Biography - Ephraim Adamson
EPHRAIM ADAMSON, a highly respected farmer residing in Moweaqua
Township, Shelby County, was born in Centre County, Pa., January 22, 1839.
James Adamson was his father's name, and he was a native of the same county,
born in 1811. He was a son of one William Adamson, who was a native of
Spain. In early life he came to this country and settled in Pennsylvania,
where he spent his remaining years in Centre County, he was a soldier in the
War of 1812. He married a Scotch lady.
James Adamson was reared to man's estate in his Pennsylvania birthplace. He
went to Mifflin County, his native State, when he was a young man, and was
there married to Nancy Ely, a native of Franklin County, Pa., born in 1814,
and a daughter of John Ely, who was also a Pennsylvanian by birth. The
father of our subject purchased a tract of land in Centre County after his
marriage, and lived there upon several years. In 1839 he removed to
Huntingdon County, in the same state, and was a resident there for many
years. His next move was to Ohio in 1861, and he located in Guernsey County,
where he lived until after the death of his wife in 1867. He then made his
home with his children, and died in Centre County, Pa., in August, 1882. The
following are the names of his children: David, Elizabeth, Ephraim, Mary
Jane, Isaac, Rebecca, Emma, John, Priscilla, Jemima and Nannie.
He of whom this sketch is principally written early acquired a knowledge of
agriculture on his father's farm. He accompanied his parents to their new
home in Ohio in 1861, and lived in Guernsey County until 1863. In that year
he gave up his personal aims and ambitions to do his duty to his country as
a patriotic citizen by helping to suppress the great rebellion that was then
waging in the South, enlisting December 14 in an independent company. He was
sent with his comrades to Washington, D. C., to do garrison work, and in
1864 served as body guard to President Lincoln. He was in Washington at the
time of the assassination of the Chief Magistrate of the Nation, and was
also at the Capital during the Grand Review, in which he took part. He was
discharged from the army with his company September 11, 1865, and returned
to Ohio, having gained a good military record for faithfulness and
efficiency in whatsoever he was called upon to do while he was a soldier.
After he left the army Mr. Adamson drove a huckster's wagon in Cambridge
from that time until 1868, when he left the Buckeye state to take up his
residence in Illinois. He settled in Moweaqua Township, and two years later
devoted some of his money to the purchase of forty acres of land. He
subsequently bought more realty until he had one hundred and twenty acres of
land, and he dwelt thereon twenty years. At the expiration of that time he
disposed of that place and rented the adjoining farm, where he now resides.
He also has farming interests in Nebraska, owning a good farm in Nuckolls
County, that State.
In 1867 Mr. Adamson took unto himself a wife, marrying Miss Josephine Scoot,
a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. They have eight children living: James,
David, George, Oscar, Mary, Nannie, Edwin and Ida.
As a veteran of the late war our subject is an honored member of J. V.
Clemins Post, No. 363, G. A. R. He and his wife are among the most worthy
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and among their neighbors they
are held in high estimation for their many excellent qualities of head and
heart.
Extracted 12 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 414-415.
