Henry L. Adams
"A whole-souled gentleman, an able
attorney and a public-spirited citizen of West Union, Fayette county, is Henry
L. Adams, formerly county superintendent of schools, a man who has thrown his
powers, the weight of his soul and mind into study, work and practice, and who
recognizes honesty, integrity and higher character as the most exalted of
professional ideals and standards, realizing that men of character are not only
the conscience of society, but in every well governed state they are its best
motive power, as the moral qualities rule, and, guided by such ideals, he
accomplishes whatever he undertakes, being now in the fullest development and
vigor of his faculties, capable of his best and strongest work.
Mr.
Adams was born at Maynard, Fayette county, Iowa, November 28, 1875, and is the
son of Leander and Rebecca (CLINE) Adams, the former a native
of Cattaraugus county, New York, born January 18, 1835, and the latter born in
Washington county, Ohio, February 22, 1848. The paternal great-grandfather,
Capt. Abner Adams, was a commissioned captain in the patriot
army in the Revolutionary war. Leander L. Adams enlisted as a
private in Company B, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and he
was later in the marine service. He was in the engagements at Perryville, siege
of Vicksburg, Ball's Bluff, but the major part of his time was spent in the
vicinity of Vicksburg. For gallant service he was promoted to corporal, and was
honorably discharged in 1865.
Henry L. Adams enjoyed the advantages of
a good education in the local public schools, the Maynard high school, Upper
Iowa University, at Fayette, the State University of Iowa and the Chicago
University. Thus he became exceptionally well prepared for his chosen calling,
that of teacher, which he first followed at Waucoma, Iowa, from 1897 to 1899,
making an excellent record. His abilities as an educator being generally
recognized, he was elected county superintendent of schools in 1899 and served
very faithfully and acceptably as such until 1905, during which time the cause
of education in this county was greatly strengthened and encouraged. But
believing that the law held greater inducements for him, he accordingly took up
that line of research and was duly admitted to the bar, beginning practice in
West Union in the fall of 1907, under the firm name of Rogers & Adams, and
he has succeeded in building up a very satisfactory clientele, being well versed
in the law and careful and painstaking, and eloquent and interesting both as a
pleader before a jury and as a public speaker. Politically, he is a Republican
and has taken more than a passing interest in the affairs of his party for some
time, and in the fall of 1908 he was honored by his constituents by being
elected state senator of the fortieth senatorial district, comprising the
counties of Allamakee and Fayette, and his record in the Legislature as a
champion of the rights of the people whom he represented was such as to win the
approval and admiration of all classes. In religious matters he is a
Presbyterian and a liberal supporter of the local church.
Mr. Adams is
prominent in fraternal circles also, belonging to the local lodge of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of the Eastern Star
and the Modern Woodmen of America, also holds membership in the Phi Delta Phi, a
law fraternity, and the Historical and Literary Club.
On January 5,
1898, Mr. Adams formed a matrimonial alliance with Ina S. HOLMES,
the cultured and accomplished daughter of David A. and Sarah (CARTER)
HOLMES, of Donnan, Iowa, and this union has been graced by the
birth of two children, Maude, born April 8, 1902, and Edith Kate, born January
31, 1906.
Personally, Mr. Adams takes a high rank as one of Fayette
county's representative citizens, his life having been lived in such a manner as
to win and retain the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is a man of
high educational attainments; always a student, he keeps abreast of the times in
all matters of general interest and is familiar with the world's best literature
on a great diversity of themes. He is the possessor of a high order of literary
ability and whatever he writes or says is given a ready hearing and proper
consideration, and there is no man in the county who is held in higher esteem by
the population, regardless of all sects, politics or profession."
