JOHN Q. ADAMS. This gentleman owns and resides on the farm in Baxter County, Arkansas, on which he was born in 1854, his parents being Alexander and Syrena (Kellough) Adams.
The father was born on this farm also and died in 1866 at the age of forty-two years. His father, John Adams, came to this neighborhood many years ago and located among the Indians, three miles above the mouth of North Fork, in what was then Izard County. At that time the Talburt and Wolf families were the only ones living here, and for many years, until the tide of emigration set in, Mr. Adams and his family had to put up with many inconveniences and hardships, but he was possessed of the sturdy perseverance of the successful pioneer, and here he continued to live and labor, and witnessed quite a transformation in the country prior to his death. He successfully tilled the soil, and in this respect his son Alexander followed his footsteps, also becoming extensively engaged in the raising of stock. During the Civil War he served in the Fourteenth Arkansas Infantry, and was a participant in a great many battles. Just before the war he was sheriff of Izard County and held other positions of trust and honor. He was a Mason, a member of Adams Lodge, and located on White River below the mouth of North Fork where his home now is. He has always been a Democrat, but has never been an official aspirant. His wife was born in Kentucky, and came to this section with her people in a very early day. She died in 1862 after having borne her husband five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth.
After the death of their parents, the children made their home with Wythe W. Adams, an uncle, on White River, and during this time the subject of this sketch attended the common schools and when old enough commenced farming for himself. He and a brother and sister afterward secured possession of the old Adams homestead, and later he bought their interests and is now the sole owner, besides which he owns a good farm on Gobler Flats, which he has improved with buildings, etc. In 1879 he was married to Miss Mary E. Sowell of this county, by whom he has three sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Christian Church, and politically he is a Democrat.
His sister Ann is the widow of William Nelson and lives at Buford, this county; Robert, his brother, resides near Mountain Home, and his sister Betty is the wife of Jesse N. Nelson.