San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSEPH N. ADAMS
Joseph N. Adams was born at Pattonsville, Scott County, Virginia, on June 2, 1877 but
was reared near Gate City, Virginia. His
father, the Rev. James M. Adams, was not only a Methodist divine in that state,
but was presiding elder of Abbington district, and
became one of the locally famous men of the South. He was a noted debater, and was called before
President U. S. Grant and his cabinet to preach a sermon. James M. Adams was born near Pattonsville, Scott County, Virginia, July
22, 1840. Although a Southern man, he
was for the freedom of slaves and he espoused the cause of the Union. He was forced into the Southern Army, but
left it and made his way to Kentucky and enlisted in the Union Army, in which
he served until the close of the war.
After the war he returned to the South, and feeling the call to preach,
became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a member of the Masonic Order. He died on July 9, 1878. A monument was erected in his honor, and now
stands in the beautiful public square at Pattonsville,
an imposing and lasting memorial to one of the noblest Americans who
contributed, by his industrious life and unselfish efforts, to make that
portion of the United States a place worth living in. He was the father of nine children, of whom
Joseph N. Adams is next to the youngest.
Joseph N. Adams attended the public
schools. At the age of twelve years he
worked in the Virginia logging camps for the meager salary of six dollars a
month, and later he farmed and ran a hotel.
In 1905 he came out to Stockton and worked for three months for the
Southern California Traction Company and for six months for the St. Clair Dry
Goods Company, owned by Mr. Shields.
When he had been there only three weeks, Mr. Shields made a trip east
and put him in full charge of the store.
The old employees did not like a new man over them, so he was obliged to
discharge a number of the help to restore the necessary sprit of loyalty and
cooperation. When Mr. Adams arrived in
Stockton his cash capital was$110, but his prosperity today tells a far different
and more enviable story.
Some fifteen years ago he started in
the real estate, loan and insurance business, in which he has been phenomenally
successful. He is the owner of seven
apartment houses in Stockton, three of which he has himself erected, and others
of which he has remodeled. He also owns
a ranch of 160 acres about nine miles southeast of Stockton, where he raises
alfalfa and grain, and maintains a strictly sanitary dairy. He has been very successful in buying and
selling real estate in Stockton was one of the organizers of the Stockton
Apartment House Owners’ Association, and now acts as vice-president of that
excellent organization.
When Mr. Adams married, he took for
his wife Miss Myrtle G. Darter, also a native of Virginia, and with her
co-operation he has become prominent in many fields, being, for example, one of
the influential owners of the Stockton Home Investment Company. He was made a Mason in San Joaquin Lodge No.
9, F. and A. M. He is a member of Truth
Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, and also a member of
Parker Encampment, and Rainbow Lodge of the Rebekahs, at Stockton, and of the Stockton
Kiwanis Club. His wife is a member of
the O. E. S. and the Rebekahs. Mr. Adams,
while living in Virginia, had the courage of his convictions and was an avowed
Republican, voting and preaching the doctrines of Lincoln and taking part in
all activities of the Party. Since
coming to Stockton he continues an ardent Republican, but does not find it
necessary to take the same active stand in politics. He is an advocate of good roads and public
improvements and ready at all times to give of his time and means toward any
movement that has for its aim the improvement and building up of the city of
Stockton, San Joaquin County, and the State of California.
All in all, the life-story of Mr.
Adams and his distinguished forebears presents much that may be inspiring to
the American youth, and much that should steady and console those who fear, at
times, for the future of social organizations long characteristic of our
Republican country.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1343-1344. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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