Santa Maria Daily Times (Santa Maria, CA.), P. 1, Col. 6 and P. 6, Col. 6
Mon., Dec. 18, 1944
W. C. Adam, 83, Passes Away
Pioneer Valley Settler Dies
Death claimed William Connor Adam, aged 83, one of the early residents of Santa Maria Valley, on Saturday night in a local hospital after a final illness that confined him to the hospital for a week.
Deceased, born near Watsonville Sept. 16, 1861, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William L. Adam, came to the valley in 1869 with his parents when eight years of age and spent his life here. The father opened the first store in Santa Maria Valley before there was a Santa Maria. It stood at the present Santa Maria-Guadalupe Road, west of Santa Maria, on property still in the Adam family.
There were no schools here when the family came and "Will," as he was known to old-timers, attended Santa Ines College at Santa Ines Mission in Santa Ynez Valley, then attended Santa Clara University.
He engaged in farming and ranching in this area, but retired a number of years ago and spent the last years of his life quietly in a home at 1035 West Main Street that he erected some 40 years ago. Mrs. Adam passed away Oct. 6, 1943.
Deceased was the father of Mrs. George (Irene) Pratt and of Leonard H. Adam of Santa Maria, and of Mrs. Frank (Phyllis) Marshall of King City. A son, Elmer C. Adam, died in March, 1943.
Only one grandchild, Jackie Adam, survives. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Adam.
Mrs. Preisker's Brother
Deceased was the brother of Mrs. Isaac Porter, Mrs. C. L. Preisker and Carl Adam of Santa Maria.
Rosary will be said this evening at 8 o'clock in the family home on West Main, and requiem mass tomorrow morning and at 11 in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Santa Maria Cemetery.
The pall bearers will be Fred O. Sherrill, William Porter, John Gray, W. P. Adam, Dewey Werling and James Adam.
Services will be in charge of the Dudley Mortuary.