Representative from Marquette county in 1883, was born in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Connecticut, November 2, 1837. He remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, working upon the farm except during the winter months, a portion of which were spent in school. From 1856 to 1859 he was clerk in the drug store of J. M. Gardner, in the village of West Cornwall, Connecticut. In 1863 he commenced the study of law in the office of George Wheaton, of West Cornwall. His studies were pursued during evening hours, while the days were devoted to labor at such employments as he could engage in. He was admitted to the bar at Litchfield in April, 1865, and immediately entered upon the practice of law as the partner of his tutor, Mr. Wheaton, who died six months later, when Mr. Adams succeeded to his practice, and continued the same until March, 1872, when he removed to Negaunee, Marquette county, Mich., where he has since resided, and continued in the practice of his profession. In 1874 he was elected circuit court commissioner of Marquette county, serving in that office until 1876, when he was elected prosecuting attorney of that county, and re-elected in 1878, and again in 1880, thus serving six consecutive years. In September, 1879, he formed a partnership with James F. Foley, of Negaunee, for mining purposes, and in the following month the firm discovered what is now known as the Milwaukee mine, in Negaunee, and which they sold in February, 1881. He is interested largely in the New York Hematite Mine, and in other valuable mining properties in the mining districts of Lake Superior. Politically a Republican. He was elected by about 1,100 majority over S. S. Curry, Democrat.

Contributed by Barb Z.
Early History of Michigan with Biographies of State Officers, Members of Congress, Judges and Legislators: With Biographies of State Officers, Members of Congress, Judges and LegislatorsBy Stephen D. BinghamPublished by Thorp & Godfrey, state printers, 1888