General Notes

[wmakemp.ged]

James Gooding ADAMS was born 4 May 1842 near Rochester, Oakland County, Michigan.  He was the son of Leonard ADAMS and Martha Morrill. He attended Rochester School until the age of 17 when he went to Marquette, Michigan to live with his cousin, Sydney ADAMS who was engaged in the livery business.  James returned to Oakland County about 1861.

He married Ophelia F. BALL on 6 March 1866 on a "farm one mile east of Flint, Michigan" in Genesee County.  Ophelia was born on 22 July 1846 in Ogden Town, Monroe County, New York, the daughter of Charles Chadwick BALL and Julia M. HOOD.

They settled on a farm just east of Oakwood in Oakland County and lived there for the next sixty some years. The farm was known as the Ramath View Farm. James was active in the community serving at one time or another as School Director (9 years), School Treasurer (9 years), and as a School Inspector for two years. He helped to organize the Oxford Farmer's Union and even helped haul lumber from north of LaPeer to the lumber yards around Oxford.

On May 25th 1896, the ADAMS' farm and many others was devastated by a tornado which swept through Oakland County killing 43 people inthe townships of Brandon, Groveland and Oxford.  Eight people were killed in the town of Oakwood (Oxford TWP) which was wiped out.  The ADAMS' were lucky no one was killed but they lost all their sheds and their monetary loss was over $2000.  The family worked long and hard to recover. Effie even did weaving to help out.

The farm raised dairy cattle but primarily engaged in the poulty business which proved to be lucrative.  It helped to pay back the bills from the tornado.

James and Ophelia had six issue:

1.Myrta Lenora
b. 25 April 1867 in Oakwood
m. Martin D. KEITH 18 Nov 1891
d. 18 May 1903
bp. Oakwood Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan
2. Lucius Edwin
b. 31 Aug 1868
m. Laura D. BROAD 10 Feb 1898
d. 19 Dec 1929 in Munising, Alger County, Mich.
3. Harriet Augusta
b. 9 Feb 1870
d. 3 Jun 1905 in Oakwood
bp. Oakwood Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan
4. James Gooding, Jr
b. 10 Mar 1872
d. 13 Mar 1872
5. Herbert James
b. 24 July 1877 in Oakwood
m. Ophelia F. BALL near Flint, Michigan.
d. 12 May 1964 in Lake City, Wabasha County, Minn.
bp. St. Mary's Cemetery, Lake City, Minn.
6. Edith Viola
b. 16 Feb 1880 in Oakwood
m. (1) Harry Grills ANDERSON 29 Oct 1902
m. (2) Robert CORBIT 1941
d. 14 Mar 1963
bp. Oakwood Cemetery ( Mt Pleasant Cemetery), Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan.

Ophelia died Friday, 24 Dec 1926 at the age of 80 in Pontiac at the home of her daughter, Edith ANDERSON following an illness of two weeks.  The funeral was held on Monday at the ANDERSON home and Ophelia was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery.

James died 21 July 1931 at the age of 83 in Oakwood and is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery.


GRANDPA ADAMS ANSWERS SUMMONS

Highly Respected Citizen Called Beyond; Funeral Held Thursday

James G. Adams, age 89 years, better known as Grandpa Adams, one of Oakland County's highly respected citizens passed away Tuesday evening July 21st at 9:30 p. M. At his farm home near Oakwood from the incident to his advanced age, after two weeks illness.
James G. Adams was born May, 1842 near Rochester, the son of Leonard and Martha Adams. He received his early education in the Rochester school. At the age of 17 he went to Marquette where he made his home for two years with his cousin the late Sidney Adams who was engaged in the livery business.
On March 6 1846 he was united in marriage to Effie Ball at Flint. They located on a farm near Oakwood where they have made their home for 63 years. To this union five children were born, two sons and three daughters. Myrta L. Keith (deceased); Augusta H. (deceased); Lucius E. (deceased); Herbert J. Of Ishpeming; and Mrs. Edith V. Anderson of Pontiac.
On March 6, 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Adams celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, they also celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1926. Mrs. Adams passing beyond December 24, 1926.
Mr. Adams has spent his entire life in Oakland County following the occupation as an agriculturist.  In his early days during the winter months he would team feed into the lumber district north of Lapeer bring back lumber for the lumber yards of this community.
The family is now in the possession of the original deed of the Rochester farm given the parents of Mr. Adams by President Andrew Jackson in 1826.
As the years moved on together with his neighbors he conceived the idea that a Farmers Organization should be organized and the Oxford Farmers' Club was founded.
Grandpa Adams was a man who united sound sense with strong convictions, excellent habits, fine moral character and sturdy constitution and he continued to be active till long past the age at which men ordinarily drop out of the ranks of the workers. He was eminently fitted to mould the rude elements of pioneer society int farm and aid in raising a high standard of citizenship in our young and growing state. In his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues.
Not for him be our tears! Rather let us crown his grave with garlands, few of us will live as long or as well, and fewer yet will the Angel of Death greet with such a loving touch.
Surviving are one son, Herbert J., of Ishpeming; and one daughter, Mrs. Edith Anderson of Pontiac
Funeral services were held from his home in Oakwood, Thursday at 2:00 p. m. Rev. W. H. Marbach of Pontiac officiating with burial in Oakwood cemetery.
Oxford Leader, 24 July 1931, Front Page
Obituary appeared in the The Oxford Leader 24 July 1931 (front page w/ picture)

GRANDPA ADAMS ANSWERS SUMMONS

Highly Respected Citizen Called Beyond; Funeral Held Thursday
James G. Adams, age 89 years, better known as Grandpa Adams, one of Oakland County's highly respected citizens passed away Tuesday evening July 21st at 9:30 p. M. At his farm home near Oakwood from the incident to his advanced age, after two weeks illness.
James G. Adams was born May, 1842 near Rochester, the son of Leonard and Martha Adams. He received his early education in the Rochester school. At the age of 17 he went to Marquette where he made his home for two years with his cousin the late Sidney Adams who was engaged in the livery business.
On March 6 1846 he was united in marriage to Effie Ball at Flint. They located on a farm near Oakwood where they have made their home for 63 years. To this union five children were born, two sons and three daughters. Myrta L. Keith (deceased); Augusta H. (deceased); Lucius E. (deceased); Herbert J. Of Ishpeming; and Mrs. Edith V. Anderson of Pontiac.
On March 6, 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Adams celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, they also celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1926. Mrs. Adams passing beyond December 24, 1926.
Mr. Adams has spent his entire life in Oakland County following the occupation as an agriculturist.  In his early days during the winter months he would team feed into the lumber district north of Lapeer bring back lumber for the lumber yards of this community.
The family is now in the possession of the original deed of the Rochester farm given the parents of Mr. Adams by President Andrew Jackson in 1826.
As the years moved on together with his neighbors he conceived the idea that a Farmers Organization should be organized and the Oxford Farmers' Club was founded.
Grandpa Adams was a man who united sound sense with strong convictions, excellent habits, fine moral character and sturdy constitution and he continued to be active till long past the age at which men ordinarily drop out of the ranks of the workers. He was eminently fitted to mould the rude elements of pioneer society int farm and aid in raising a high standard of citizenship in our young and growing state. In his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues.
Not for him be our tears! Rather let us crown his grave with garlands, few of us will live as long or as well, and fewer yet will the Angel of Death greet with such a loving touch.
Surviving are one son, Herbert J., of Ishpeming; and one daughter, Mrs. Edith Anderson of Pontiac

Funeral services were held from his home in Oakwood, Thursday at 2:00 p. m. Rev. W. H. Marbach of Pontiac officiating with burial in Oakwood cemetery.

Burial in Oakwood Cemetery in Oakland County, Michigan.  Cemetery is located at the intersection of Oakwood Rd., and Baldwin Rd.
Inscription reads:  James G. Adams
                        May 4, 1841 - July 21, 1931
Also Effie B. Adams, July 22, 1846 - May 15, 1926

The back side has insriptions for Myrta L. Keith and H. Augusta Adams. Helen Preston is buried in the same plot