ANDREW N. ADAMS, a retired marble manufacturer and author, of Fair Haven, Vermont, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in the town where he still lives, Jan. 6, 1830.  He is a son of Joseph and Stella (Miller) Adams, grandson of John Adams, great-grandson of James Adams, and great-great-grandson of James Adams, and great-great grandson of Deacon James Adams of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
     Our subject possesses rare literary talents.  He is the author and compiler of "The Descendants of James and William Adams of Londonderry, New Hampshire," of the "History of Fair Haven, Vermont," and of the large genealogical history of "The Descendants of Henry Adams of Braintree, Mass."  He has ready for publican a history of "The Descendants of Robert Adams of Newbury County Historical Society and is the genealogist of the Adams families of New England.
     In his work on "The Descendants of James and William Adams of Londonderry, New Hampshire," our subject traces his ancestors back to James Adams, of Scotch nationality, who emigrated from the North of Ireland to Londonderry, N. H.  He was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, prior to 1680, and about 1700 he married Elizabeth Elder.  After living some years in the North of Ireland, they came to America in 1721, locating in Londonderry, N. H.  There the death of the sturdy old deacon occurred in May 1743.  His five children were probably born in Ireland.  Their names are Robert, John, Jeanette, James, Jr., and Mary.  James Adams was a man of means when he crossed the ocean.  He lives one year in Massachusetts before settling down in New Hampshire.
     James Adams, Jr., was but ten years old when the family came to America.  He married Sarah Campbell, who died in Londonderry, Sept. 6, 1778, in her fifty-ninth year.  She was survived by her husband until Sept. 15, 1781, when he passed away, aged seventy-one years.  They rest side by side in the old cemetery on the hill at the upper village, where Robert Adams is also buried.  James Adams, Jr., lived on one of his several farms in Derry, New Hampshire, and bought and sold farms in other towns.  His will, made in 1780, speaks of his children, as follows:  James, Robert, John, Andrew, Mary, Sarah, Jeannette, Alexander, and Elizabeth.
     John Adams, grandfather of our subject, was born in Derry, N. H., June 5, 1756, and died in Whitehall, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1838, having reared six children, - three sons and three daughters; he was twice married.  He was a man of prominence.
     Joseph Adams, a son of John, was born in Londonderry, N. H. in Feb. 1802.  He was joined in marriage with Stella Miller, who was born in Hampton, New York, July 30, 1806, and was a daughter of Captain William Miller.  Her brother, Captain William Miller, was in the battle of Plattsburg; he was also the prophet of the Second Adventists.  Unto Joseph Adams and his wife were born eight children, two of whom are now living, namely: Helen M., the widow of David B. Colton, who resides at Fair Haven, Vt.; and Andrew N., our subject.
     Joseph Adams learned the trade of a shoemaker from his father.  Soon after his marriage he set out to make his own way in life.  His brother, Andrew, had also learned the shoemaker's trade from his father; he inherited his father's farm, which he in turn left to his widow and son, but Joseph was differently situated.  He built a most humble home on West street in Fair Haven, and started into business for himself.  He built up a good business and soon removed into the village.  He employed many hands, journeymen and apprentices; his trade increased and became profitable.  He manufactured ladies' fine shoes and supplied a large wholesale trade, his goods gaining a wide reputation and selling rapidly.  Finally his friend, John J. Humphrey, induced Mr. Adams to dispose of his property in Fair Haven and remove to Racine, Wisconsin.  After remaining at the latter place one year, he returned to Fair Haven.  In the spring of 1845, he, in company with William C. Kittridge and Alonson Allen, began building a mill for sawing marble from the Rutland quarries.  Mr. Allen was also interested in the development of this slate industries, and Mr. Kittridge soon withdrew.  Thus entirely upon Mr. Adams.  But much of the marble sawed proved unsound and the expense and outlay was large.  It was only by close and untiring industry and a heroic struggle against difficulties that the enterprise was saved from disaster and finally became a paying business.  The fine marble residence or mansion, now the home of A. N. Adams, was commenced by his father in the spring of 1860 and completed in the fall of 1861.
     Joseph Adams was prominently identified with the prosperity and business life of Fair Haven for many years.  He served as justice of the peace and in many other offices.  He was elected to the legislature in 1854 and re-elected in 1855, and took and active part in its sessions.  He was the prime mover in establishing the First National Bank of Fair Haven, of which he was a director.  Later he became president of the same and served as such until his demise.  He was a very public spirited man.  In all the relations of life, he was regarded as a strictly honest and honorable man; he was frank and fearless.  In business he was remarkable for his energy and tenacity of purpose, thereby insuring success where many would have failed or given up in despair.  He had broad, liberal views on the subject of religion.  In politics, he was a Republican, but was a warm friend to the cause of temperance, and was looked upon as a social leader.
     Joseph Adams was especially fond of music and was himself a good violin player.  Although economical in his style of living, he was kind of heart and generous to the poor.  The people of Fair Haven will long cherish his memory.
     Andrew N. Adams received a primary education in the public schools of Fair Haven, which was supplemented by a college preparatory course in the Green Mountain Liberal Institute of South Woodstock, Vt., and in 1848 he entered the Meadville Theological School.  Spending two years there, he entered the Divinity School of Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass., in 1852, being graduated in 1855.  He then accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Parish church, Needham, Mass., being ordained there on Nov. 21, 1855.  In 1860, he retired from the ministry and returned to Fair Haven, engaging in mercantile pursuits with much success.  Then, in company with his father and his brother-in-law, he engaged in sawing and manufacturing marble at Fair Haven in 1869, for the wholesale trade, and continued the business alone for a number of years after the death of his father and brother-in-law.  The unqualified success of this business venture has been noted above, and considerable credit is due to Andrew N. Adams, for he has ever been an industrious and shrewd business man.
     Politically, Mr. Adams is a Republican, and has served in numerous official capacities.  He was justice of the peace; town treasurer; a member of the school board; director of the public library; a trustee of the State Normal School at Castleton, Vt., since 1862, and president of the board since 1882; in 1884-1885, he represented the town of Fair Haven in the State Legislature; and was a member of the State Senate and the joint committee on education during the year 1888-1889.  The president efficient school system at Fair Haven is the fruit of our subject's efforts, and was organized by an act of the legislature.  He is a member of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.
     On Aug. 1, 1855, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Angis M. Phelps, a daughter of Erastus and Margaret (Hibbard) Phelps, born Apr. 22, 1833.  They became the parents of the following children:  Alice A., born Apr. 20, 1857, married, Oct. 15, 1879, Horace B. Ellis, and they have three children - George A., Edward A., and Stella D.; Ada M., born in Fair Haven, Vt., Dec. 5, 1861, married John T. Powell on Dec. 30, 1885, - she died May 21, 1893, leaving two children, Margaret A., and Raymond A.; Anna E., born in Fair Haven, Aug. 14, 1864, married George B. Jermyn, of Scranton, Pa., Apr. 22, 1892, and they have a daughter, Margaret; Stella M., born in Fair Haven, Oct. 6, 1866, married John T. Powell, Sept. 16, 1896.
Source:  Book of Biographies, containing Biographical Sketches of Leading Citiznes of Rutland Co., Vt - Publ. 1899 - Page  31