ADAMS.  The Adams family, several of whose members now reside in the borough of Leechburg, Armstrong county, has been settled in this part of Pennsylvania for several generations.
     John Adams, grandfather of Samuel J. and Alexander L. Adams, brothers, lived and died in Allegheny county, Pa.  His children were:  Samuel, Lewis, John, Alexander, Mary (who married Joseph McLaughlin), and Joseph.
     Alexander Adams, son of John, was born in 1813, and died Nov. 10, 1887, aged seventy-four years.  He is buried in Pleasant View cemetery in Westmoreland county.  In his earlier life Mr. Adams died day's work, and he also engaged in the manufacture of salt along the Allegheny river.  Later he became the owner of a small farm along Pine Run, in Westmoreland county, and he was well and favorably known in his community.  He was a large man physically.  By his first wife, Eliza (Bollinger), daughter of Peter Bollinger, he had children: John, who died at the age of eighteen years; Samuel J.; Mary, who married Andrew Halk; Alexander L.; and Thomas B., who is living in Allegheny county, Pa.  His second marriage was to Hilinda Rankin and they had children: Hilinda, Blanch, Esther, Joseph, and Harvey.
     SAMUEL J. ADAMS, son of Alexander, was born Aug. 10, 1844, in Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, and received his education in public school in Allegheny county.  He went to work at the age of twelve years, assisting his father, who was then engaged in making salt, and later became employed as an office boy at Natrona, Allegheny county.  His next employment was in a tinshop, after which he was engaged at coal mines for eight years.  Then followed his service in the Civil war.  He enlisted in Company F, 123d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. John Boyd of Tarentum, Pa., and served nine months, upon his discharge re-enlisting, in Company I, 5th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of the war.  Returning home after the war Mr. Adams became engaged in construction work on the Pennsylvania railroad, and later went into the oil country, where he drilled wells, remaining there until 1882.  He has since been located at Leechburg. Armstrong county.  For one year after his arrival at this place he engaged in mining.  For three years he ran a hammer at Major Beale's mill, in Leechburg, and then became an engineer in the employ of the Moesta Machine Company, with which concern he continued for ten ears.  At the end of that period, in 1901, he became an employee of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company as engineer in charge of the electrical engine.  A truthworthy and reliable man, he was always enjoyed the the full confidence of his employers, who appreciate his faithful service.  Mr. Adams has served one year as councilman of Leechburg, and he has been quite active in church work as a member of the Hebron Lutheran Church, in which he has held office as deacon and elder.  He is a Mason, belonging to Leechburg Lodge, No. 577, F. & A. M., and to Pittsburgh Consistory (thirty-second degree).  On political questions he is a Republican.
     On Sept. 9, 1874, Mr. Adams married Naomi J. Kelly, daughter of Squire John Kelly of Bruin, Butler Co., Pa., and they have one daughter, Daisy May, now the wife of Harry L. Clark and living in Ellwood City, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have two children, Naomi J. and Bessie M.
          ALEXANDER L. ADAMS, son of Alexander, was born Mar. 16, 1848 in Allegheny county, Pa.  His school days over, he went to work in a tinshop, and when about eighteen years of age became employed in mines.  Later he was engaged at mine work in Clearfield county, Pa., and about 1881 came to Leechburg, where he lived for a short time.  He was next at Bruin, Butler Co., Pa., for three years, doing pumping in the oil fields, at the end of that time returning to Leechburg, where he is now employed at the mines of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company.  He is an industrious and respected man, well known in his community.
     Mr. Adams married Bessie Ashbaugh, daughter of Andrew and Mary (John) Ashbaugh, and they have two children:  Lula is the wife of David McGeary and has two children, Mary F. and Clair A.; Samuel J. is foreman in a tin mill at New Castle, Pa.  Mr. Adams is a member of the loyal Order of Moose in fraternal connection, and belongs to the Lutheran Church.  In political sentiment he is a Republican.
Source: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People, Past and Present in two volumes Illustrated - Vol. II - Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914 - Page 943-945