VT BIO - Rutland Co - ADAMS, Andrew N. & Joseph

Men of Vermont: an Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, Part II, Sons of 
Vermonters, p 2-4

Biography of Joseph ADAMS - pp 2-3 (Portrait p 2) [father of Andrew N.]

Joseph ADAMS, late of Fair Haven [Rutland County, Vermont], the youngest of 
the seven children of John and Mary Ann (MORRISON) ADAMS, was born in 
Londonderry [now Derry, Rockingham County], New Hampshire, 01 February 1802. 
Of pure Scotch parentage, he retained in a marked degree the characteristics 
of his nationality. Having removed with his parents in the autumn of 1806 to 
East Whitehall [Washington County], New York, he worked with his father on 
the farm and at the trade of boot and shoe making during his minority, 
enjoying only such opportunities for an education as were supplied by the 
imperfect public school of that time and place. 

Soon after attaining his majority, Joseph ADAMS married and settled in Fair 
Haven [Rutland County], where he established and carried on for nearly twenty 
years a large manufactory of ladies' shoes for the wholesale trade. His 
goods had a wide reputation, and were much sought for over a large extent of 
the country. He sold out in 1843 and removed to Racine [Racine County], 
Wisconsin [Territory], but returning to Fair Haven, he began, in the spring 
of 1845, in conjunction with Alonson ALLEN and William C. KITTREDGE, the 
building of a mill and the sawing of Rutland marble, in Fair Haven. For a 
number of years he had the principal charge and management of the business 
and continued his connection with it more or less actively during the rest of 
his life. He is property considered one of the pioneers of the great marble 
industry of the State.

He was always public spirited and enterprising, leading in works of public 
improvement and philanthropy. He was a trial Justice of the Peace for many 
years; was President of the Washingtonian Temperance Society organized in 
Fair Haven in 1841; was Chairman of the Park Association in 1855-1856 and 
contributed largely to the establishment [p 3] of the park. He was one of 
the building committee of the original school and town house. He assisted in 
raising the bounties for soldiers during the war. He frequently advocated 
the introduction of public water works. He was the original mover in the 
establishment of the First National Bank; was one of the first Board of 
Directors, and became its President in 1873, holding the office until his 
death.

He represented the town in the Legislatures of 1854-1855, and was an active 
member. He was fearless and independent in politics and religion. He early 
espoused the cause of the slave, and was one of the first subscribers and 
readers of the National Era, an anti-slavery journal edited by John G. 
WHITTIER at Washington in 1846-1848, when slaves were bought and sold at 
public auction in the capital of the nation. Though lacking early 
educational advantages, he was not an uneducated man. With an active mind 
and a genius for philosophy and mechanics, he made himself acquainted with 
letters and knew what was in many of the best books; was well informed in 
history, in constitutional and international law, in politics, theology, 
mechanics and science. Of his own thought he reached conclusions sustained 
by later scholarship and criticism.

He was a great lover of music and no inept performer on the violin. Writing 
at the time of his [Joseph ADAMS'] death, 26 February 1878, a friend said of 
him: "For more than a half a century he has been closely identified with the 
business interests of Fair Haven and has been one of its most respected 
citizens. In all the relations of life he was regarded as a strictly honest 
man. In business he was remarkable for his energy and tenacity of purpose, 
working out success where most men would have given up in despair. In 
religion he was liberal, in politics a Republican, and he was always a warm 
friend of temperance in all things. Although economical in his style of 
living, he was ever a friend of the poor, generous and kindhearted. The 
people of Fair Haven will long have occasion to cherish the memory of Mr. 
ADAMS as a citizen thoroughly identified with the interests of the town and 
village, warmly favoring all practical public improvements, advocating good 
schools ad all moral reforms."

Joseph ADAMS was married on 06 November 1823 to Stella MILLER, daughter of 
Capt. William MILLER, of Hampton [Washington County], New York, and a sister 
of Rev. William MILLER. Of this union [Joseph and Stella (MILLER) ADAMS] 
were eight children, only two of whom lived to mature age: Andrew N. [whose 
biography follows] and Helen M., whom married David B. COHEN in 1852.

Biography of Andrew N. ADAMS - pp 3-4 (Portrait p 3) [son of Joseph]

Andrew N. ADAMS, of Fair Haven, son of Joseph and Stella (MILLER) ADAMS, was 
born in Fair Haven [Rutland County, Vermont] on 06 January 1830. His great 
great grandfather, James ADAMS, came from Ulster, north of Ireland, to 
America in 1721, and settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire [now Derry, 
Rockingham County, New Hampshire]. Andrew N. ADAMS prepared for college at 
the Green Mountain Institute, South Woodstock [Windsor County, Vermont], in 
1847-1848; spent two years in the Meadville Theological School, Meadville, 
Pennsylvania; entered the divinity school department of Harvard University, 
Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1852, and graduating in 1855 was ordained to the 
ministry and settled as Pastor of the First Parish Church, Needham [Norfolk 
County], Massachusetts; resigned and removed to Franklin [Norfolk County], 
Massachusetts, in the fall of 1857, serving as Pastor of the newly organized 
First Universalist Church in that place until the summer of 1860, when he 
resigned and returned to Vermont.

Retiring from the ministry he engaged in mercantile business in Fair Haven in 
the spring of 1861, and has retained his connection with the same, in 
association with others since 1869, until the present time. In company with 
his father, Andrew N. ADAMS, he engaged in manufacturing marble for the 
wholesale trade in 1869, and with some changes, continues to hold connection 
with the business at Belden Falls. He has a large farm near the village to 
which he gives personal supervision; is a Director in the First National Bank 
of Fair Haven; has been Justice of the Peace; Treasurer [p 4] of the town and 
village; was instrumental in establishing and organizing the graded school of 
Fair Haven in 1874; has been many years a member of the School Board; 
principal Director and Manager in the organization and conduct of the Fair 
Haven Public Library; a contributing member and officer of the Rutland County 
Historical Society from the beginning; Trustee of the State Normal School at 
Castleton since 1869, and President of the board since 1882; was Chairman of 
the Rutland County Board of Education during its existence in 1889-1890, 
arranging the contracts for the purchase and sale of textbooks through the 
county. Mr. ADAMS prepared and published the history of the town of Fair 
Haven in 1870, is the author of numerous essays and addresses which have been 
published, and has now in course of preparation an extensive genealogy of the 
ADAMS family. Andrew N. ADAMS has been active in politics as Abolitionist, 
Free Soiler and Republican, representing Fair Haven in the Legislature of 
1884, and his county as Senator in 1888.

Andrew N. ADAMS married 01 August 1855 in Orwell [Addison County, VT], Angie, 
daughter of Erastus and Margaret (HIBBARD) PHELPS, of Orwell, and has [Andrew 
N. and Angie (PHELPS) ADAMS have] four daughters: (1) Alice A., Mrs. Horace 
B. ELLIS of Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont; (2) Ada M., Mrs. John T. 
POWELL, of Fair Haven, who died 21 May 1893; (3) Annie E., Mrs. George B. 
JERMYN, of Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; and (4) Stella Miller.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly