Private JOHN WESLEY ADAMS, Co. F, 77th Illinois

John W. Adams was born on ____________ __, 184__ (c. 1845) in Ohio, very likely Franklin County. He was the son of William Luther Adams, who was born c. December __, 1820/21 in Delaware, and Nancy J. (Timmons) Adams, who was born in Ohio c. 18__. The Adams' were married in the late 1830's or early 1840's in Ohio, where they had two sons. William L. Adams brought wife and two young sons west to Illinois in 1847 and was one of the pioneer settlers of Knox county. To provide for his family he followed various pursuits. His wife, Nancy, died soon after the removal to Knox county but William L. Adams lived to an advanced age. In the family were three sons and two daughters. They include: Wilson; John W.; Henry; Jennie, the wife of Edward Phillips; and Anna, living in Mulvane, Kansas.
The children born to William and Nancy include;
1. Wilson Adams, born Dec. 8, 1843/44 in Columbia, Franklin County, Ohio; Wilson served in the Civil War as a Private in Company F of the 67th Illinois Infantry; Wilson was married to Rebecca Jane Kerns (1846 - 1940) on December 21, 1865 in ____________ County, Illinois.
The following is from the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois;
"Wilson Adams
Farmer; Elba Township; born December 8, 1843, in Franklin County, Ohio; educated in the common schools. His parents were William L. and Nancy J. (Timons) Adams of Delaware and Ohio, respectively. He was born in Salem Township December 21, 1865, to Rebecca J. Kerns. She was born October 23, 1846. and is a daughter of Alex and Matilda Kerns who are deceased. Their children are: Frank Leslie, born September 23, 1866; Effa C., born July 20, 1868, died April 9, 1870. Mr. Adams came with his father in 1847 to Knox County and to Yates City in 1861. He enlisted in Company F, Sixty-seventh Illinois Volunteers. After the war he was harness maker for twenty-two years and ran a hotel in Yates City for ten years. He now has a farm of eighty acres in Section 3. He is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 448. Yates City, of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 98, and of O.E.S., Chapter No. 256. Mr. Adams is a republican in politics."
At the time of his father's death in 1904, Wilson is recorded as living in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois.
Rebecca died on ____________ __, 1940, while Wilson Adams died on Aug. 30, 1927 in Knox County, Illinois and their mortal remains were laid in the Yates City Cemetery in Yates City, Knox County, Illinois; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.

2. John W. Adams, born c. 1845 in Ohio; See his biography below.

3. Henry Adams, born c. 1846 in Knox County, Illinois.

4. Emily J. Adams, born c. 1849/50 in Knox County, Illinois. Emily is found with the family in Knox County, Illinois in the 1850 and 1860 census records, but may have died shortly after the 1860 census was taken or perhaps she is the Anna, maybe Emma, who was residing in Mulvane, Kansas at a later date.

5. Martha Jane "Jennie" Adams, born c. 1855/56 in Knox County, Illinois. According to Illinois State Marriage Records, JANE ADAMS was married to EDGAR W. PHILLIPS on March 24, 1868 in Knox County, Illinois.
Is this the correct Jane? She is found in Germanville, Livingston County, Illinois at the time of the 1880 census. Her father and mother are listed as having been born in Illinois and Ohio, which would be correct for mother but not for father;
Edward Phillips Self M 34 Illinois, United States
Jane M Phillips Wife F 27 Illinois, United States
William Phillips Son M 9 Illinois, United States
Clara E Phillips Daughter F 7 Illinois, United States
George Phillips Son M 3 Illinois, United States
Cornelius Thompson Other M 20 Ohio, United States

(Possibly) 6. Anna Adams, born c. 18__. Anna is known to have lived in Mulvane, Kansas.

At the time of the 1850 census, the Adams family is found in Knox County, Illinois;
Wm L Adams M 28 Delaware
Nancy J Adams F 24 Ohio
Wilson Adams M 6 Ohio
John W Adams M 6 Ohio
Henry Adams M 4 Illinois
Emily J Adams F 0 Illinois

At the time of the 1860 census, the Adams family is found Salem Township, Knox County, Illinois;
W L Adams M 40 Delaware
Nancy J Adams F 37 Ohio
Willson Adams M 17 Ohio
John W Adams M 14 Ohio
Henry Adams M 12 Illinois
Emily J Adams F 10 Illinois
Martha J Adams F 4 Illinois

At the time of the 1900 census, William L. Adams is found residing on Union Street in the village of Yates City, Salem Township, Knox County, Illinois. He is listed as being widowed and as being a stock & feed merchant;
William L. Adams 79 Dec 1821 Widowed Delaware Delaware Delaware

William apparently moved to Brimfield, Illinois in Peoria County sometime after this census, as his obituary lists him dying in his home in Brimfield. William Luther Adams died on April 26, 1904 in his home in Brimfield, Illinois. His mortal remains were laid in the Yates City Cemetery in Yates City, Knox County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave memorial # 183800984.
The following is the condensed obituary which appeared in the Peoria Journal edition of April 30, 1904;
"W.L. Adams, 84 years, died at his home in Brimfield April 26. He died of old age. Children mentioned: Wilson of Galesburg, Henry of Brimfield, Mrs Jennie Phillips and Anna of Kansas."

Now to continue with the biography of John W. Adams;
On December 29, 1863, John W. Adams went into Elmwood, where he went into a recruiting office and volynteered for service in the Union Army. He volunteered to serve as a Recruit in the 77th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which had been organized at Peoria, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on September 3, 1862. Serving under Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, the 77th Illinois Volunteers participated in the bloody initial phase of the Vicksburg Campaign, during which several days of futile Union attacks were launched before a protracted siege was made and won. After participating in the first Vicksburg battles, the 77th was part of the group of Union troops marched to the east, where on May 14, 1863, they took part in the Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, leading to the fall of that city.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Name ADAMS, JOHN W Rank PVT
Company F Unit 77 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence YATES CITY, KNOX CO, IL
Age 18 Height 5' 3 Hair BROWN
Eyes BLUE Complexion FAIR
Marital Status _______
Occupation FARMER Nativity OH

Service Record
Joined When DEC 29, 1863
Joined Where ELMWOOD, IL
Joined By Whom COL GRIER
Period 3 YRS Muster In JAN 31, 1864
Muster In Where SPRINGFIELD, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out
Muster Out Where
Muster Out By Whom
Remarks TRANS TO 130 ILL INF

Private John W. Adams was sent to Springfield, Illinois where he was mustered into the service and assigned to Co. F of the 77th Illinois. He was then sent south with a number of other recruits to join the 77th. The successes of 1863, were followed up in the spring of 1864 by a catastrophe. In April 1864, having marched into Louisiana towards Alexandria, the unit was isolated and crushed in a cavalry support operation at the Battle of Sabine Cross-roads, also known as the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana. Some 176 officers and men of the 77th Illinois were killed, wounded, or captured, leaving only 125 members of the regiment fit for duty.
Of the Battle of Mansfield, Wikipedia states, "The Battle of Mansfield on April 8, 1864 in Louisiana formed part of the Red River Campaign during the American Civil War, when Union forces were attempting to occupy the Louisiana state capital, Shreveport. The Confederate commander, Major General Richard Taylor, chose Mansfield as the place where he would make his stand against the advancing Union army under General Nathaniel Banks. Taylor concentrated his forces at Sabine Crossroads, knowing that reinforcements were nearby. Banks prepared for a fight, though his own army was not fully assembled either. Both sides were reinforced by stages throughout the day. After a brief resistance, the Union army was routed by the Confederates, consisting mainly of units from Louisiana and Texas, reportedly strengthened by hundreds of men breaking parole."
On January 14, 1865, the 130th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry was consolidated with the 77th to bring the regiment up to strength. After the war came to a close, the original surviving members of the 77th were mustered out of the service on July 10, 1865, they having participated in 16 battles and the late war recruits of the 77th, like Private John W. Adams, were rolled into the 130th Regiment (Revised). Private John W. Adams was assigned, at that time, to Co. B of the 130th Regiment.

Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Detail Report
Illinois State Archives

Name ADAMS, JOHN W Rank PVT
Company B Unit 130 IL US INF REV

Personal Characteristics
Residence _____ Age 18 Height _____
Hair _____ Eyes _____ Complexion _____
Marital Status _____
Occupation _____ Nativity _____

Service Record
Joined When DEC 29, 1863
Joined Where ELMWOOD, IL
Joined By Whom COL GRIER
Period 3 YRS
Muster In JAN 20, 1864
Muster In Where CAMP BUTLER, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out AUG 15, 1865
Muster Out Where NEW ORLEANS, LA
Muster Out By Whom CPT HAWK

At the time they he was rolled into the 130th, the 130th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry were stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, doing garrison duty. The remaining men of the 130th were mustered out of the service on August 15, 1875, there in New Orleans and before too long, they were placed on trains bound for Illinois. By the end of September of 1865, Private John Wesley Adams was most likely back home in Central Illinois.
John W. Adams was 1st married to Catherine A. "Katie" McCoy on May 28, 1868 in Knox County, Illinois. Catherine was born on October 16, 1850 in ___________ County, Illinois, the daughter of ____________ McCoy and ____________ (____________) McCoy.
At least two daughters were born to John and Katie. She is;
1. Leafy M. Adams, born c. 1969 in Knox County, Illinois.

2. Ida Adams, born c. 1870/71 in Knox County, Illinois.

At the time of the 1870 census, John and Catherine are found in Maquon Township of Knox County, Illinois, where is farming;
Wesley Adams M 22 Illinois, United States
Catherine Adams F 20 Illinois, United States
Leafy M Adams F 1 Illinois, United States

Catherine A. "Katie" (McCoy) Adams died on 18 Nov 1872 at the age of 22y, 1m & 2d. Her mortal remains were laid in the Yates City Cemetery in Yates City, Knox County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial #90005816.

Sometime in the 1870's, John got a job with the ________________ Railroad. He worked for the Railroad for over 25 years. John Wesley Adams was married 2nd to Abigail "Abbie" Smith on August 3, 1876 in Knox County, Illinois. Abigail Smith was born c. 1855/56 in Illinois, the daughter of _____________ Smith and ____________ (____________) Smith, who were both apparently born in New York.

John and Abigail were the parents of four children, including;
3. William Adams, born December __, 1877 in Knox County, Illinois

4. Lee Adams, born December __, 1879 in Knox County, Illinois

5. Harley Adams, born September __, 1883 in Knox County, Illinois.

6. Vada Adams, born January __, 1890 in Knox County, Illinois

At the time of the 1880 census, John and his family are found in the village of Yates City, Yates Township, Knox County, Illinois, where he is working as R. R, Labor;
J W Adams Self M 34 Ohio
Abigail Adams Wife F 24 Illinois
Leafy Adams Daughter F 11 Illinois
Ida Adams Daughter F 9 Illinois
William Adams Son M 2 Illinois
Lee Adams Son M 0 Illinois

In 1885, John was working as a brakeman in the railroad yard when he was struck by a freight car and permanently injured, hurting his left shoulder and right leg, which had a compound fracture. At the time of the 1900 census, John and his family are found living in Ward 5 of the city of Galesburg, Galesburg Township, Knox County, Illinois, where he is working as a R. R. Conductor;
John Adams Head M 50 Ohio
Abbie Adams Wife F 44 Illinois
William Adams Son M 23 Illinois
Lee Adams Son M 21 Illinois
Harley Adams Son M 17 Illinois
Vada Adams Daughter F 10 Illinois

According to his death certificate, John Wesley Adams died 11 Feb 1902 in Galesburg and was buried in Yates City (undertaker Kimber + West of Galesburg) on the 13th. His wife, Abbie Octavia Smith Adams was also buried in Yates City (undertaker William C. Palmer) in 1931. I have not gone to Yates City Cemetery to search for gravemarkers or burial cards though I am planning a trip soon. Find-A-Grave lists Yates City cemetery as 91% photographed but only 23 Adams' are found, neither John or Abbie among them. John's first wife Catherine A. McCoy's gravemarker is photographed (memorial 90005816). The stone looks square so there may be other names on it though none are listed.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Abby Peart-Camarato, Find A Grave Contributor #48787572, who is a Great great granddaughter of John W. Adams. Abby's email address is [email protected]