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Note: inois regiment at age 15
interment at oddfellow cemetery (liberal city cemetery) where his first wife is buried
1900 listed as widower with 5 children, 1920 listed as paperhanger in houses
** History of Timothy Randall Adams ** **As told by Gilbert O. Adams, when in a reminiscent mood. Taken by Lewis G. Adams**
Our father was the son of Timothy Walcott Adams, who was from Massachusetts and Mindwell Barnes, who was from Connecticut. Our great grandfather’s name was Titus. Grandfather Adams moved with his family to Ill. Came with ox team. Lost one girl, Leveran on the way. Uncle Jake Meyers, who had married Laveran, came with them. They landed near Paris, Ill. Grandfather sold his oxen to Uncle Jake to pay for borrowed money. Grandfather worked as a laborer, lived on corn porridge. He laid a land warrant on 40 acres near Martinsville, Ill (Martins Rill and Crazy Creek) Grandfather was even tempered. Grandmother had a terrible temper. She ordered our father to leave once, but repented and begged him to stay. Our father traveled about the counties some, teaching music and became acquainted with our mother in Jasper county. Father worked for old Mr. Likens a great deal before he married. He laid a land warrant on 80 acres about a mile southwest of Newton, and built a brick kiln. It cost him about 800.00 and he lost it all. He then traded the farm at Newton for a team and carriage, old Doc and Bill, a bad runaway team.
He made a trip with them to visit his sisters, Aunt Louisa and Aunt Mahalia. When they got back to Embarrass River everything was under water. In the morning, father rode the horses into the water and found a track across, but when he rode in, he got into a bayou and the carriage sank. Came near drowning the whole family, for it was inclosed.
In 1856 father planned to go to Kansas, but the border war kept him back. He then rented the Jackson farm 6 miles west of Newton on the prairie. Bought old Fan and a lot of cows. Had a bread pan full of silver dollars. Did well the first hear on the Jackson farm. Jackson, owner of the farm and father went into the hog business, 700 head. Gilbert had gotten sick hearding cattle in the hot sun; got well, went with father to buy hogs. Father had horse and buggy and Gilbert drove an ox team to gather up the hogs. Frost came early that year and killed the corn. Moved the hog business to Cumberland county and hauled the corn there and drove the hogs to it. Bought 2000 bushels of corn from John Berry. The hogs took the cholera and nearly all died. Sold what were left in Cinn and paid all debts, including the debt to John Berry for the corn, expecting Mr. Jackson to pay his half back. Mr. Jackson sold the farm and left father holding the sack.
Father had a sale, sold everything but a few cows and old Doc & Fan, then bought 200 acres of John Berry. Ed was about 2 years old. Farm was known as the Randall farm. Did well on this place but went to the army. Father went to the war in the fall of 1863, just before Lincoln issued his first Proclamation of Emancipation, which was in September. Gilbert planted wheat (Gilbert b. in 1849) that fall and 16 acres of corn. Father came home in February, discharged for disability. This year it frosted every month. Nipped the corn in July. It was a wet Spring, had to plant corn on the ridges. Father able to help a little. Gilbert rented 20 acres, plowed (page torn) Corn did fine - great ears- was 1.00 per bushel. Came a fr… August and spoiled it. Had 100 head of hogs - wanted to t …… in the corn, but Mr. Thomas (landlord) wouldn’t agree to it. Built a pen in the middle of the field, put the hogs into it and fed them frozen corn, but turned warm and the corn soured. Froze again soon and Uncle Charlie Bazell came back from Colorado and helped husk the frozen corn. When it thawed out it steamed and rotted. Put a wheat crop on the Randall place in the fall of 1864 and raised a great crop. Then father bought the Clab board door place, 40 acres, in fall, put in wheat and moved to new place in winter. Father borrowed money of Uncle Chris Hampson’s wife and bought 20 acres of old corn, paid that off about Christmas 1865. Gilbert took the money to her. Then he and Jim Hickock went to Olneys to be examined, having hired out as a substitutes (to army) but were rejected. Jim’s eyes were too bad and Gilbert was too slim about the waist - had to walk back. Came back to Uncle Chrisses. Father was waiting and was mad. He was almost blind. The first thing father said was “Well, I guess you are satisfied and will go back home and behave yourself. Gilbert said he would if he would talk different. Father promised to let him go to the army in the spring if he would go home. So Gilbert made a pole sled and harness of tow chains; they went home. In Spring a broker took Gilbert, his name was Tom Johnson, to Jacksonville and sold him. This man was sent to the pen. But Lincoln pardoned him because he was related to him. Gilbert got 300.00 and the other fellow got 400.00. Gilbert enlisted at Jacksonville and went to camp Butler. He was sent to the 62nd Illinois infantry at Pine Bluff Ark. From there to Fort Gibson - Indian Terr - 60 miles West of Fort Smith, February 13, 1866. He went down the Arkansas River and up the Mississippi to Cairo, Ill. Then by train to Springfield, Ill, Then to Neoga, where Lorenze Dow met him and took him home on a horse. When he arrived Mother said “He has come home at last” and threw her arms about his neck.
Father’s eyes were cured by a Dr. Baker in Richland county, Ill. He lived in a log cabin. He only charged 10.00, but many patients went to him in consequence of what he did for father. He moved to Centralia and became wealthy.
Gilbert was a drummer in Co. C, 62nd Illinois infantry
G. O. Adams Dead
The Liberal News
Friday July 29, 1932
Civil War Veteran succumbs after week’s illness from apoplexy - resident of Liberal many years - funeral services this Thursday afternoon in charge of members of the family.
Gilbert O. Adams, 82 years old and the last surviving Civil War veteran living in Liberal, died at his home on East Maple Street at 9:20 o’clock Tuesday evening. He had been ill one week, following a stroke of apoplexy. Following the stroke, suffered the night of July 18, he had been more or less unconscious until the end. It was thought a final severe cerebral hemmorhage was suffered only a few hours before the end.
Mr. Adams was born in Jasper county, Illinois, Nov 26, 1849, a son of T. R. B. Adams, who as well as the deceased were pioneer residents of Liberal. February 13, 1864, when a boy only a little past fifteen years old, Mr. Adams enlisted in Company C, 62nd Illinois infantry, as a drummer boy, and was mustered out at Fort Smith Ark on Feb 13, 1866.
He was the last surviving Civil War veteran living in Liberal. His friend and comrade A. Decker, next to the last surviving veteran preceded him in death three days. There now remain but four Civil War veterans in this vicinity, as far as the news can learn. They are Chas Brown of Hannon; Judge H. S. Snyder, Verdella; Clark Bulard, Mulberry, all up in their eighties, and C. w. Palmer, Iantha, 90 years old. Mr. Adams attended a G. A. R. gathering at Wichita, Kans a few weeks ago.
He is survived by his wife and four children, T. K. Adams, Bronaugh; Frank Adams, Trinidad Colo; Owen Adams, Silver City Iowa, and Mrs. Bessie Searles, Liberal, and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.; also by several brothers and sisters. A more detailed obituary will be given next week.
Funeral services are being held at the M. E. church this Thursday afternoon at 2:00. The entire services will be by members of the family. The sermon will be by Rev. Lewis Grant Adams, a brother.
Burial will be at the I. O. O. F cemetery, under direction of the Berkey funeral service. I.O.O.F = International Order of Odd Fellows; cemetery is known as the Liberal Cemetery.
Note: grew up in Coles county, Illinois, enlisted in the civil war Feb 13, 1865, company C 62nd Ill
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