William Adams was a fixture with his horse and wagon in front of the Golden Eagle Hotel at K Street and 7th for many years. He drove the express wagon that picked up and dropped off many a traveler who frequented the well-known Sacramento hostelry. William was an African-American who was born in Urbana, Ohio to Lewis and Susan Adams in 1818. His father was a Freed Person of Color (FPOC) who according to one article could not be kept around the other slaves in Kentucky by "his slaving-owning parents" because of his disposition. He was freed in 1813 and sent to Ohio. Lewis and Susan Adams were well-known in the Urbana community. William's father was affiliated with an Abolitionist newspaper, and was a member of the Underground Railroad in its efforts to assist slaves who headed north for freedom in the pre-Civil War days. William was one of at least five children. At some point William headed west to California. For many years he drove the express wagon and was employed by the Golden Eagle Hotel. He was a member of the Philomathean Lodge of the Masonic Order and when he died of diabetes at the age of 53, he was given full honors by the order. He was embalmed, but due to the fact that his only family were in Ohio, and it was decided to await their directives as to his burial, he was not buried for over a year. The news article references how well he was embalmed and that he was still recognizable to those who knew him when he was finally buried November 6, 1872 at New Helvetia Cemetery where he could "Rest in Peace". But, as history would have it, the land became too valuable at New Helvetia Cemetery, so William and thousands of others were relocated to East Lawn Cemetery 1955-1956. So much for a final resting place. There is a plot behind the Main Building which contains the mass grave of so many pioneers, like William, who were initially buried at New Helvetia. (Another African-American, Moses Gibson, was buried the same day as William Adams at New Helvetia on November 6, 1872 - hopefully without the long delay).

Researched and written by: "Little Orange in the Big Apple" (Valarie)