The Portland daily press., 1895-04-11

Perhaps there wasn't in all Portland last
evening a more pleasant family than THAI
which gathele ed atthe pleasant home 81
Captain and Mrs. James Adams, Q Smith
street, the occasion being their golden we'd
ding.
Just 80 years ago Captain Adams. Aand
Miss Sarah A. Beals, were married h Rev.
Mr.. Bourn. and for many years aftG tthat
event Captain Adams continued to -oilow
the sea ana lead a very active lite. RE
made a trip to California in 10, in the first
vessel that loaded tol San frac1sco from
Maine after the discovery Of gold. He was
first mate, and his commander was the fam
GUS Captain Matt Gordon, afterwards
known as 1.-THE Pirate Gordon" and who
was executed for his crimes but that was
long after Captain Adams sailed with him as
his first mate.
CAPTAIN dams had lis full part in the
adventures of that exciting period, and
then returned 10 take command of q vessel
Of his own. He followed sthe sea for forty
two years, and'made ffty-eight voyages as
mate and master to the West Indies. He
was in the South American trade, and dur
ing his forty-two years of active lie visit
.
times. AS master he was remarkably sue
cessful. and he never lost a vessel. On one
occasion he was washed overheard, but the
return of the wave sent HIM on board
again.
During the many years he commanded
many vessels. he won and kept the cor f.
dence and respect of his owners. and is to-
day one OF the oldest,and at the same time
most honored of the ex-captains who now
retired, once sailed from this port
Captain Adams is seven weight but he
proudly wears his Grand Army buttons,
for during the war he saw service on land
and at sea. He was member of the 30th
Maine regimen,, and While in the navy was
al the taking of the forts in Mobile bay.
He retired from the sea about fourteen
years ago.
Captain and Mrs. Adams have six chill
dren, two sons and four daughters living.
Tho daughters are Mrs. Clarence Soue of
F1eepcrs, Mrs. A. j. Pickett of Portland,
Mrs Charles G. GRAHAM of Portland, and
Mrs. Levi W. Libby of Portland. he sons
are William Il. W. Adams and Frank E.
Adams. both of this city. They have ten
grandchildren.
Among those present were Hon. Simon
B. Adams or Biddeford, anu Hon. H. q.
Peabody of Portland. The wife of Judge
Peabody is sister of Captain Aams. 1t is
a singular fact that while Mrs. Adams was
of a family of ten, she is the last of the
number, and only single distant connec-
tim was present to congratulate her last
evening.
Tie presents included $50 in gold. but
there were many other pleasant evidences
of continued regard, and they will be all
cherished by the venerable couple. Captain
Adams is willing to admit that he is grow
ing old but insisted that Mrs. Adams would
never be taken for ii woman who had been
married fifty years. and lie was right in
that point. Besides those already mentioned.
Mrs. Sarah Edwards, and Mrs. Elnira
Smith, sister of Captain Adams, were among
the guests, and it should be said that
among the most valued of the presents was
a fine portrait OF Hon. Simon B. Adams OF
Biudeford.
1t was a pleasant family party. Surround
ed by their children and their childre n s
children. conscious OF fifty years of well
spent life, Captain and Mrs. Adams received
the congratulations not only OF the mem
hers OF their family circle, but of thei1
neigh bOrS as VIGIL. lUF ~ was Aleaoo a ASis, II
borhood party.
It may be that fifty years makes but a
small space in tho history of he world. but
in these modern days fifty years count
more than centuries. and Captain Adams
has seen many changes. He helped TO open
nm The Paei tic coast to commerce, ara he
may almost be said to have carried the dag
of his country into every port. Later, even
then man past the time Of enforced mill
tary seiyice, he was soldier and sailor
during the late war, and then helped to
revive the shattered commerce OF the re-
hubble after those stormy days. 1t is seldom
that man reaches the verge Of eighty with
tie same .igor of body, and with the same
clear and vigorous mental powers. The
PRESS unites with the rest of their friends
In congratulating Captain and Mrs. Adams
on having SO successfully celebrated theii
golden wedding.
Captain Adams is a descendant of John
Quincy Adams.