Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County, Ohio Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago - 1902 230-233 FRANKLIN ADAMS Since the year 1837 FRANKLIN ADAMS has practiced law in Crawford county, and throughout this long period of time he has maintained a foremost position in the legal fraternity, not alone on account of his ability as manifest before court or jury, but also on account of an irreproachable life and marked fidelity to duty. Mr. ADAMS was born at Alsted, New Hampshire, on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1813. His parents were JOHN and SUSANNA (MORSE) ADAMS. his pat- ernal grandfather, NATHAN ADAMS, was a native of Massachusetts, and a colonial soldier in the American Revolution. In the annals of our country no name has figured more conspicuously and honorably than that of ADAMS, and our subject belongs to the distinguished family that has furnished two presidents of the United States, while the eloquence of a representative of the name inspired the Declaration of Independence. Maternally our subject is descended from another prominent Bay state family, that of MORSE. His parents were born in Massachusetts; they lived in New Hampshire; in 1820 removed to New York, thence to Michi- gan in 1836, and in the last named state both died. They had two sons and four daughters, and of the children our subject was the youngest but one. After attending the common schools in early boyhood he entered an academy at Middleburg, Wyoming county, New York and later continued his academic course in Henrietta, Monroe county, New York. In the year 1834, being then twenty-one years of age, he made his way westward, believing that better opportunities were afforded young men in this new but rapidly developing portion of the country. Going to Ashland, Ohio, he made his home there for eighteen months. During that time he took up the study of law, under the direction of SILAS ROBBINS, and later, going to Mansfield, Ohio, continued the study of law under JAMES PURDY, of that city. At the July term of the supreme court of Ohio, held in Bucyrus in 1836, Mr. ADAMS was admitted to the bar and also licensed to practice by the district court of the United States, held in Columbus in 1839. At Mansfield Mr. ADAMS began the practice of law in association with Mr. PURDY, his preceptor, but on the 7th of August, 1837, he came to Bucyrus, and has since remained here, enjoying throughout the intervening years a large clientage. From 1838 to 1845 he held the office of prosecuting attorney. This is the only office every held by him. He has never sought political pre- ferment. To the practice of the law his undivided time and attention has been given. In politics he has ever been a staunch Democrat. As a lawyer, his has been a general practice, covering the usual variety of litigated interests that make up the docket of nisi-prius courts in a country town. To chancery he has given special attention, especially to the adminstration of estates. He accomplished much to- ward settlement of cases outside of the courtroom. He has always ad- vised compromises rather than settlement of difficulties in the courts. In early days it was not unusual for disputants to bring before him their respective grievances for arbitration, and thus he became in the best sense counsel for both parties, and in fact took the part of both counsel and judge. An amiable disposition, unquestioned integrity, un- failing tact, insight into human nature and regard for equity as well as law enabled him to solve hundreds of difficulties and restore the relations of friendship and confidence between men who had become anta- gonistical over some point and were inclined to ruinous litigation. Always a student, always thorough, and ever exact, Mr. ADAMS has long held the reputation of being a learned and able lawyer, accurate and exact in his pleadings, alert in trial, logical and convincing in argu- ment. He began his professional career a poor young man, and besides gaining for himself an enviable reputation in the profession he has amassed a desirable competency. Many years ago he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as a charter member of La Salle Lodge, of Bucyrus. ===========================================================================