, 1890-12-25
j. M. ADAMS IS DEAD.
He Died at His Farm Near North
Yakima Monday.
Morning.
He Was Known Throughout the
State of Washington
Biographical.

few months ago one of the most
prominent citizens of Spokane Falls,
died MT his home near North Yak
ina yesterday morning.
Mr.. Adams had long been suf-
fcrer from disease which bafiied
medical skill. 1t appeared to be a
kind Of bronchial affection, and dur
ing his residence In this city he sew
eral times sunk down while
attcn ding to his work and was
taken home in precarious condi-
tion. He removed to his farm near
North Yakima last spring. At one
time during the last three months
he neared deaths door, but OF late
had been apparently improving,
and was able to attend to his busi-
ness correspondence.
James Madison Adams was born
In Estill county, Ky, In 1851. The
family removed TO Moultrie county,
H., in the fall of 1850. Here
the subject of this sketch attended
such primitive schools as they hat
In those days. In 1863 he was APP
prenticed to the printers trade IN
the Office of the Radical Republican
at Mattoon, ILL., He subsequently
became associated with an older
brother In the publication of re-
publican newspaper called the Boil
tinger County Standard at Marble
Hill, Mo. While at Marble Hill he
attended the state university at
Columbia.
Later he was identified with the
publication and editorial manage
nient OF the Mississippi Valley
Globe at Cape GIrardeau, Mo.
While mere boy he held several
federal appointments in Missouri,
aud was delegate to several re-
publican conventions. When about
2l years of age he went to Washing.
ton, d. c., where he was for several
years employed In the treasury de-
partment. Always studious, he at
attended night school In Washing
ton and also studied law in the law
department of Howard university,
of which General q. o. Howard was
the founder.
Late in the TO's he came to Wash
ington, aud while residing at Walla
Wulla WAS appointed receiver of the
United States land office at Yakima
City. Soon after his re-
nioval to Yakima he es.
tablished the Yakima Signal,
which soon took rank as one of the
leading weekly papers in the terri
tory.
When the Cascade branch OF the
Northern Pacific railroad was being
built, the people of Yakima became
involved In u controversy with the
company, who undertook to build q
new town, which they named
North Yakima, three miles from
the city, offering lots In the new
town to all who would re-
move their business there from
the old town. Mr.. Adams
fought the railroad company with
all his might, but the task was hope
less and eventually Yakima was no
more, and the North Yakima OF the
present day took It's place.
Mr.. Adams was also strong adj
vocate of the forfeiture of
the unearned< land grant
of the Northern Pacific, In 1854
there was split in the Yakima
county convention and two sets of
delegates were sent to the state con-
NtnllOH. iit o'it ii't'i'h Wy -'iis
Adams was denied admission to the
Major j. NJ. Armstrong, Of this
gress. Mr.. Adams thereupon
supported Hon. Charles :. Voor-
hees, the democratic candidate,
who made his campaign on the for
feiture of uiearned land grants.
After Mr.. Adams term Of Office
expired as receiver of the Yakima
land office a petition containing
several thousand names was for
wardcd to Washington urging his
appointment to the registers hip of
the Spokane land Office. President
Cleveland removed Major Arm
strong and appointed Mr. Adams in
his stead. This appointment brought
Mr.. Adams To Spokane Falls. On
January |, 1889, he assumed the
editorial management of the RE.
VIEW, through the columns of
which he strongly advocated the
nomination and election of Hon.
John j.. Wilson as the first con-
nressman from the new state of
| Washington.
On October l, 1889, he resigned
the edi torial chair of the REVIEW,
and the following May, after his
retirement from the land office, re-
move to his farm near North Yaki-
ma, where he hoped to enjoy better
health.
His death will be a surprise to his
| friends, of which he had many
throughout the state. He leaves IL
wife and three children-two girls