ROBERT M. ADAMS, a successful and enterprising farmer and
stock-raiser of Osceola Township, was born in Warren County, Illinois, July 26,
1846, the eldest son of William and Nancy J. (Milligan) Adams, who were both
natives of the State of Pennsylvania.
The mother died when our subject was about six years old,
and in the spring of 1856 the father came with his family to Clarke County,
Iowa, locating in Osceola Township, where he has since made his home. Robert M.
was about ten years of age when he was brought to Clarke County, and here he
was reared to manhood on his father’s farm, and educated in the district
schools.
At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company I, Eighteenth
Iowa Infantry, and sent to Arkansas. He was in the Seventh Army Corps, under
command of General Steele, for eighteen months, most of the time doing guard
duty. He was mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, in July, 1865, when he
returned to his father’s farm in Clarke County.
In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Haner, and to
this union have been born five children – Nancy J., Irena C., Bertha E.,
William P. and Mary E. After his marriage Mr. Adams settled on his present farm
on section 13, Osceola Township, where he has eighty acres of improved land
under good cultivation, a fine residence and good farm buildings. He has met
with good success in his agricultural pursuits, especially in the raising of
stock. He was formerly engaged in raising hogs and cattle, but of late years
has devoted is attention more especially to the raising of cattle and horses,
in which pursuit he is having good success.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, attending service at Davis’ school-house. Mr. Adams has
served his township as constable with credit to himself and his constituents.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 426-7
