second President of the United States. His mother's name was Sarah Sanderson, of Waterford county, Maine. Her father, Stephen Sanderson, was a soldier of the Revolu- tionary war. On his mother's side Major Adams is descended from the Dud- leys, also Bradstreets and Aldens, Governors of Massachusetts colony. On his father's side he is descended from the Gilmans, Avho were noted m the early history of Massachusetts. His father, being a man of wealth, spared no expense to educate his two sons properly, and the result was that Major Adams and his brother John were, in their younger days, provided with tutors at home, and afterwards completed their studies at Yale College, Major Adams graduating therefrom in 1849, the youngest of his class, and his brother in 1850. After graduating, the Major taught school in the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland and Missouri, and through his occupation as teacher he has become widely known to the rising generation throughout the length and breadth of the land. He was married to Miss Sarah C. Plumer, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1850, and three years after his wife died, and in addition to this bereavement he also lost the two children she bore him. The Major was a regular contributor for the " Olive Branch," in Boston, and the " Ladies' Repository," in Cincinnati, Ohio, his contributions being chiefly of a poetic niiture. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Second N. H. Regiment, and was afterwards wound- ed at the battle of Williamsburg, the bl^llet yet remaining in his body He fought in the peach orchard, at the battle of Gettysburg, and is the only officer living of the Second New Hampshire that escaped being wounded. Twenty-four out of twenty-six officers were either killed or wounded, and the other officer was afterwards killed at the battle of the Wilderness. At Point Lookout, Maryland, his time having expired, he was discharged from the Second New Hampshire, and was commissioned Captain of Company D, First United States Volunteer Infantry, (enlisted prisoners of war,) under General Butler, by order of President Lincoln. In 1864 his regiment was transferred to Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, and from May 10 till Sep- tember 1, 1865, he commanded that fort, and during that period met and vanquished the famous Sitting Bull and three thousand warriors, killing with his. own hands two of the most noted chiefs of the Mmnesota massacre —Red Dog and Big Thunder. He was brevetted Major on the 13th of March, 1864, by the President and the United States Senate, and was mustered out of service in Leavenworth, Kansas, November 27, 1865, with the most distinguished and well-merited honors. He was married to his present wife in 1863, whilst at home on a leave of absence. She is the daughter of James Libby, of Berwick, York county, Maine. They have two children living. Major Adams came to Portland early in 1866, and for a time taught high school in the vestry of the Baptist church, afterwards re- moving to Astoria, where he continued teaching until 1867. In that year he was appointed Grand Lecturer of the Good Templars, and whilst filling that