Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-05
John Sullivan Adams,


US the sad intelligence of the death Of j. S
Adams, Esq, which took place at his HON,
In jacksonville, on Sunday, April 23d.
Mr.. Adams was born in 1920, the son of tn,
late Hon. Charles Adams, of Burlington
lie entered the University at the early age o
IA years and graduated in 1888, in the elias
with Alexander Mann, Calvin Pease, An
drew Robertson, and John Gregory Smith
Alter graduating he taught school in Bur
lIngton and at Winooski, and studied law
IN his fathers Office. In 1913 he was ad
mitted to the Chittenden county bar. About
the year ls49 he went to California but re-
manned there only year or two. Return
ing to Burlington, he resumed the practice
OF the law, and in 1854 was appointed Clerk
OF the Chittenden County Court, which of
fee he held continuously till be left Yer
mont, in 1867.
In 1856. the first State Board of Educa-
ton tor Vermont was organized, ard Mr.
Adams was made its secretary. 1t is in con-
nectlon with this Office and his arduous and
successful labors in behalf of the common
schools Of Vermont. that Mr.. Adams was
best known and the record and results OF
his work will long remain a most worthy
monument to his memory. He found our
public school system at low point, lack
ing organization. supervision and efficiency
he left it, not certainly all it should be.
but at vast advance upon its former con-
dition. With the aid and counsel of the
State Board, which comprised such men as
President Pease. T. P. Redfeld, j. D.
Bradley and other eminent citizens of Yer
mont, the school system of our State was re-
organized. The school laws were re-
modelled. The basis of distribution of the
public money was changed Town superin-
tendents were made responsible to the
State. Teachers Institutes were estab-
hshed the existing system of school re
glsters as means OF procuring statistical
information lnaugurated ; uniformity and
Improvement in text books largely secured :;
graded schools put Ill operation the occu-
patton of the teachers and their efficiency as
class greatly elevated /: great improve
ment IN school buildings secured order
brought out OF chaos, and new life put
INTO the whole school system. In this work
Mr.. Adams held the laboring oar, and gave
his time and strength to it with an industry
and devotion for which the small salary
attached to the Office was q most inadeq uate
compensation. lie used often. in the later
years OF his secretaryship, to relate his ex-
perlences in lnaugurating some of the first
teachers Institutes for which in some of the
back towns he had 10 ring the bells, build
the fires, and sweep out the school rooms
with his own hands. often opening an in
stItute with but half a dozen persons in
attendance, but never closing one without
tall house, and great arouslng of inter
est IN the schools. During the eleven years
that he filled the Secretaryship. he held in
stltutes and educational meetings in almost
all the considerable towns of the State. and
when he resigned he probably had the
widest personal cquaintance in the State
possessed by any Nermonter.
On his return from California, Mr.
Adams associated himself with the Free
Soil party, and was active in eifectng The
coalition with the Democrats in the Legis-
latureln le5S,which gave Vermont the only
Democrats governor Of this State in
generation past. lie Joined the Republ
party when 1t was organized. and was
thenceiOrward an ardent Republican. lie
was hery and effective political orator, as
well As fluent and often eloquent speaker
on educational and other public topics.
HIS name was prominent among those
mentioned for Representative in Congress,
during the exciting canvass of 1856. in this
District. lie was a member of the Cor
pOration of the University OF Vermont,
from 1851 to 1867.
In the Fall Of 1867, partly from falling
health, partly from difference with the
Board of Education in regard to the adop-
tl0n of new list OF ext-books, Mr.. Adams
resigned his Offices as Secretary of the
Board Of Education and County Clerk. and
removed to jacksonville, Florida, where he
resided thenceiorth. Soon after his remoy-
al thlther be was appointed Commissioner
Ct lmmi grafton for the State of Florida.
the duties Of the Cthce being to dissent
nate information IN regard to the
Sate, and to direct immigrants thith-
er. He was subsequently appointed
Collector of Customs Tor the port OF 81.
Johns, and held that office some three
years. lie established a weekly newspaper
IN jacksonville, under the title of The NGr
South, which be edited and published until
his death. lie was appointed postmaster at
jacksonville, two or three years ago and held
the office at his death. In July of last year
symptoms Of active pulmonary disease be-
gan To show themselves IN one OF his lungs
which was weakened by a severe attack Of
pneumonia in $50. In last October he was
Frustrated with typhoid fever. From this
he recovered and during January and part
Of February last was able ID 90 TO his Office
But consumption had marked him for it,
victim. During the two months past he
failed steadily; and on Sunday OF last week,
at p. n, he passed away, at the age
Of IS years.
Mr.. Adams wa twice married. His
daughter (by his first msrriage). a lovely
and promising girl. died at Brattleblro, at
school. year ago last December. \ son,
also by his first marriage, his wife, and
his sister, Miss Helen NJ Adams, who gave
to him and his devotion which words can
not describe, survive him, and will have the
fearful sympathy OF numerous friends in
our community in their bereavement. lie
was buried at jacksonville, on Monday, the
9th inst.
Mr.. Adams was q man Of many good
qualities, and we care to remember no
others. He was unselfsh, philosophical,
enthusiastic, untiring as a worker, Of active
mind and strong feelings, blunt but kindly
in speech. unOstentatious. Of unquestioned
integrity. The State owes him debt it
can never repay and he will long be held
in grateful memory by the teachers and all
who are interested in the common schools of
our State.