JAMES F. ADAMS. James F. Adams, clerk of Christian County, Missouri, and a young man of much intelligence, force of character and determination, was born near Sparta, this county, April 21, 1861. He is the youngest child born to Leroy and Mary A. (Cummins) Adams (pioneer settlers of this region), the family coming from middle Tennessee to this county as early as 1833. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams only three are now living: John N., who resides on the old homestead; Thomas D., also on the old homestead, and our subject.
It was a good thing for the latter, as it is for thousands of our best citizens at present, to have been reared on a farm in the country, away from the contaminating influences of the city. It thus came to pass that he attended the district school until nineteen years of age and then went to Ava, where he was in school for some time. Later he entered the Academy at Henderson, Webster County, and there remained until twenty years of age, when he entered upon his career as a teacher in the home school. This he followed until 1886, when he was elected county clerk by the Republican party with a good majority. He has always identified himself with the Republican party and has been active in all public matters. He is a well-posted young man and fills the position he now holds with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his friends. He is purely a self-made, self-educated man, and all that he has accumulated in the way of this world’s goods is the result of his own honest work. His nomination to the office he now holds was rather unexpected to him, but he was successful in winning the nomination over one of the most popular men of Christian County, and has held that position up to the present time. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge, at Sparta, No. 244, and was secretary of that lodge for a number of years. He is also a Mason, Friend Lodge No. 352 at Ozark. Mr. Adams took up his residence in Ozark in January, 1887, and has made that city his home. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Mattie A. Crain, a native of Christian County and the daughter of A. C. Crain, of Sparta. Two children have blessed this union: Clell and Arlie W. The family attend the Christian Church of which Mrs. Adams is a member. In a business way Mr. Adams was quite successful, for at one time he engaged in merchandising on the old home place. He is well known in educational circles, has been an active worker for the good of his section and is ever ready to assist in the advancement of the best interests of his State and country. He is a director and stockholder in the Christian County Bank. For one year Mr. Adams was city collector and he was also elected by the First Ward to a seat in the council chamber of the city government. He is a lover of all kinds of sports, and assisted in organizing the Ozark Baseball Club which became famous in southwest Missouri.