The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-11-22
CAPT. R. j. ADAMS,
PALATKA PIONEER
Passes to his Long Home..'
Notable Veterans Career.


Capt. r. ]. Adams, best known to the
present and Immediately proceeding
generation as the local agent of The
Clyde, Beach & Miller and other line.
OF st. Johns river steamers, but TO an
earlier generation as a pioneer stage
transportation man between Palatka and
Tampa and as dauntless soldier of the
Confederacy, passed away at his home
on Second street al an early hour on
Tuesday morning after an illness which
had confined him 10 his bed for more
than month.
The funeral service was held at his
late home at 10:3O Wednesday morning
and was conducted by Rev. P. Q. Cason
of the First Baptist church. The inter
ment was in West View cemetery.
The death of Capt Adams while not
unexpected was nevertheless a shock 10
the people of Palalka and during the
day many calls were made at the home
by personal friends, and many letters
and kilograms of sympathy have been
received from out of town acquaint
ances and friends. AT the funeral there
were many beautiful tokens of esteem
in the way of floral tributes, among
which were those of Patton Anderson
chapter United Daughters of the Con-
federacy, Clyde Line, Beach & Miller
Line, officers of the Steamer Crescent
and from numerous friends The pail
bearers weae George E. Gay, w. A.
Walton, S. ]. Kennerly, w. H. Rosen.
berg, E. C. Jackson and H. o. Hamm.
The attendance was large, filling the
house, porches and front yard, and all
walks of life were represented. Among
the out-of-town people who were
noticed as being present were Mrs
Mary Scott Miller, General Manager OF
the Beach & Miller Line, Capt. Geo S.
Crotty of the Steamer Crescent, Mr.. II.
c. White agent Clyde Line, Jackson
vile, Mr.. L. S. Scroble commercial
agent Clyde Line Jacksonville, Hon. ].
II. Harp of Crescent City, Mrs. r. B.
Young OF Quitman, Ga, and Mrs. Mary
Fl. Deal OF Miami, his niece.
Capt. Adams was the dean of Palatka's
male citizens by reason of his long
residence and as an authority on its his
tory, growth and personal recolIections.
He had resided in Palatka since Oct. |
lS56-a term of So years-a period ex
ceeded by no man except perhaps Capt. |
Durham OF East Palatka. Capt Adams |
was perhaps most highly honored and
best known as man of sterling integri- |
ty. He was man of rare good sense
and sound judgment, who had little
with cant or affectation. The
square deal" as exemplfied in the
Golden Rule was his invariable rule of
business. He was man whose word
was an unquestioned bond that never
went below par.
In his memoirs of Florida" the late
Governor Francis P. Fleming, volume 2,
page 405, says of Capt. Adams:
"Richard ]. Adams, of Palatka, was
born at Cavendish, Windsor County,
w., in 1888 and received the usual edu-
cation of New England boy in the
public and district schools of his county,
while being reared upon the farm
Later he obtained clerkShip in the
mercantile business in Boston, and from
hat city removed 10 Florida in 1856.
He located at Palatka and was one of
he early modern settlers of Putnam
County. His first occupation after ar
living was as driver OF stage between
'alatka and Tampa. In 1861 he Joined
lorton's company at Gainesville but
lid not enlist. He was ordered TO In
liam River by Colonel Dilworth and for
wo years was detailed in the Quarter
masters Department, being enrolled in
Company H, Fifth battalion, Florida
,avalry. During the expedition TO ST.
ohnS Bluff, he had charge of the wag-
ms, and after the evacuation, was left
With the teams on the east side of the
liver TO get out as best he could. By
lint of hard work and much worry he
managed TO swim the creeks with his
got out TO Waldo and reported
o his command near Jacksonville. He
vas ordered to Waldo and stationed
here for some time afterward and was
n charge OF the wagon train between ;
Sayport and Archer. For five months
lie was engaged in tranSpo ting blockade
.oods between these points. Later, he
vas stationed at Gainesville in the
uartermaSter'S department and furnish
d supplies TO all the commands east
nd south of the Suwanee river. In ;
S64 he was relieved by Major Hamilton
nd ordered to Fort Meade with sup
lies for Dickinson. He was met by s
hat officer at the Flat ford of the Hills
WV AiNSl, Dut wac alkCIWdlu pr |
oner by deSerters and his wagon train
urned. Later, after travelling through {
Alachua, Levy and fernando Counties, t
e got 10 Lake City AMI joined General
'inegan at OluStee, where he helped in
he care OF the wounded. He was next
rdered TO furnish commissary supplies
rom his wagon train until he joined
'inegan at Camp Milton, where he re-
lained until the brigade was ordered
ack to Florida from Quitman, and there
e remained until the surrender One
t his later services was the take the =
off the gunboat Columbine
rom Horse Landing TO Waldo by wag-
n train. After the surrender he re-
laned to Palatka and resumed his oc-
upation in the steamboat business for
everal years. He carried the mails on
ne only boat not captured by the Fed
rails, and his was the first passenger
oat up the Ocklawaha river. In 1872
'aptain Adams was appointed agent at
alatka for the river boats and has since
erved in that capacity through all the
hangeS of the different lines at that