Frederick W. Adamson, clerk of the Madison County Court, was born in Jackson, Tenn., February 17, 1850, being the son of Greenbury and Elizabeth L. (Clark) Adamson, natives, respectively, of Maryland and Tennessee. His father, while yet single, came to Tennessee in 1830, locating at Charlotte, Dickson County, where he married, and in 1833 came to Jackson. He followed blacksmithing for a few years, and then engaged in the drug business, which he followed until the late war, and which considerably impoverished his property. He finally retired from business, and in 1876 died in Paris, Tenn. Frederick W. was reared and educated in this city, and early in life began clerking. He first entered the drug store, and later the mercantile business, and then, for twelve or more years, served as book-keeper for Smith & Stegall wholesale grocers, and was also for two years book-keeper for J. T. McCutchen, cotton manufacturer. He has for a number of years been secretary of the Jackson Building & Savings Association. In August, 1886, he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to his present official position. He is a member of the K. of P. and K. of H. fraternities, and is a vestryman of the Episcopal Church. March 12, 1874, he married Miss Susan B. Sneed, a native of Texas, who died in November, 1881, leaving two children: Benjamin G. and Elizabeth Helen.

Goodspeeds History of Tennessee