From "Biographical Record of Kane County, Illinois," pages 86-87
"JOHN MANLY ADAMS, a leading photographer of Elgin, was born September 9. 1833, at Aimer, Canada, and is a son of Edward and Abigail (Padelford) Adams, natives of Oxford, England, and Massachusetts, respectively. During his boyhood the father crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Canada, where he married and continued to live until his removal to Kane county, Illinois, in 1843, locating in Elgin. Throughout life he followed the occupation of shoemaking. He died in 1877, his wife April 27, 1857; both consistent and worthy members of the Baptist church.
In the public schools of Canada John M. Adams began his education, being ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Elgin, where he attended the high school until sixteen years old. Three years later he started out to earn his livelihood by manufacturing mattresses, at which occupation he was engaged for three or four years with fair success. For about five years following he worked at the plasterer's trade, and then very successfully engaged in the butchering business for the four years preceding the Civil war. In 1861 he began learning photography, to which art he has since devoted his time and attention, and is now one of its most able representatives in Kane county. Being one of the best photographers in Elgin, he receives a liberal patronage, and as an upright, honorable business man, he commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he conies in contact.
In October, 1851, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Elgin with her parents, Samuel J. Johnson and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two children, namely: Spencer M., a photographer; and Mattie A., now the widow of Alfred Kingsley, of Barrington, Cook county, Illinois, and a resident of Elgin. The mother of these children, who was a consistent member of the Baptist church, dying in October, 1879, Mr. Adams was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara (Duston) Saunders, a native of Canada, and widow of Charles 'Saunders. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Adams has always been a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in politics, always refusing to accept office. He is a member of the Photographers' Association of the United States, and often attends their conventions."
A biographical sketch and photo can be found in the July 24 1968 column of "Old Elgin Tales" by Hazel Belle Perry. Originally published in the Elgin Free Press, the articles can now be found at the Elgin History Museum or the Gail Borden Public Library. Additional photos of and by Adams are in the collection of the Elgin History Museum.
"JOHN MANLY ADAMS, a leading photographer of Elgin, was born September 9. 1833, at Aimer, Canada, and is a son of Edward and Abigail (Padelford) Adams, natives of Oxford, England, and Massachusetts, respectively. During his boyhood the father crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Canada, where he married and continued to live until his removal to Kane county, Illinois, in 1843, locating in Elgin. Throughout life he followed the occupation of shoemaking. He died in 1877, his wife April 27, 1857; both consistent and worthy members of the Baptist church.
In the public schools of Canada John M. Adams began his education, being ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Elgin, where he attended the high school until sixteen years old. Three years later he started out to earn his livelihood by manufacturing mattresses, at which occupation he was engaged for three or four years with fair success. For about five years following he worked at the plasterer's trade, and then very successfully engaged in the butchering business for the four years preceding the Civil war. In 1861 he began learning photography, to which art he has since devoted his time and attention, and is now one of its most able representatives in Kane county. Being one of the best photographers in Elgin, he receives a liberal patronage, and as an upright, honorable business man, he commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he conies in contact.
In October, 1851, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Elgin with her parents, Samuel J. Johnson and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two children, namely: Spencer M., a photographer; and Mattie A., now the widow of Alfred Kingsley, of Barrington, Cook county, Illinois, and a resident of Elgin. The mother of these children, who was a consistent member of the Baptist church, dying in October, 1879, Mr. Adams was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara (Duston) Saunders, a native of Canada, and widow of Charles 'Saunders. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Adams has always been a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in politics, always refusing to accept office. He is a member of the Photographers' Association of the United States, and often attends their conventions."
A biographical sketch and photo can be found in the July 24 1968 column of "Old Elgin Tales" by Hazel Belle Perry. Originally published in the Elgin Free Press, the articles can now be found at the Elgin History Museum or the Gail Borden Public Library. Additional photos of and by Adams are in the collection of the Elgin History Museum.
From "Biographical Record of Kane County, Illinois," pages 86-87
"JOHN MANLY ADAMS, a leading photographer of Elgin, was born September 9. 1833, at Aimer, Canada, and is a son of Edward and Abigail (Padelford) Adams, natives of Oxford, England, and Massachusetts, respectively. During his boyhood the father crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Canada, where he married and continued to live until his removal to Kane county, Illinois, in 1843, locating in Elgin. Throughout life he followed the occupation of shoemaking. He died in 1877, his wife April 27, 1857; both consistent and worthy members of the Baptist church.
In the public schools of Canada John M. Adams began his education, being ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Elgin, where he attended the high school until sixteen years old. Three years later he started out to earn his livelihood by manufacturing mattresses, at which occupation he was engaged for three or four years with fair success. For about five years following he worked at the plasterer's trade, and then very successfully engaged in the butchering business for the four years preceding the Civil war. In 1861 he began learning photography, to which art he has since devoted his time and attention, and is now one of its most able representatives in Kane county. Being one of the best photographers in Elgin, he receives a liberal patronage, and as an upright, honorable business man, he commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he conies in contact.
In October, 1851, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Elgin with her parents, Samuel J. Johnson and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two children, namely: Spencer M., a photographer; and Mattie A., now the widow of Alfred Kingsley, of Barrington, Cook county, Illinois, and a resident of Elgin. The mother of these children, who was a consistent member of the Baptist church, dying in October, 1879, Mr. Adams was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara (Duston) Saunders, a native of Canada, and widow of Charles 'Saunders. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Adams has always been a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in politics, always refusing to accept office. He is a member of the Photographers' Association of the United States, and often attends their conventions."
A biographical sketch and photo can be found in the July 24 1968 column of "Old Elgin Tales" by Hazel Belle Perry. Originally published in the Elgin Free Press, the articles can now be found at the Elgin History Museum or the Gail Borden Public Library. Additional photos of and by Adams are in the collection of the Elgin History Museum.
"JOHN MANLY ADAMS, a leading photographer of Elgin, was born September 9. 1833, at Aimer, Canada, and is a son of Edward and Abigail (Padelford) Adams, natives of Oxford, England, and Massachusetts, respectively. During his boyhood the father crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Canada, where he married and continued to live until his removal to Kane county, Illinois, in 1843, locating in Elgin. Throughout life he followed the occupation of shoemaking. He died in 1877, his wife April 27, 1857; both consistent and worthy members of the Baptist church.
In the public schools of Canada John M. Adams began his education, being ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Elgin, where he attended the high school until sixteen years old. Three years later he started out to earn his livelihood by manufacturing mattresses, at which occupation he was engaged for three or four years with fair success. For about five years following he worked at the plasterer's trade, and then very successfully engaged in the butchering business for the four years preceding the Civil war. In 1861 he began learning photography, to which art he has since devoted his time and attention, and is now one of its most able representatives in Kane county. Being one of the best photographers in Elgin, he receives a liberal patronage, and as an upright, honorable business man, he commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he conies in contact.
In October, 1851, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Elgin with her parents, Samuel J. Johnson and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two children, namely: Spencer M., a photographer; and Mattie A., now the widow of Alfred Kingsley, of Barrington, Cook county, Illinois, and a resident of Elgin. The mother of these children, who was a consistent member of the Baptist church, dying in October, 1879, Mr. Adams was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara (Duston) Saunders, a native of Canada, and widow of Charles 'Saunders. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Adams has always been a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in politics, always refusing to accept office. He is a member of the Photographers' Association of the United States, and often attends their conventions."
A biographical sketch and photo can be found in the July 24 1968 column of "Old Elgin Tales" by Hazel Belle Perry. Originally published in the Elgin Free Press, the articles can now be found at the Elgin History Museum or the Gail Borden Public Library. Additional photos of and by Adams are in the collection of the Elgin History Museum.
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