Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/39

ADAMS.ADAMS. age, attending meanwhile law and medical lectures, and at the end of three years graduated from the law department of Cincinnati college. He engaged in the practice of the law in Kansas, to which state he emigrated in 1855, settling first at Ashland where he remained for a few months, when he removed to Leavenworth, and the following year again changed his residence to Atchison, where he lived for several years, acting as probate judge of Atchison county in 1858-'59. In 1858 he was a member of the Leavenworth state constitutional committee; 1863, clerk of the United States district court, Topeka; 1865-69, United States Indian agent for the Kickapoos at Kennekuk. He edited the Atchison Squatter Sovereign 1857; State Record and Kansas Farmer, 1863; Atchison Free Press, 1864-'68, and the Waterville Telegraph, 1871-72. He was secretary of the Kansas state historical society, 1875-'99, and published "The Lives of the Presidents" and the "Homestead Guide" (1873). He died at Topeka, Kan., Dec. 2, 1899. ADAMS, George Everett, representative, was born at Keene, N.H., in June, 1840; son of Benjamin F. and Louisa (Redington) Adams; grandson of Benjamin Adams, and a descendant of William Adams of Ipswich, Mass. He removed with his parents to Chicago, Ill., in 1853; was graduated from Harvard A.B., 1860; LL.B., 1865; was admitted to the bar in 1865, and established himself in Chicago, Ill., in the practice of his profession in 1867. He was a member of the Illinois state senate in 1881-83, resigning in 1883. He was a representative from Illinois in the 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st congresses, serving, 1883-91. On retiring from public life he continued to practise law in Chicago. ADAMS, George M., representative, was born in Barboursville, Knox county, Ky., Dec. 20, 1837. He was educated at Centre college, but did not graduate. He was admitted to the bar and was clerk of the circuit court of Knox county, 1859-'61. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in the Union army, serving as captain. After a few months' service in the field, he was appointed additional paymaster of volunteers, serving, 1861-'65. He was a representative in the 40th, 41st, 42d and 43d congresses, 1867-'75, and was elected clerk of the house of representatives Dec. 6, 1875. ADAMS, Hannah, author, was born at Medfield, Mass., in 1755. Her father was a man of literary taste, who taught her Greek and Latin, as well as higher English. These advantages gave her an education above that of the average woman of her time, and thrown upon her own resources she supported herself and several younger brothers and sisters after her seventeenth year. During the revolutionary war she gained a livelihood by teaching and making lace; she then took up authorship, and she is said to have been the first woman in America to have made literature a profession. "A view of Religious Opinions" was her first and most popular attempt at authorship, and was reprinted in England. Later she wrote a "History of the Jews," the "Evidences of Christianity," "History of New England," "Controversy with Dr. Morse," and "Letters on the Gospels." She was remarkable for beauty of character, and was greatly respected for her learning. Her body was the first to be buried in Mount Auburn cemetery. Her biography has been written by Hannah E. Lee. She died in Brookline, Mass., Dec. 15, 1831. ADAMS, Henry, historian, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 16, 1838, third son of Charles Francis and Abigail Brooks Adams. In 1858 he received his diploma from Harvard college, and in 1861 was appointed private secretary to his father, who was then United States minister to England. In 1870 he returned to Massachusetts and became instructor in history at Harvard university. As an educator he was eminently successful and led his pupils into original paths of research that presented charming fields of investigation. He held the chair of history for seven years. In connection with his brother, Charles Francis, he published in 1871 "Chapters on Erie and other Essays," and made in collaboration with him biographical and historical researches, the results of which largely enriched the historical annals of Massachusetts. In 1876 he published "Essays in Anglo-Saxon Law." The next year he published "Documents relating to New England Federalism (1800-1815)." In 1879 appeared "Writings of Albert Gallatin," which he edited, and his "John Randolph" was published in Boston in 1882. He was editor of the North American Review in 1870. He went to Europe in 1887, residing in London for several years. In 1888 he returned to Washington where he wrote his popular "History of Jefferson's Administrations" (5 vols., 1889-91), and the "History of the United States" (9 vols.) He became a frequent contributor to current literature on historical topics through the periodicals, and some of these have been published in pamphlet form. Among these are: "Civil Service Reform" (1891), "The Tendency of History," in American Historical Association collections (1895),