Theodore A. Adams

As printed in 1914

THEODORE A. ADAMS.

For twenty-two years Theodore A. Adams has been a passenger engineer on the Northwestern railroad, having ever discharged his duties with circumspection and faithfulness. He now resides in a pretty home at No. 229 Cedar street, Boone. He was born January 30, 1858, in Monroe county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Nathaniel and Matilda (Curry) Adams. The father was born in New England. He served in the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a private and was killed in the battle of Petersburg. Matilda Curry was a daughter of Riley Curry, who was born in Ireland and upon coming to the United States settled near Perry, Iowa, where he followed agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Adams subsequent to her first husband's death married Andrew J. Hutson. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in Perry, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. -Adams had four children: John H., of Valley Junction, Iowa, who married twice; Maria, who married John Cameron of Des Moines, Iowa; Theodore A., of this review; and Frank, of Valley Junction, Iowa.

Theodore A. Adams spent the first years of his life in Wisconsin, attending school in the little village of Ripon, that state. After his father's death the family removed to Iowa, and he completed his education in the schools of Grand Junction. He entered upon the duties of life by assisting his stepfather and the latter's brother, who were engaged in building operations and in moving houses. After leaving home Mr. Adams first worked for a Mr. Hughes on a farm five miles north of Beaver, Iowa, being at that time about eighteen years of age and receiving in remuneration for his services eighteen dollars per month and board. There he remained for a year and then worked for his brother John, who conducted a livery stable at Grand Junction, remaining for about two years. At the end of that time he first took up railroad work, becoming a brakeman on the Rock Island railroad on February 20, 1878. His run was from Grand function to Fort Dodge, and there he continued until October 17, 1879, when he became brakeman on the Northwestern between Boone and Belle Plaine. holding that position until the fall of 1880. He next was fireman for the same company for two years and in January, 1883, was promoted to engineer, his run being in

Iowa between the.Missouri and Mississippi rivers. For the last twelve years Mr. Adams has had the passenger run between Boone and Omaha. He has shown himself capable in the discharge of his duties and stands high in the estimation of his superior officers. Many are those who know him in Boone, and he also has many acquaintances among the passengers who travel regularly on his run and who esteem him as a reliable, trustworthy official.

On May 12, iSjg, Mr. Adams married in Grand Junction. Iowa. Miss Mary Luce, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Luce, the former a carpenter by trade. To this union were born six children. Frank, of Grand Jnuction, Iowa, was born March 15, 1880. He is a graduate of the Boone schools and is now a conductor on the Nortiiwestern railroad, making his home with our subject. He is prominent in Masonry, having become a Shriner at the age of twenty-one and being at that time one of the youngest in the state. Etta May, who was born in Perry Iowa, September 16, 1882, is now Mrs. Edward Painter, of Leadville, Colorado. Ollie, who was born in Boone, February 1, 1885, married R. W. Weaver and they are now living in Des Moines. Cleo. who was born in Boone, April 4. 1893, is clerk to the foreman at the round house of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad and resides at home. Charles is deceased and another died in infancy. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Presbyterian church, the services of which her husband also attends. The latter is politically independent, preferring to follow his own judgment in giving his support to such candidates as he considers best fitted for the position to which they aspire, irrespective of party lines. Fraternally he belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and is popular in that organization. He has many friends in Boone, all of whom speak of him in the highest terms of appreciation.

lOHN R. BOONE.

John R. Boone is now living retired, making his home with his son.S. Boone, in the city which bears the family name. He has been a resident of this part of the state for many years and is widely and favorably known. He was born February 29, 1836, near Fredericksburg. Wayne county. Ohio, and has passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, his parents being Samuel and Susan (Davidson) Boone. His paternal grandfather, James Boone, was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Philadelphia, and he devoted much of his life to teaching mathematics. He passed away in 1783 and was buried in the Friends cemetery, between Brandywine and Philadelphia. Throughout his entire life he had been identified with the Society of Friends, or Quakers. His son Samuel Boone was also born in the vicinity of Philadelphia. His mother died at his birth and by his father's death he was left an orphan when but three years of age. He then went to live in the home of his aunt. Mrs. Leash, in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, and throughout his entire life he followed farming. In 1802 he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived for three years, at the end of which time he secured timber land in Holmes county. Ohio. This he cleared and developed, making his home there until his death, which occurred in 1847. when he was sixty-seven years of age. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, and his political belief was that of the democratic party. His wife died in Holmes county in i86S, at the age of seventy-eight years, passing away in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which she was a devoted member.

John R. Boone was one of a family of eleven children. He was educated in the academy at Haysville, Ohio, and in a college at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, completing his course in the latter institution when twenty-six years of age. In the meantime, however, when a youth of sixteen, he had begun teaching in the schools of Holmes county, Ohio, devoting four years to that profession there. In fact, for several years he continued to teach and attend school alternately. After leaving Holmes county he took charge of a school in Ashland county, Ohio, where he continued teaching for a year and a half. He also engaged in the drygoods business at Jeromesville, Ohio, where he conducted his store for more than two years, and on the expiration of that period he came to Iowa, making his way to Independence, where he took charge of the county schools, directing educational activity in the county from 1864 until 1882. He also engaged in farming in the county for eight years of that period. He eventually located in Independence, where he entered upon the practice of law, which he followed until 1882, when he removed to Angola, Steuben county, Indiana, where he conducted a creamery business for seven years, or until 1889. He then sold out and removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the real-estate business. He was clerk in the office of Carter Harrison, Sr., who was then revenue collector, Mr. Boone occupying that position from i88y until 1894, when he came to the city which bears his name. Here he has lived retired.

Mr. Boone was married in Wayne county, Ohio, to Miss Nancy J. Wilson, a daughter of Squire Wilson. Mrs. Boone passed away in this city March 16, 1914. and was laid to rest in the Boone cemetery. She was a devoted member of the Christian church and possessed many excellent traits of heart and mind. Mr. I'.oone also belongs to the Christian church, with which he united in 1863, and his life has ever been conducted in harmony with its principles. In politics he is a stanch democrat and in matters of citizenship has displayed a progressive spirit, cooperating with many movements for public progress in the different localities in which he has made his home. His has been a well spent life, and in the evening of his days he receives the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one of his years whose record is honorable.

To Air. and Mrs. Boone were born three children. The eldest, Clinton T., a resident of Casper, Wyoming, married Catherine Boyd of Columbus, Ohio. The daughter Minnie S., died at the age of eighteen years. The yoimger son. Samuel A., was born in Independence, Iowa, February 3, 1869, and was reared to manhood in Angola, Indiana, where he pursued his education in the public schools to the age of seventeen years, when he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Newark. Ohio, as fireman on an engine. Later, in 1892, he went to Chicago, where he resided until December. 1893, and during that period was employed as a fireman on the Chicago & Northwestern. He next came to Boone, w here he was made an engineer and has since been identified with railway interests, occupying an enviable and well earned reputation in this connection. He has been chair-ian of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen for fourteen years and still occupies that position. On the 20th of October, 1896, Samuel Boone was married to Miss Maud Clinton Mcintosh, who was born

In Boone and was educated in the public schools, being graduated from high school at the age of eighteen. She next entered Drake University at Des Moines, where she pursued a course in painting, and for ten years she has successfully engaged in teaching painting. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Boone have been born two children: Louise, who died in infancy; and Donald A., who was born June 22, 1900, and attends the Boone high school. In his political views the father is a Democrat and fraternally is connected with the Masons. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star, in which she has held office. Mr. Boone and his family hold membership in the Christian church and are highly esteemed in the city where they have now resided for more than twenty years.

As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.