JAMES T. ADAMS.  In commercial circles at Findlay no name is more familiar than that of Adams Brothers, the members of which have for many years been identified in a conspicuous way with the industries of the city.  Both individually and collectively these brothers have contributed much toward the growth and development of the municipality, being active in connection with the social and educational as well as the business life of the community.  The family is one of ancient origin and honorable record, the founder of the American branch of ancient origin and honorable record, the founder of the American branch having come over while the present New England states were still loyal subjects of the king.  Richard Adams, son of this English emigrant, was born in Massachusetts, took part as a soldier of the line in the epoch making struggle for American independence, and after the war located in Pennsylvania.  The late Rev. William Adams, son of this Revolutionary patriot, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1798, removed in 1837 to Wayne county, Ohio, and in 1860 located at Findlay, where he continued to reside until his death in 1882.  Originally a member of the Presbyterian, he became in later life a minister of the Church of God, in which capacity he was widely and favorably known among religious workers.  This divine was the father of the Adams’ Brothers, referred to above, and whose lives and business careers it is the intention to set forth in this and the subsequent biography.
     James T. Adams was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, Apr. 22, 1825, and was ten years old when his parents removed to Richland county, Ohio.  Such education as he received in childhood was obtained in the schools of Massilon, but it was quite limited as necessity compelled him to go to work for a living when fourteen years old.  He became apprentice to a tinner and after learning the trade was engaged in business at Massilon until 1845, after which he went to Plymouth, Ohio, and worked as a tinsmith for sixteen years.  In 1854 he came to Findlay, resumed his old business as a tinner and continued at that trade for the following ten years, when he decided to abandon this line of work and change his occupation.  His next venture was the establishment of an exclusively hardware store, which he carried with more or less success for five or six years, when he disposed of his interests and began the manufacture of linseed oil.  The venture proving profitable, he continued it for eighteen years, or until 1878, when Mr. Adams joined his brothers in organizing the foundry and machine business which goes by their name.  The business was carried on as a partnership until 1890, when it was incorporated as a company with James T. Adams as president and his brother Newton as treasurer.  These relations have continued up to the present and meanwhile the company has steadily grown in favor and prosperity until their work is familiar in all the marts of northern Ohio devoted to that class of goods.  During his residence of forty-eight years at Findlay, Mr. Adams has been a familiar feature in the city’s life and he has aided in many ways the general advancement.  The people elected him to the city council and he did such good work in that position that there was a general insistence on his retention, and the consequence was that Mr. Adams had to serve sixteen years before he was allowed to retire.  In addition to his councilmanic career, he also did good work on the Findlay school board, of which he was a member about six years.  In 1902 Mr. Adams erected the Adams building 60 x 140 feet, five stories – which is constructed of pressed brick and stone and modern in all of its appointments.  Mr. Adams’ religious convictions are in line with Presbyterian and in politics, though unobtrusively an earnest Republican, he avoids the turmoil and bickering of ultra-partisanship.  He is the oldest Odd Fellow in point of service in Hancock county, also belongs to the Encampment and has filled all the chairs in his lodge.  In 1849 Mr. Adams was married to Harriet L., daughter of Peter Bodine, of Richland county, and of the three children, resulting from this union, the two survivors are Charles F. and Lizzie, wife of John A. Meeks of Findlay. 
Source: Centennial Biographical History of Hancock County, Publ. 1903 - Page 321

NEWTON M. ADAMS.  This gentleman is the treasurer of the well known Adams’ Brothers Company, of which his brother James is president, and they have been connected in business at Findlay for thirty-four years.  But his activities are by no means confined to his duties with the foundry firm, his regular occupation being varied by service in the city council, as chief of the Findlay fire department, and as president of the City Banking Company, which position he holds at the present time.  As the family history has been given in the sketch of James T. Adams, presented above, it will not be necessary to repeat it further than to say that the name of Adams has been a respected one in the various states where its representatives have resided and nowhere else so much as in Ohio, with whose interests they have been identified for more than half a century of active business life.
     Newton M. Adams was born at Plymouth, Ohio, Dec. 3, 1844, and remained at home until the age of fourteen, when the family necessities compelled him to seek work for a livelihood.  Going to Corunna, Indiana, he succeeded in getting employment as clerk in a store, which position he retained until the turmoil incident to the opening of the Civil war turned his attention in other directions.  In short he caught the war fever, and in December, 1863, enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war and meantime rose to the rank of corporal.  Mr. Adams took part with his regiment in Sherman’s memorable “on to Atlanta” campaign in the spring and summer of 1864, but when Hood made his famous break toward Nashville, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth formed part of the troops sent in pursuit.  The most important battles in which Mr. Adams fought were those at Franklin, Nashville and Spring Hill, Tennessee, subsequent to which his regiment was sent to North Carolina where it took part in the closing scenes, including the engagement at Bentonville.  After obtaining his final discharge, Mr. Adams returned directly to his old place at Corunna, remained there three years and in 1869 came to Findlay where he embarked in the stove and tin business.  This venture occupied his attention until 1871 when he joined his brother in organizing a partnership to conduct the foundry and machine business at Findlay, which nine years later eventuated in the corporation since officered by the Adams Brothers.  He has been one of the important factors in the success of this popular plant, as he is not only a man of great energy and perseverance, but is noted for the clearness and coolness of his business judgment.  These qualities caused him to be elected to the council, where the city needed his services, also made him a gas trustee and led to his appointment to the responsible post of chief of the fire department.
     In 1868 Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of Levi Brown, and they have four children:  Bestor E.; James T.; Donald B. and Jeanette.  Mr. Adams has long been an enthusiastic Odd Fellow and by virtue of his military services is a welcome comrade of Post No. 54, Grand Army of the Republic. 
Source: Centennial Biographical History of Hancock County, Publ. 1903 - Page 323

W. H. ADELSPERGER.  It gives the publishers of this volume pleasure to do honor to the old soldier element of the county.  In the past it has been the custom to give recognition only to those who were high in office and took a prominent part in the great struggle for the maintenance of the constitution.  We believe, however, that no man who unselfishly gave his services to his country during the dark days of the Civil war should be slighted in written history if it is possible to give him mention.  We are therefore glad to present to our readers the name of one of this honored element.  Mr. Adelsperger is at the presnt time a prominent agriculturist residing in Big Lick township, where he owns and operates a large tract of four hundred and forty acres of land.  He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, and is looked upon as one of the best farmers in the county.  This gentleman was born in Seneca county in June of 1842.  His father was John Adelsperger, and his mother Lucinda Ricketts.  The father was a native of Maryland, while the mother was born in Seneca county.  Their marriage occurred in Seneca county in 1818.  Our subject’s grandfather, Jacob by name, is noted as having been a member of that gallant army which repelled British invasion in the war of 1812, and whose martial blood is still flowing through the veins of his loyal grandson.  John Adelsperger was a prosperous farmer while a resident of Seneca county, and passed there a life of usefulness.  He died in the year 1878.  Mrs. Adelsperger died in early womanhood, the year being 1846.  They reared but three children, John F., Joseph A. and W. H.  There was a second marriage, however, which resulted in the birth of twelve children.  Eleven of this last number, and one of the first family, are still living.  It is remarked that John R., the eldest member of the first family, was also a gallant soldier in the Civil war, a private in Company D, Sixty-fourth Regiment, O.V.I.  At the battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee, he unfortunately was taken prisoner and being sent to that horror of horrors, Andersonville Prison, was starved there, the date of his death not being known.
     W. H. Adelsperger received his early training and education in Seneca county.  While still in his “teens” he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, and was engaged at that occupation when the rumblings of the Civil war burst fort in a tempest.  He was one of the first to go to the front enlisting in September, 1861, as a private of Company F, Forth-ninth Regiment, O.V.I.  In this organization, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, he participated in all the battles which that organization fought.  At the bloody battle of Stone River he with others became detached from the main command, and before they could rejoin it the entire body was taken prisoners.  He, however, did not remain long in the enemy’s lines, having been paroled and afterwards exchanged.  At the end of three years he received an honorable discharge, but being of that number who did not know when he had enough he immediately re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company D, Sixty-fourth Regiment, O.V.I.  In this organization he engaged in a number of the bloody battles of the last year of the war, being present at Franklin, Nashville and numerous other smaller encounters.  In 1865 he was a second time honored with discharge, and returned to civil life with the consciousness of duty well and bravely done.  All honor to the boys in blue, who saved the south from rending the constitution.  On his return to civil life Mr. Adelsperger turned his attention to the carpenter’s trade and continued to work at this until 1873.  In the year 1871 he chose for a life companion Miss Sophia, daughter of John and Margaret Kenner.  Four children were born to the marriage, Minda A., deceased; John F., deceased; Joseph and Milton L.  The mother of these children is a native of Germany, where she was born in 1851.  Mr. ADelsperger first began his active farming operations in the year of his marriage, when he purchased in Big Lick township one hundred and twenty-eight acres, to which he added at different times until he is now in possession of one of the largest farms in Hancock county.  Mr. Adelsperger is a man of high repute in his immediate section of the county, and he and his wife are honored for their many goods qualities and excellencies of heart and mind. 
Source: Centennial Biographical History of Hancock County, Publ. 1903 - Page 218