Dr. Daniel Adams, son of Dr. Joseph Adams, was born at Lincoln, Mass., in 1768, and died in Keene, N. H., August 22, 1830. He had three brothers and five sisters, one of the former of whom, Dr. Joseph Adams, returned, at the breaking out of the war, to Cornwall, England, the home of his ancestors, where he practiced his profession during life, and where his descendants still live. The other members of Dr. Adamss family settled in and about Boston. A sister, Mrs. Wheeler, occupied the homestead in Lincoln, Mass., which still remains in her family.
Dr. Adams received a liberal education. His tastes led him to the choice of the medical profession. His studies were pursued in Boston, Mass. He received his medical degree June 6, 1788, and in that year, shortly after marrying Mrs. Sarah Apdaile, daughter of Benjamin Goldthwaite, of Boston, he came to reside in Keene, where, while practicing his profession, he cleared portions of his land, planted an orchard, and made and adorned a home. It is mentioned in the early records of Keene that “he was the first to introduce the sugar-maple as a shade tree.” In his chosen profession, to which he was devoted, he became distinguished, as many yet remember. He received from Dartmouth college a diploma for a. Latin dissertation on medicine. Later, in July 1811, he had the honor to be elected fellow of the New Hampshire Medical Society and received the diploma.
He was the second postmaster in Keene, in 1799. He was a prominent mason and an active member of Rising Sun Lodge, of Keene. In the public notice of the death of Washington in Keene, Dr. Adams and John Pray Blake were marshals of the day. While he was much interested in public affairs, he was also fond of social life and anecdote. His ability to sing and perform on the flute and violin, added much to his social attraction. Possessing a kind and generous heart he ever listened to the story of sorrow and wrong. Never was his door closed to the homeless and afflicted. His generous impulses were nobly supplemented by the ready and constant aid cheerfully afforded him by his beloved wife. Her quiet and graceful manners enhanced her personal attractions, and her interest and zeal in her husbands pursuits were untiring. Both were inured to sacrifice and economy.
Dr. Adams was a steadfast friend, a lover of justice, and his integrity was unquestioned. He won confidence and esteem and was often consulted in business outside of his own profession. His sympathy and kindness towards dumb animals is worthy of note to-day when so much is legally done for their protection. To lessen the burden of his horse he was often seen toiling up the heavy stony hill by its side; and in driving, it seemed a trivial thing to alight from his vehicle to defend the willing brute from repeated stings of some tormenting fly. He was fond of hunting, and often for recreation from constant duty, much of which was performed in the saddle, he would take gun and dog for sport-then not far from home. He was fond of a practical joke, and it is related that he once eluded a sheriffs party sent in pursuit of him by the indignant inhabitants of Walpole to avenge the theft of a cannon, and by his intimate knowledge of the topography of the country lured them into a bog, in which they found it difficult to secure a firm foot-hold. His health gave way many months previous to his death, when he left a wife and only son to mourn his departure.