Biography - CLAYTON ADAMS

Clayton H. ADAMS, lumber, coal and agricultural implement dealer, Harvel, was born April 19, 1839, in Summit County, Ohio, to John and Sarah (KELSEY) ADAMS. He was brought to near Brighton, Macoupin County, in 1845, by his parents, when but six years of age, and from there removed to Gillespie, of the same county, in 1849, where they located permanently. He received his education from McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., and high school at Hillsboro, and remained with his parents to the age of twenty-one, and then made a trip West to the Rocky Mountains, where he engaged in mining for two years, and at the expiration of that time returned home to Macoupin County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, and continued the same until 1866, when he engaged in grain and agricultural implement business at Gillespie, and in 1868 a milling business in connection with his other business. He continued the same until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Oregon, and there again resumed the occupation of a farmer, and on January 1, 1875, removed to Harvel, where he engaged in the lumber, coal and agricultural business, and by his energy and attentive business qualities, soon procured a good trade, and has since been steadily increasing until it extends far into Christian and Montgomery Counties. He has also a branch business at Morrisonville, under the management of S. S. WHITNER, being under the firm name of ADAMS & NELSON. His partner is Mr. R. S. NELSON. On January 22, 1878, in Litchfield, he married Miss Mary E. WILLIS, a native of Carmi, Ill., but raised in Missouri, born November 20, 1846, daughter of James E. Willis, a native of Kentucky, born July 23, 1820, came to White County, Ill., with his parents when a boy. In 1841, he went to Cape Girardean, Mo., and in September, 1845, was married to Miss J. Rosanna SHORT, a native of North Carolina. Father of our subject was born in New Hampshire, in 1802, and died in November, 1867. He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Macoupin County. He was a Republican, and a very resolute man in all of his business undertakings. Mother was born in 1805, in New Hampshire, and is now enjoying good health in Sheldon, Iowa. She is the mother of six children, four daughters and two boys, subject being the fifth child. He is an active member of the A., F & A. M. order; has been a member since 1863. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. ADAMS have had two children, one of whom is living. Charley Willis died in infancy; Florence Rosana was born April 5, 1881.

Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 244-245.