Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/52

ADAMS.ADAMS. ADAMS, Myron, clergyman, was born at East Bloomfield, N. Y., March 12, 1841, son of Myron and Sarah (Taylor) Adams. In 1859 he entered Hamilton college, where he was graduated in 1863. He enlisted in the army as a private, later becoming corporal, hospital steward, 2d lieutenant, and assistant inspector-general. In 1863 he was attached to the signal corps and was signal officer on the "Lackawanna" at the battle of Mobile Bay. After the war he declined the rank of major, which was offered to him, and began the study of theology at the Auburn seminary, where he was graduated in 1868, and began preaching at Union Springs, N. Y. In this year he was married to Hester Rose, daughter of Rev. Prof. Samuel Miles and Mary (Heacock) Hopkins of Auburn, N. Y. In 1869 he removed to Dunkirk, and in 1876 accepted a call to Rochester, N. Y., where he was pastor of the Plymouth Congregational church. After preaching there five years Mr. Adams was obliged to announce to his people that his theological convictions would not accord with the orthodox statement of belief in several essential points; but though he resigned his pastorate the members of his church desired him to remain in the pulpit, the church thus becoming a liberal organization bound by no creed. He was president of the Rochester academy of science, and in 1893 he received the degree of LL.D. from St. Lawrence university, Canton, N. Y. Among Mr. Adams's published works are "Cain and Abel" (1883); "The Continuous Creation: an Application of the Evolutionary Philosophy to the Christian Religion" (1889); and "Creation of the Bible" (1892). He died in Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1895. ADAMS, Robert, representative, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 26, 1849; son of Robert and Matilda Maybin (Hart) Adams. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1869, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was a member of the U.S. geological survey on the explorations of Yellowstone Park, 1871-75; was a member of the Pennsylvania state senate, 1883-87; graduated from the Wharton school of economy and finance of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1884; was U.S. minister to Brazil, 1889-'90, and a Republican representative from the 2d Pennsylvania district in the 53d, 54th, 55th and 56th congresses, 1893-1901. He was acting chairman of the committee on foreign affairs in the 55th congress, and reported the Cuban resolutions and the declaration of war against Spain. He was elected a member of the Historical society of Pennsylvania; Society of the Cincinnati; Pennsylvania society of the Sons of the Revolution; Society of the war of 1812, and Society of Colonial wars. He was a member of the National guards of Pennsylvania, 1881-'95, serving as judge-advocate and major, also on start duty. He was an aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania with the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1885. He was re-elected to the 57th and 58th congresses from the 2d Pennsylvania district, serving, 1901-'05, and was a member of various committees. He contributed to periodicals and lectured. ADAMS, Samuel, statesman, was born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 10, 1722, son of Samuel and Mary (Fifield) Adams. His grandfather, John Adams, was a sea captain, brother of Joseph Adams of Braintree, who was grandfather of John Adams, second President of the United States, and grandson of Henry Adams, the first American ancestor, who came from Devonshire, England, about 1636, and built his home near Mount Wollaston, Quincy, Mass. The elder Samuel Adams was a man of great wealth for the time, a brewer and shipowner, and the proprietor of a large estate fronting on Boston harbor, on which he built a palatial mansion. He was a member of the legislature of the colony, a justice of the peace, selectman, deacon in the Old South church, and a man who commanded the respect of his neighbors. He organized the "caulkers club" of Boston, made up of influential businessmen engaged in the shipping business, who met to determine on the men best fitted for office, and from this club the word "caucus," as applied to political gatherings, was derived. His son enjoyed the companionship of the best people of Boston, and was influenced by a rigidly pious mother. As a boy, he met all the strong men of the colony who were accustomed to gather at his father's house, and, as a listener, early caught the spirit of liberty that pervaded the atmosphere of the period. When he entered Harvard college he was far advanced in general information and was diligent and studious. He was graduated in 1740, when only eighteen years old, and at the wish of his father he entered upon a course in theology, expecting to become a