In: Delphos Republican
July 30, 1909
Mayor John R. Adams Died Monday July 26
When the death angel claims a good man, a kind, tender and brave man, it ought not be hard to write of his live and labors, and yet our pen falters and we feel utterly inadequate to the task we now undertake.
It is customary to utter meaningless platitudes above the ashes of those who have been merely materially successful, but such utterances would be an insult to the memory of John R. Adams. For us is the task to come in honesty and sincerity as the bearer of the tribute of a whole community to the memory of a good, brave and noble man.
Monday morning, when the words passed through the community, "John Adams is dead", tears sprang to the eyes of men unused to tears. It was not alone the knowledge that the community had suffered a crushing blow that moved men, it was the feeling of the loss of a personal friend. Every true and loving soul radiates a friendship that touches a multitude of responsive souls and makes them feel almost at kin with him and this was true of John R. Adams. Men who had known him but briefly, measured by the flight of time, felt strongly drawn to him. He possessed few of the attributes of the superficially popular man. Reserved, sensitive, almost shy, not in popular parlance a 'mixer', he nevertheless won the regard of the people of the community, who loved and trusted him. He was an unusually successful businessman but it was not material success that was the magnet which drew people. Successful businessmen are often respected, sometimes feared, but seldom loved. At them are frequently hurled the darts of the envious or malicious. But few of these darts were hurled at John R. Adams and if hurled they glanced harmlessly off his armor, which was the armor of righteousness. It was natural that such a man should serve the people and serve them he did with a devotedness and unselfishness seldom equaled. As a member of the board of education, he had for several years given much time and thought to the welfare of the schools. As mayor of Delphos, for several months past, he had given more time to the public service than he had to his own business. Already an overburdened man, he took up the duties of the mayor's office at a time when those duties were numerous and pressing and by sheer willpower and force of intellect mastered them. We have marveled at his familiarity with all the details connected with the water and lights systems. He knew all about engines and valves, generators, meters, electrical wiring, bonds, rates, interest, kilowatts and regulations; this knowledge for a busy merchant, of all these things, was marvelous. His was a strong intellect and a strong will and he freely gave of his time and abilities to the public service and it was in the service that he met with the accident that caused his death.
The story of the injury that caused his death is familiar to most. Painful it was, but it seems but a trifle to cause the death of such a man. He was at the waterworks well and took hold the spokes of a wagon to try and help start and an overloaded team, one of the horses being, as he pathetically remarked during his last illness, a poor old blind horse. The wagon bed had slipped, bringing it so close to the wheel that one of his thumbs was caught and badly torn. It was a painful injury but no one dreamed, himself least of all, that any serious results would follow. The injury was received early in the week and caused him a good deal of pain and discomfort for several days but it was not until Friday evening that alarming symptoms developed and soon it was known that he was the victim of that dread and mysterious disease lockjaw. Everything that medical science could do was done for him. Tetanus serum was secured from Beloit and administered and the telephone and telegraph were used to secure other supplies of the serum which arrived too late. All efforts in behalf of the sufferer were unavailing and the death angel mercifully released him at 12:20 o'clock Monday morning.
John Roscoe Adams, eldest son of John and Julia Adams, was born in Woalpole, New Hampshire June 20, 1862 and died July 26, 1909 at his home in Delphos, Kansas. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sward in July 1888. To this union were born five children, all of whom are living and at home. When he married Miss Sward he was engaged in business in Marquette, Kansas. In 1889 he was in the same business in Langley, Kansas, moving with his family to Delphos in 1901, and here building up one of the largest stores in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a generous giver to all its needs. While at Langley he was a trustee of the Church and was a member of the building committee that erected the beautiful church in Delphos. He often said, "I would not live in a community where there were no churches." He was a loyal member of the Odd Fellows. He leaves a wife, Mrs. John R. Adams, his five sons, John O., Chas. E., William A., Alva S. and Frank M. Adams; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Adams, and three brothers and two sisters, E.W., A.E., W.W. and Mrs. Bertha Star and Mrs Lottie Ballard to mourn his departure.
The funeral services were held at the home Thursday morning July 29 at 10:00 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. C.M. Snyder. Burial was at the Delphos Cemetery; the beautiful ritualistic service of the Odd Fellows being used at the graveside.
As a mark of respect, all business houses were closed from 9:30 to 12:00 and the funeral was one of the most largely attended in the history of Delphos, many coming from other towns and from many miles in the country. Mayor McMillan came with a delegation from Minneapolis.
The members of the city council, together with the appointive officers, acted as pallbearers. The floral remembrances were numerous and beautiful.
The sympathy of the people of the community is with those who mourn his departure. Nothing we can say will assuage their grief, but they will find consolation in the knowledge that he so lived that when the summons came he was ready to meet his Creator face to face and enter into the larger, better life given to all who love and serve their fellow men.
July 30, 1909
Mayor John R. Adams Died Monday July 26
When the death angel claims a good man, a kind, tender and brave man, it ought not be hard to write of his live and labors, and yet our pen falters and we feel utterly inadequate to the task we now undertake.
It is customary to utter meaningless platitudes above the ashes of those who have been merely materially successful, but such utterances would be an insult to the memory of John R. Adams. For us is the task to come in honesty and sincerity as the bearer of the tribute of a whole community to the memory of a good, brave and noble man.
Monday morning, when the words passed through the community, "John Adams is dead", tears sprang to the eyes of men unused to tears. It was not alone the knowledge that the community had suffered a crushing blow that moved men, it was the feeling of the loss of a personal friend. Every true and loving soul radiates a friendship that touches a multitude of responsive souls and makes them feel almost at kin with him and this was true of John R. Adams. Men who had known him but briefly, measured by the flight of time, felt strongly drawn to him. He possessed few of the attributes of the superficially popular man. Reserved, sensitive, almost shy, not in popular parlance a 'mixer', he nevertheless won the regard of the people of the community, who loved and trusted him. He was an unusually successful businessman but it was not material success that was the magnet which drew people. Successful businessmen are often respected, sometimes feared, but seldom loved. At them are frequently hurled the darts of the envious or malicious. But few of these darts were hurled at John R. Adams and if hurled they glanced harmlessly off his armor, which was the armor of righteousness. It was natural that such a man should serve the people and serve them he did with a devotedness and unselfishness seldom equaled. As a member of the board of education, he had for several years given much time and thought to the welfare of the schools. As mayor of Delphos, for several months past, he had given more time to the public service than he had to his own business. Already an overburdened man, he took up the duties of the mayor's office at a time when those duties were numerous and pressing and by sheer willpower and force of intellect mastered them. We have marveled at his familiarity with all the details connected with the water and lights systems. He knew all about engines and valves, generators, meters, electrical wiring, bonds, rates, interest, kilowatts and regulations; this knowledge for a busy merchant, of all these things, was marvelous. His was a strong intellect and a strong will and he freely gave of his time and abilities to the public service and it was in the service that he met with the accident that caused his death.
The story of the injury that caused his death is familiar to most. Painful it was, but it seems but a trifle to cause the death of such a man. He was at the waterworks well and took hold the spokes of a wagon to try and help start and an overloaded team, one of the horses being, as he pathetically remarked during his last illness, a poor old blind horse. The wagon bed had slipped, bringing it so close to the wheel that one of his thumbs was caught and badly torn. It was a painful injury but no one dreamed, himself least of all, that any serious results would follow. The injury was received early in the week and caused him a good deal of pain and discomfort for several days but it was not until Friday evening that alarming symptoms developed and soon it was known that he was the victim of that dread and mysterious disease lockjaw. Everything that medical science could do was done for him. Tetanus serum was secured from Beloit and administered and the telephone and telegraph were used to secure other supplies of the serum which arrived too late. All efforts in behalf of the sufferer were unavailing and the death angel mercifully released him at 12:20 o'clock Monday morning.
John Roscoe Adams, eldest son of John and Julia Adams, was born in Woalpole, New Hampshire June 20, 1862 and died July 26, 1909 at his home in Delphos, Kansas. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sward in July 1888. To this union were born five children, all of whom are living and at home. When he married Miss Sward he was engaged in business in Marquette, Kansas. In 1889 he was in the same business in Langley, Kansas, moving with his family to Delphos in 1901, and here building up one of the largest stores in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a generous giver to all its needs. While at Langley he was a trustee of the Church and was a member of the building committee that erected the beautiful church in Delphos. He often said, "I would not live in a community where there were no churches." He was a loyal member of the Odd Fellows. He leaves a wife, Mrs. John R. Adams, his five sons, John O., Chas. E., William A., Alva S. and Frank M. Adams; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Adams, and three brothers and two sisters, E.W., A.E., W.W. and Mrs. Bertha Star and Mrs Lottie Ballard to mourn his departure.
The funeral services were held at the home Thursday morning July 29 at 10:00 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. C.M. Snyder. Burial was at the Delphos Cemetery; the beautiful ritualistic service of the Odd Fellows being used at the graveside.
As a mark of respect, all business houses were closed from 9:30 to 12:00 and the funeral was one of the most largely attended in the history of Delphos, many coming from other towns and from many miles in the country. Mayor McMillan came with a delegation from Minneapolis.
The members of the city council, together with the appointive officers, acted as pallbearers. The floral remembrances were numerous and beautiful.
The sympathy of the people of the community is with those who mourn his departure. Nothing we can say will assuage their grief, but they will find consolation in the knowledge that he so lived that when the summons came he was ready to meet his Creator face to face and enter into the larger, better life given to all who love and serve their fellow men.
In: Delphos Republican
July 30, 1909
Mayor John R. Adams Died Monday July 26
When the death angel claims a good man, a kind, tender and brave man, it ought not be hard to write of his live and labors, and yet our pen falters and we feel utterly inadequate to the task we now undertake.
It is customary to utter meaningless platitudes above the ashes of those who have been merely materially successful, but such utterances would be an insult to the memory of John R. Adams. For us is the task to come in honesty and sincerity as the bearer of the tribute of a whole community to the memory of a good, brave and noble man.
Monday morning, when the words passed through the community, "John Adams is dead", tears sprang to the eyes of men unused to tears. It was not alone the knowledge that the community had suffered a crushing blow that moved men, it was the feeling of the loss of a personal friend. Every true and loving soul radiates a friendship that touches a multitude of responsive souls and makes them feel almost at kin with him and this was true of John R. Adams. Men who had known him but briefly, measured by the flight of time, felt strongly drawn to him. He possessed few of the attributes of the superficially popular man. Reserved, sensitive, almost shy, not in popular parlance a 'mixer', he nevertheless won the regard of the people of the community, who loved and trusted him. He was an unusually successful businessman but it was not material success that was the magnet which drew people. Successful businessmen are often respected, sometimes feared, but seldom loved. At them are frequently hurled the darts of the envious or malicious. But few of these darts were hurled at John R. Adams and if hurled they glanced harmlessly off his armor, which was the armor of righteousness. It was natural that such a man should serve the people and serve them he did with a devotedness and unselfishness seldom equaled. As a member of the board of education, he had for several years given much time and thought to the welfare of the schools. As mayor of Delphos, for several months past, he had given more time to the public service than he had to his own business. Already an overburdened man, he took up the duties of the mayor's office at a time when those duties were numerous and pressing and by sheer willpower and force of intellect mastered them. We have marveled at his familiarity with all the details connected with the water and lights systems. He knew all about engines and valves, generators, meters, electrical wiring, bonds, rates, interest, kilowatts and regulations; this knowledge for a busy merchant, of all these things, was marvelous. His was a strong intellect and a strong will and he freely gave of his time and abilities to the public service and it was in the service that he met with the accident that caused his death.
The story of the injury that caused his death is familiar to most. Painful it was, but it seems but a trifle to cause the death of such a man. He was at the waterworks well and took hold the spokes of a wagon to try and help start and an overloaded team, one of the horses being, as he pathetically remarked during his last illness, a poor old blind horse. The wagon bed had slipped, bringing it so close to the wheel that one of his thumbs was caught and badly torn. It was a painful injury but no one dreamed, himself least of all, that any serious results would follow. The injury was received early in the week and caused him a good deal of pain and discomfort for several days but it was not until Friday evening that alarming symptoms developed and soon it was known that he was the victim of that dread and mysterious disease lockjaw. Everything that medical science could do was done for him. Tetanus serum was secured from Beloit and administered and the telephone and telegraph were used to secure other supplies of the serum which arrived too late. All efforts in behalf of the sufferer were unavailing and the death angel mercifully released him at 12:20 o'clock Monday morning.
John Roscoe Adams, eldest son of John and Julia Adams, was born in Woalpole, New Hampshire June 20, 1862 and died July 26, 1909 at his home in Delphos, Kansas. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sward in July 1888. To this union were born five children, all of whom are living and at home. When he married Miss Sward he was engaged in business in Marquette, Kansas. In 1889 he was in the same business in Langley, Kansas, moving with his family to Delphos in 1901, and here building up one of the largest stores in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a generous giver to all its needs. While at Langley he was a trustee of the Church and was a member of the building committee that erected the beautiful church in Delphos. He often said, "I would not live in a community where there were no churches." He was a loyal member of the Odd Fellows. He leaves a wife, Mrs. John R. Adams, his five sons, John O., Chas. E., William A., Alva S. and Frank M. Adams; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Adams, and three brothers and two sisters, E.W., A.E., W.W. and Mrs. Bertha Star and Mrs Lottie Ballard to mourn his departure.
The funeral services were held at the home Thursday morning July 29 at 10:00 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. C.M. Snyder. Burial was at the Delphos Cemetery; the beautiful ritualistic service of the Odd Fellows being used at the graveside.
As a mark of respect, all business houses were closed from 9:30 to 12:00 and the funeral was one of the most largely attended in the history of Delphos, many coming from other towns and from many miles in the country. Mayor McMillan came with a delegation from Minneapolis.
The members of the city council, together with the appointive officers, acted as pallbearers. The floral remembrances were numerous and beautiful.
The sympathy of the people of the community is with those who mourn his departure. Nothing we can say will assuage their grief, but they will find consolation in the knowledge that he so lived that when the summons came he was ready to meet his Creator face to face and enter into the larger, better life given to all who love and serve their fellow men.
July 30, 1909
Mayor John R. Adams Died Monday July 26
When the death angel claims a good man, a kind, tender and brave man, it ought not be hard to write of his live and labors, and yet our pen falters and we feel utterly inadequate to the task we now undertake.
It is customary to utter meaningless platitudes above the ashes of those who have been merely materially successful, but such utterances would be an insult to the memory of John R. Adams. For us is the task to come in honesty and sincerity as the bearer of the tribute of a whole community to the memory of a good, brave and noble man.
Monday morning, when the words passed through the community, "John Adams is dead", tears sprang to the eyes of men unused to tears. It was not alone the knowledge that the community had suffered a crushing blow that moved men, it was the feeling of the loss of a personal friend. Every true and loving soul radiates a friendship that touches a multitude of responsive souls and makes them feel almost at kin with him and this was true of John R. Adams. Men who had known him but briefly, measured by the flight of time, felt strongly drawn to him. He possessed few of the attributes of the superficially popular man. Reserved, sensitive, almost shy, not in popular parlance a 'mixer', he nevertheless won the regard of the people of the community, who loved and trusted him. He was an unusually successful businessman but it was not material success that was the magnet which drew people. Successful businessmen are often respected, sometimes feared, but seldom loved. At them are frequently hurled the darts of the envious or malicious. But few of these darts were hurled at John R. Adams and if hurled they glanced harmlessly off his armor, which was the armor of righteousness. It was natural that such a man should serve the people and serve them he did with a devotedness and unselfishness seldom equaled. As a member of the board of education, he had for several years given much time and thought to the welfare of the schools. As mayor of Delphos, for several months past, he had given more time to the public service than he had to his own business. Already an overburdened man, he took up the duties of the mayor's office at a time when those duties were numerous and pressing and by sheer willpower and force of intellect mastered them. We have marveled at his familiarity with all the details connected with the water and lights systems. He knew all about engines and valves, generators, meters, electrical wiring, bonds, rates, interest, kilowatts and regulations; this knowledge for a busy merchant, of all these things, was marvelous. His was a strong intellect and a strong will and he freely gave of his time and abilities to the public service and it was in the service that he met with the accident that caused his death.
The story of the injury that caused his death is familiar to most. Painful it was, but it seems but a trifle to cause the death of such a man. He was at the waterworks well and took hold the spokes of a wagon to try and help start and an overloaded team, one of the horses being, as he pathetically remarked during his last illness, a poor old blind horse. The wagon bed had slipped, bringing it so close to the wheel that one of his thumbs was caught and badly torn. It was a painful injury but no one dreamed, himself least of all, that any serious results would follow. The injury was received early in the week and caused him a good deal of pain and discomfort for several days but it was not until Friday evening that alarming symptoms developed and soon it was known that he was the victim of that dread and mysterious disease lockjaw. Everything that medical science could do was done for him. Tetanus serum was secured from Beloit and administered and the telephone and telegraph were used to secure other supplies of the serum which arrived too late. All efforts in behalf of the sufferer were unavailing and the death angel mercifully released him at 12:20 o'clock Monday morning.
John Roscoe Adams, eldest son of John and Julia Adams, was born in Woalpole, New Hampshire June 20, 1862 and died July 26, 1909 at his home in Delphos, Kansas. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sward in July 1888. To this union were born five children, all of whom are living and at home. When he married Miss Sward he was engaged in business in Marquette, Kansas. In 1889 he was in the same business in Langley, Kansas, moving with his family to Delphos in 1901, and here building up one of the largest stores in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a generous giver to all its needs. While at Langley he was a trustee of the Church and was a member of the building committee that erected the beautiful church in Delphos. He often said, "I would not live in a community where there were no churches." He was a loyal member of the Odd Fellows. He leaves a wife, Mrs. John R. Adams, his five sons, John O., Chas. E., William A., Alva S. and Frank M. Adams; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Adams, and three brothers and two sisters, E.W., A.E., W.W. and Mrs. Bertha Star and Mrs Lottie Ballard to mourn his departure.
The funeral services were held at the home Thursday morning July 29 at 10:00 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. C.M. Snyder. Burial was at the Delphos Cemetery; the beautiful ritualistic service of the Odd Fellows being used at the graveside.
As a mark of respect, all business houses were closed from 9:30 to 12:00 and the funeral was one of the most largely attended in the history of Delphos, many coming from other towns and from many miles in the country. Mayor McMillan came with a delegation from Minneapolis.
The members of the city council, together with the appointive officers, acted as pallbearers. The floral remembrances were numerous and beautiful.
The sympathy of the people of the community is with those who mourn his departure. Nothing we can say will assuage their grief, but they will find consolation in the knowledge that he so lived that when the summons came he was ready to meet his Creator face to face and enter into the larger, better life given to all who love and serve their fellow men.
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