James A. ADAMS, who was born in Lyon County, Ky., August 9, 1841, is a citizen of Cache Township, Johnson County. He is a son of John W. and Nancy (Bridges) Adams, both of the same State. John W. Adams was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Adams. He was a farmer and removed to Illinois at an early day, coming to this State, as all pioneer emigrants did at that time, by team and wagon. He purchased land in Cache Township, Johnson County, cleared up his farm, erected his own buildings, and after living there about eight years he died. James A. Adams remained at home and assisted in the support of his mother until her death. He attended school in Kentucky about six months and after coming to Illinois he attended only three days, so that his early education was sadly neglected. After his mother's death he purchased the interest of his sister in the old farm of forty acres and he continued to farm there until he sold out. He then purchased where he now resides, in 1882.   He had then one hundred and ten acres on sections 1 and 2, Cache Township, and to this he has since added eighty acres on section 11. He has, however, sold a portion of the farm and now has fifty-two acres on section 1. He was burned out in 1884, and afterward erected new buildings as soon and as fast as he was able. For the most part he has been engaged in mixed farming, but for a year and a-half he was also engaged in mercantile business, selling out in 1883.

Mr. Adams was married May 17,1869, to Luvicey Cochran, who died April 20, 1883. He was married the second time, to Mary H. Cochran, November 6, 1884. She was born in Arkansas August 9, 1867. Mr. Adams has three children, viz: James M. and Julia J. by his first wife and Toddy Elizabeth by the second. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the order of Knights and Ladies of Honor, and is a Democrat. After the death of his father our subject and his mother returned to the old home in Kentucky, but they came back in 1863 to Illinois.