Barber County Kansas

Johnson M. "Bud" Adams

and his wives, Elizabeth and Lucinda.

Gravestone of J.M. and Lucinda Adams.
J.M. Adams, Jan. 10, 1828 - May 18, 1912
Lucinda, His Wife, Oct. 7, 1843 - July 1, 1911.

Gravestone of J.M. and Lucinda Adams
Old Sun City Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas.
Photo by Kim Fowles

He was an early settler at Sun City,
the 1st pastor of the Sun City Baptist Church
& a Union Civil War veteran.


Obituary of Rev J.M. Adams

Rev. J. M. Adams, long known as "Uncle Bud" Adams, died May 18, 1912, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Eliza Fulton, on Elk Creek, at the age of 90 years. Mr. Adams was born in Scott County, Virginia. He moved to Magoffin County, Kentucky and there was married to Susan Whittaker. To this union seven children were born, two of whom survive him; Mrs. Mollie Saunders of Sun City, and Green Adams of Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

His wife, Susan, died in 1861 and in 1862 he married Elizabeth Owens who died on March 25, 1898. To this union were born five children, four of whom survive him; Clel Adams who lives at Aetna, Andrew of Ballinger, Texas, Mrs W. E. (Eliza) Fulton of Kling, Kansas. One son, Robert died in 1896.

Later he married Lucinda Bailey Marshall at Sun City, who died in July 1911. Since that time Mr. Adams has made his home with the children and sorely will they and the grand-children miss the patient, loving advice and counsel that has come from him for so many years.

Coming to Douglas County, Kansas, with an immigrant train in 1870, he later in 1874 moved to Barber County and has resided in or near Sun City ever since. He lost one son, age fourteen years when he had been here but a short time and selected as his final resting place, the top of the hill north of Sun City because it was an inaccessible place and not liable to be disturbed by Indian or buffalo, both of which were numerous here at that time, and this place has been used as a resting place for the dead ever since. Later, another son and his aged mother were buried there and in his last days, Mr. Adams expressed the wish that when the end came, to be laid beside his mother.

Rev. Adams was an ordained minister of the Baptist church and delivered the first sermon ever preached in this part of the country, to the congregation in Sun City, when most of the population consisted of cowboys. Through-out all the years since, Grand-father Adams has stood for the right in religion, temperance and society, and lived consistently the precepts he taught. He was in the service of the United States during the Civil War and marched with General Sherman from Atlantis to the sea. He served until the close of the war.

His was a remarkably rugged, active life until a short time before the end. He declined rapidly and on May 18, passed into his long sleep.

His funeral service, conducted at his request, by Rev. J. Presley Woods at the Baptist Church in Sun City, May 20 was attended by a large number of relatives and friends, from various parts of the county. And so has gone another pioneer of Kansas and Barber County, who has left a noble impress to the younger generation by his useful, helpful life.

--Transcribed and contributed by Sharetta Miller.


Obituary of Elizabeth Adams

Elizabeth, wife of Rev. J. M. Adams, died at her home in Sun City on Wednesday, March 23, 1898, age 63 years, after a lingering illness. "Aunt Bettie" Adams, as she was generally known, was one of those splindid, motherly women loved and respected by all. She was married to Rev. Adams in Kentucky about 1864, she being his second wife and he her second husband. She came to this county with her husband and family in 1874. She leaves six children - two by her first marriage and four by her second. One child resides in Kentucky, three in Oklahoma and two in this county. Her remains will be laid at rest in Lake City Cemetery tomorrow.

--Transcribed and contributed by Sharetta Miller.


Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph.
Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph of Sun City, Kansas
Photo from the collection of Russel Adams.
View Larger Image.

 

2nd Wife of Johnson M Adams.
Children of this Union:
1. McClellan "Clell" Adams, b. 1864.
2. Andrew Jackson Adams, b. 1867.
3. Robert "Robin" Adams, b. 1868 - d. 1895.
4. Atlanta D. Adams, b. 1870 - d. 1944, m. Oscar Peterson.
6. Eliza Adams, b. 1871, m. Walter E. Fulton.
(Genealogical information courtesy of Russel Adams.)


Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph.
Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph of Sun City, Kansas
Mother of Polly (Joseph) Risner
Photo from the collection of Bob Whittaker.


Gravestone of Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph.
Elizabeth Adams
Aug. 26, 1835 - Mar 25, 1898
Gone But Not Forgotten

Gravestone of Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph.
Lake City Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas.
Photo by Kim Fowles.


Johnson M. Adams and his wife, Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph, at their home, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
Johnson M. Adams and his wife, Elizabeth (Owens) Adams nee Joseph
At their home, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Bob Whittaker from a book published by the Magoffin County Historical Society.


Genealogical information courtesy of Bob Whittaker:

Elizabeth "Betty" Owens was born August 25, 1835 in Salyersville, Kentucky, and died March 25, 1898 at Sun City, Kansas. She was the daughter of Ruth Howard and Robert Owens. Ruth Howard was daughter of James Howard and Elizabeth Green.

Her first marriage was to Nelson Joseph (born 1832 - died 1860). They had three children:

  1. Polly, born 1855 - died 1938, married Lark Risner in Kentucky.
  2. Solomon, born 1857 - died 1858
  3. Josephine. born 1861, married William W. Farmer in Kansas. Note: Born about 6 mo. after her father died.
Elizabeth (Owens) Joseph's second marriage, on February 20, 1863. was to Johnson M. Adams, who was born 1828, Scott County, Virginiam and died 1912 in Kansas.

This is what I have on the children of Elizabeth and Johnson Adams:

  1. McClellan, born 1864 in KY - d. 1937 in OK.
  2. Andrew J., born 1866 in KY - d.????.
  3. Robert Lee, born ??? in KY - d. 1897.
  4. Atlanta, born 1870 in KY - d. 1944 in OK.
  5. Elizas, born 1871 in KY - d. 1948 in OK.
Johnson M. "Bud" Adams was married first to Susanna Whitaker (born 1833 - died 1861)

This is what I have on children of Johnson and Susanna:

  1. William M., born 1849 in KY - d. 1893 in OK.
  2. Bassheba, born 1850 in KY - d.???? [m. Frank Risner].
  3. Greenville F., born 1854 in KY - d. 1930 in KS.
  4. Morgan, born 1855 in KY - d. 1873 in KS. Note: Died of exposure to cold.
  5. Polly Ann, born 1856 in KY - d. 1934 in KS.
    • (Note by K.F.: Polly Ann Adams is the same child as Mary (Adams) Saunders, who was born 25 March 1856 in McLaughlin County, Kentucky and died 26 September 1934 at Sun City, Kansas. Her obituary states she was known as "Aunt Molly".)
  6. Leander, born 1858 in KY - d. 1880 in KS.
  7. Harrison, born 1860 in KY - d. 1873 in KS. Note: Died of exposure to cold.


"I am descended from Elizabeth "Betty" Owens' first marriage to Nelson Joseph. Polly Joseph is my ggrandmother. She was raised by Johnson Adams and Elizabeth "Betty". She married Lark Risner in the home in a marriage conducted by Johnson Adams." -- Bob Whittaker.


At left: Grave marker of Ruth Howard Owens.

Jerry, I have attached a photo of a marker I recently took. This is in Magoffin Co. KY on Half Mountain very near the Breathitt Co. KY line. It is the grave marker of Ruth Howard Owens b. 1804 VA d. 1881 KY. She is the mother of Elizabeth “Betty” Owens Adams. The husband of Ruth Howard Owens is Robert Owens b. 1803 VA d.1878 KY and is buried beside her. His marker is no longer readable. I plan to put up new small granite markers for both of them. Bob. (email dated 25 Dec 2005).


Also see:

Polly (Joseph) Risner for biographical information about Johnson and Elizabeth Adams.


Andrew Jackson Adams and Elizabeth 'Bexie' Adams with their children: Ben, Johnson, Florence, Edith, Clell and George.
Andrew Jackson Adams and Elizabeth 'Bexie' Adams with their children:
Ben, Johnson, Florence, Edith, Clell and George.

Andrew Jackson Adams is a son of Johnson "Bud" Adams.
Photo courtesy of Russel Adams and Sharetta Miller.


Oscar Lindgren Peterson & Atlanta (Adams) Peterson with one of their children.
Oscar Lindgren Peterson & Atlanta (Adams) Peterson
with one of their children.

Atlanta Adams was a daughter of Johnson & Elizabeth (Owens) Adams.
Photo courtesy of Leola Foster.


McClellan Adams & Lona Reta Hittle on their wedding day in 1888,
McClellan Adams & Lona Reta Hittle on their wedding day in 1888, Corwin, Kansas.
McClellan was a son of Johnson Adams.
Photo courtesy of Russel Adams.


"Died at Sun City, on the 26th inst. Libbie, daughter of William and Leannie Adams, aged 3 years, of measles." -- Kansas Prairie Dog, May 28, 1885.


"McClelland Adams, of Sun City, while in town last Saturday took occasion to do some reckless shooting on leaving town, and on arriving at Sun City gave himself up to the officers at that place. No complaint having been entered nor no warrant issued for his arrest, he was arraigned for trial, and our citizens were notified to appear as witnesses Monday afternoon. On the arrival of the party from this city they were informed that a verdict had been reached, that the defendant had been fined one dollar and costs, which had been partly paid by the citizens. This knocks the socks off of frontier justice, and if such proceedings as indulged in by Adams is tolerated in Sun City, it is no wonder that so many disgraceful rows occur at that place." -- Kansas Prairie Dog, published in Lake City, September 3, 1885.


Also see:

Mary (Adams) Saunders, daughter of J.M. Adams and Susanna (Whitaker) Adams.

Lee Adams, son of Johnson Adams, killed in an argument over gambling in a "whiskey shop" in Sun City which was owned by Greenville Adams, another son of J.M. Adams.

Sun City Baptist Church

Greenville "Green" Adams, Son of J.M. Adams.

Della (Adams) Shultz, wife of Greenville Adams.

Rose Adams, wife of Greenville Adams.

Green Adams Describe Things As He Saw Them In Barber County In The Early 1870's
Barber County Index, October 6, 1927.

Green Adams: An Early Day Vigilante Committee
Barber County Index, October 13, 1927.

Bruce Adams, grandson of J.M. Adams.





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