Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-08-24
FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS.

Frederick upham Adams. author of
the newspaper-Wall street story. "Thc
Kidnapped Millionares." was born in
Boston. Dec. 10. 1859. His father. John
~ Adams. was an inventor and me.
chanical engineer. serving with distinc-
ton under Gen. Butler during the Civ
II War. In 1866 he moved to Elgin. ILL.,.
where the subject of this sketch was
educated In the public schools. From
his father he received thorough me-
chanical education. and in 1850 became
n designer of machinery in Chicago.
lie improved and perfected many of
the mechanical devices now accepted
rs standards. a threatened loss of eye
sight compelled him to abandon his
profession. and i'm 1883 Mr.. Adams ac.
ccptcd u position on the Chicago News.
lie became u student of labor and SO
cial problems. and for a number OF
years was In charge of the labor de.
partment of the Chicago Tribune. He
participated in the stirring events Incl
dent to the anarchist outbreak of 1886.
and in the series of great strikes which
marked this period.
The routine of an active newspaper
life did not suppress the natural in
vcntive genius of Mr.. Adams. In 1880
he invented the electric light tower,
which at one time promised to become
the accepted method of lighting cities.
lie sold these patents and subsequently
invented the single arm electric lamp
post. which Is the standard In most
| American cities.
In 1892 Mr.. Adams was placed In
charge Of the literary and press work
of the Western branch Of the Demo
cratic National Committee. and dis
| played such tact and executive ability
that he was appointed chief Of the Lit.
crnry and Press Bureau In the cam
pnign of 1896. In the following year
he founded The New Time. magazine
| of social reform. and continued rs Its
| editor until II was consolidated win
The Arena. Prior to this Mr.. Adams
wrote president John Smith, which
was first published as n serial In The
Chicago Times ana later In book form
| This book attained u circulation OF
125. 900. and IL a forcible and Thought
ful contribution to the literature Of
constructive political economy.
In 1894 Mr.. Adams was placed III
charge Of the Bureau of Smoke sup
preston of the city of Chicago. anO
did effective work against Ovcrwhelm
ing odds. His reports ana published
writings on this subject are accepted
us authoritative. He declined to nccep
n second term ana returned to his liter
AIRY and inventive work. AZ writel
Mr.. Adams possesses the rare advan
tage of combining n thorough KNOW
edge of scientific ana technical natter
with u pleasing literary style, AMI tn
Gift of Imagination. Mr.. Adams writ
ings disclose Il fine vein OF those dan
gerOus weapons. sarcasm ana satire.
As an inventor Mr.. Adams bids fai
to take u front rank. In the spring O
1900 he constructed passenger trail
of seven cars built to avoid atmos
phere resistance. This train was test
cd between Philadelphia and Washing
ton and broke all the worlds records
attaining the startling sustained spec
of 1903 miles an hour. The train wa
an experimental one, and plans ar
now In progress for the perfection an'
adoption Of Mr.. Adams plans.
In 1884 Mr. Adams married Mis-
Alice Whitaker, of Elgin, III. Tw
children, Olive, now proud Of her fOui
teen summers. ana Morton. two year
younger, constitute an interesting par
of the family group.
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