Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-09-07
Stephen ewinn Adams. formerly

Stephen Gwinn Adams, formerly of
this county, died in st. Louis, No, Thurs
day evening, August oath, ultimo. Mr..
Adams was sitting in a chair in his Office
and the cause of his death was a hemorrhage
from the lungs. He was a SON of the
late Stephen Adams and brother of Mr..
Benjamin +. Adams. of this district. From
the Commercial Stamp Trade Journal of
August 90, 1893, we clip the following
sketch of Mr.. Adams career:
The subject of this sketch, S G. Adams,
president and treasurer of the S. G. Adams
Stamp and Seal Co. was born in Leonard
town. the county seat Of St. Mary's coun-
ty, Nd, on March IA, 1856 This is 90
miles south of the city of Washington, and
there l spent my younger days fishing,
Grabbing and wading in and around the
beautiful shores of Britian's bay. After a
common school education, of about two
years in very common country school in
war times, and before was 10 years old /
found myself head printers devil" ON the
St. Mary's BEACON, the county paper.
There my higher education commenced,
and at IL could set over four sticks Of
solid long primer an hour, and prided my
self on being almost a perfect spcller. In
'6S, my father moving to Baltimore, l in
few months followed, and Immediately
procured myself q situation in a small
printing Office, at the munifcent salary of
50 90 c week, the largeness of which swell
led me with considerable pride. l soon
learned to set jobs, kick the press, run en-
rands, &c, with such satisfaction TO my
employer that in a very short time my
salary was raised 10 s. week. 1t was
while working here that first became ac-
quainted with the late J. F. w. Dorman
lin 90 or very early in 1870, believe), by
setting oyals and small jobs for his early
experiments in the manufacture of Rubber
Stamps Then he took the type and forms
home and his wife experimental and made
the stamps, but only for short time /
soon became so fast in setting ovals and
borders that Mr.. Dorman became deeply
interested in me, and offered such financial
inducements for me 10 come with him,
that after he had signed an agreement with
me for one year, with four raises of salary
in the twelve months, engaged with him
lie said that the business of Rubber Stamp
making, to his notion, would play out in
about that time-that the public would
tire of the novelty, and it would be relega-
ted to the shades, &c. How correct he was
We all know. / well know the charges my
employer made for setting the type was
much more than we now get for the com.
plete finished stamp.
experimental, worked and hustled for
him till the early part of 1875, when as
ISOLATED myself with my late partner, Mr..
S. F. Wathen, friend of mine from Leon
ardtown, but then a canvasser for Mr..
Dorman. Purchasing an outfit, we decid-'
ed TO travel over the country canvassing
and making stamps, and after doing 50 for
Is months with fair success, we separated,
and l went back TO baltimore, took three
months vacation, but was prevailed upon
by Mr.. d. TO enter his employ again, with
incteased salary and foremanship of the
stamp and printing department. Becom-
ing dissatisfied in less than 3 months, and
having about 500 in bank, / decided u
open up business for myself, and started
the Baltimore Rubber Stamp Works with
financial success. In the meantime nv old
partner had gone back to ST. Louis and
opened business ia a small way by can
wasting and making the stamps at home.
and / had not been in business IN Balti-
more more than two months before | was
receiving letters from him importuning me
to come to St Louis and enter into part
nership with him again. After a short
business career in Baltimore, / fouEd nv
self in the early fall of 1877 in active bus.
iness in Sc. Louis under the firm name of
Adams & Wathen, till his death eight years
ago. | have continued the business ever
since, with success, up TO the present time.
In April Of this year the bu siuess was in
corporated under its present name. Saw
ing little temporary dullness of the pres
cnt, the outlook seems bright for the future,
axA n c. A,,- Al: = e.