Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-30
JOHN ADAMS DIES
IN PASADENA, CAL.
EARLY PIONEER OF WISCONSIN
ONE OF FIRST SETTLERS IN
LEAD DISTRICT.
SONS GAIN PROMINENCE,
Alva, Frank, John and William Have
Been Active in Political Affairs
of Colorado.
WAS IN HIS NINETIETH YEAR.

MADISON, Wis, Oct. pa Special.
John Adams, an early pioneer of Wis
consin, twice member of the Legis-
lature, twice sheriff of Dane county,
father of the family of men whose
names have been synonymous with the
upbuilding of Denver and Colorado for
many years past, died from the infrmi-
ties of age at his home in Pasadena,
Cal, last Sunday. The funeral was
held at Pasadena last Tuesday Mr.
Adams was in his ninetieth year and had,
lived III that city the past fifteen years.
lie was born in Pulaski county, Ky,
in 1919. At the age of 10, in company
with a half brother, he came to In
diana, then in 1887 to Winnebago coun-
ty, Ill, and two years later to Dodge
vile, Wis, where he was attracted by
the lead mining. For ten years he lived
at Dodgeville, then in 1919 moved to
Blue Mounds. This town was then
known as ''Pokerville" because of the
great amount of gambling there, and en-
joyed q degree of prosperity from the
gambling and the lead mining and the
fact that it lay on the great highway of
travel to Minnesota and the region far
Their west.
Prominent as Merchant.
Mr.. Adams did an eXteusivu business
as merchant, StockbGyer and farmer. In
the winter he kept Il caravan of teams
hauling goods to the pinerieS of north
ern Wisconsin. In 1868 he moved to
Black Earth, VS.. where he also con
Quoted 4 large general store. but was
burned out. He then went to Blanchard,
vile, where he built large grist mill
which, however, did not prove a paying
venture Mr.. Adams was Il Democrat
and was sheriff of Dane county in 1868
and 1894 and member of the
Legislature in 1SG9-10 and 1872. He
was married at Dodgevilie in 1916 to
Miss Eliza Blanchard, native Of COrt-
land county, n. Y. They had four sons,
Alva, Frank, John and William, all of
whom have risen to prominence in Col
orado, and one daughter, Elizabeth, who
lived with her parents. Alva Adams
had also spent the past month with his
father.
Alva Gains Prominence.
The story of the Adamses of Colorado
is an interesting one. 1t was the Illness
of one of the brothers that first drew
them there. When Alva first went there
he assisted in the building of q railroad
as a laborer. Then he obtained a posi-
ton in hardware store and later was
in the same business at Colorado City
and at Alamosa- He quickly became
prominent in politics and was a mem
Der of the first Legislature of that state
and a delegate to the Democratic ma
tional convention in Cincinnati in 1880.
Since then he has been five times the
candidate of his party for governor, and
has been three times elected, although
thrown out by a Republican Legislature
while serving his third term. He lives
at Pueblo, where he is president of a
bank and connected with many enter
prises.
Other Sons in Politics.
William II. Adams lives at Alamosa
and has also had a remarkable political
career in that he has served as state
senator for over twenty years. His hold
on the electorate is due to his support of
rights and interests of the common peo-
pie. In the campaign this summer he
was prominently mentioned as the most
available candidate for governor and al
most secured the nomination.
Frank Adams, for many years on the
police and fire board of Denver, is now
president of the Colorado Ice and StOr
age company. Another brother, John
Adams, is a prominent ranchman. Mr..
Adams is also survived by his widow.
One of his grand nephews is Harry
Adams, recent graduate of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, and now city attor-
ney of Beloit.