Jared F. Adams
Success in this life is almost always won by the truly deserving. It is an axiom demonstrated by all human experience that a man gets out of this life what he puts into it plus a reasonable interest on the investment. The individual who inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune cannot be called a successful man. On the other hand he that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is successful in proportion to the amount which he adds to his original possessions, but the man who starts in the world unaided and by sheer force of will, controlled by correct principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a position of honor among his fellow citizens, achieves success such as representatives of the two former classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a considerable extent Jared F. Adams is a creditable representative of the class last named, having started out as a youth of fourteen on his own responsibilities. As a school teacher, as a lawyer and as a business man, he has performed his every duty faithfully and well, and is justly classed with the representative citizens of Fayette county.
Jared F. Adams, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Wright) Adams, was born February 22, 1863, in Frederick county, Virginia. His parents were natives of the same state and reared a family of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity: Mary, the wife of J. S. Stottlemyre, of Winchester, Virginia; Nimrod, of Frederick county, Virginia; Lana, the wife of Tobias Loy; Ellen, the wife of George W. Catlett; John, who was killed by lightning when a young man; Isaac; Thomas, who died in young manhood, and Jared P.. who is represented in this narrative.
Isaac Adams was a life-long farmer in Frederick county, Virginia, where his death occurred at the age of sixty. His wife is still living and is now in her one hundredth year. Isaac Adams was the son of David Adams, a farmer of Frederick county, Virginia, and the father of several children, among whom were Hiram. Peter and Isaac. The parents of Isaac Adams' wife were natives also of Virginia, living in the extreme eastern part of the state. The mother of Mrs. Adams died at the age of one hundred and three.
Jared F. Adams lived on his father's farm in Virginia until he was fourteen years of age and then came to Ohio and went to work on a farm in Fayette county near Milledgeville. He worked for five years for William A. Creamer, during which time he attended school during the winter season. His first schooling was under the tutelage of Frank M. Allen, the editor of this volume. He also attended the Bloomingburg Normal, which was conducted by Mr. Allen and Dr. A. M. Jones. Upon reaching his majority he started to teach in the district schools of this county, and in 1888 he came to Washington C. H. and taught school in the country near this city. While teaching he took up the study of law in the office of Hidy & Patton, and was finally admitted to the bar October 6, 1894, and has been in the practice of his profession in Washington C. H. for the past twenty years. However, most of his time has been given to the loan and insurance business, in which he has been very successful. He is the attorney for and a stockholder in the Farmers Bank, of Good Hope, and was one of the number to organize the bank in that place. He is also a stockholder in the Fayette County Bank, of Washington C. H.
Mr. Adams was married October 8, 1891, to Arminta Cline, the daughter of William and Naomi (Glasgow) Cline. Mrs. Adams was born in Jasper township, this county, both of her parents being natives of this state also. Her father, who was a farmer, died in 1910, on April 10th, at the age of seventy-three, while her mother died in 1907 at the age of sixty-eight. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Adams were George W. and Catherine (Feaggins) Cline, early settlers in this county, where they lived to a ripe old age. They were the parents of five children : Edward, Mary, Philip, Andrew J., and William S., the father of Mrs. Adams. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Adams were Andrew J. Glasgow and wife, early settlers in Clinton county, this state.
Politically, Mr. Adams is a Democrat, but has never had any inclination to become an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his individual interests. Fraternally, he is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of Fayette Encampmont No. 134. He and his wife are members of the Imperial Rebekah Lodge No. 717. He also holds his membership in the Knights of the Golden Eagle, as well as the Ladies of the Golden Eagle. He is also actively interested in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which he is a valued member.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)