John Harvey Adams
The late John Harvey Adams, who died at his home in Caesarscreek township in the spring of 1908 and whose widow and children are still living there, was born in that same township and had lived there all his life. He was born on the old Adams farm just north of Paintersville on April 29, 1853, son of Jackson and Sarah (Kildow) Adams, the former of whom also was born there, son of Nimrod and Susan (Linkhart) Adams, pioneers of that community, who had settled there upon coming here from Virginia many years ago, and a further and more extended account of whom, together with other interesting details of the history of the Adams family in this county, is set out elsewhere in this volume.
ackson Adams was reared in Caesarcreek township and became a practical farmer, which vocation he followed all his life, becoming quite successful in his operations. He was twice married. His first wife died in 1860, leaving one child, a son, the subject of this memorial sketch. He then married Mrs. Mary Ary, a widow, also now deceased, and to that union were born four children, namely: Dora, wife of Charles Ellis, living east of Paintersville; Joseph, who is living in Jefferson township, this county; Sarah, wife of George Babb, of Caesarcreek township, and Samuel, deceased. Jackson Adams lived to be sixty-seven years of age.
John Harvey Adams was reared on the old home place north of Paintersville and received his schooling in the local scliools. After his marriage he established his home on a portion of the old home place and proceeded to develop and improve the same. He was the owner of sixty-nine acres and had an excellent farm plant. Politically, Mr. Adams was a Republican; fraternally, was a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and by religious persuasion was a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Paintersville. He died at his home on March 22, 1908, and was buried in beautiful Woodland cemetery at Xenia.
ohn Harvey Adams was twice married. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Rebecca Ann Cline. also of this county, who died on June 17, 1896. On September 23, 1897, Mr. Adams married Martha L. Barton, who was born in the neighboring county of Clinton, daughter of Henry and Mary Barton, both of whom were born in that same county, the former in 1825 and the latter in 1828. Henry Barton was a well-to-do farmer in Clinton county. His wife died in 1899 and he survived her for four years, his death occurring in 1903. They were the parents of the following children: Mary E., Elsie Ann (deceased), John, Ella, Frank, Rennie, Henry, Martha and Lucretia. To John H. and Martha L. (Barton) Adams were born three sons, Samuel J., born on June 22, 1898, a machinist, who is living at home; Clarence H., July 8, 1899, who is farming the home place, and Robert B., September 24, 1903. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Protestant church at Paintersville and takes a warm interest in the general work of the church. Since the death of her husband she has continued to make her home on the home farm and she and her sons are very pleasantly situated there.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918