Capt. Richard J. Adams, best known to the present and immediately preceding generation as the local agent of the Clyde, Beach & Miller and other lines of St. Johns River steamers, but to an earlier generation as a pioneer stage transportation man between Palatka and Tampa and as a dauntless soldier of the Confederacy, passed away at his home on Second street at an early hour on Tuesday morning after an illness which had confined him to his bed for more than a month.
The funeral service was held at his late home at 10:30 Wednesday morning and was conducted by Rev. P. Q. Cason of the First Baptist Church. The interment was in West View Cemetery.
The death of Capt. Adams while not unexpected was nevertheless a shock to the people of Palatka and during the day many calls were made at the home by personal friends, and many letters and telegrams of sympathy have been received from out of town acquaintances and friends. At the funeral there were many beautiful tokens of esteem in the way of floral tributes, among which were those of Patton Anderson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Clyde Line, Beach & Miller Line, officers of the Steamer Crescent and from numerous friends. The pallbearers were George E. Gay, W. A. Walton, S. J. Kennedy, W. H. Rosenberg, E. C. Jackson and H. O. Hamm. The attendance was large, filling the house, porches and front yard, and all walks of life were represented, among the out-of-town people who were noticed as being present were Mrs. Mary Scott Miller, General manager of the Beach & Miller Line, Capt. George S. Crotty of the Steamer Crescent, Mr. H. C. White, agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Mr. L. S. Scroble, commercial agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Hon. J. H. Harp of Crescent City, Mrs. R. B. Young of Quitman , Ga., and Mrs. Mary H. Deal of Miami, his niece.
Capt. Adams was the dean of Palatka's male citizens by reason of his long residence and as an authority on its history, growth and personal recollections. He had resided in Palatka since Oct. 1856 - term of 56 years - a period exceeded by no man except perhaps Capt. Dunham of East Palatka. Capt. Adams was perhaps most highly honored and best known as a man of sterling integrity. He was a man of rare good sense and sound judgment, who had little sympathy with cant or affectation. The "square deal" as exemplified in the Golden Rule was his invariable rule of business. He was a man whose word was an unquestioned bond that never went below par.
In his "Memoirs of Florida," the late Governor Francis P. Fleming, volume 2, page 405, says of Capt. Adams:
"Richard J. Adams, of Palatka, was born at Cavendish, Windsor County, Vt., in 1833 and received the usual education of a New England boy in the public and district schools of his county, while being reared upon the farm. Later he obtained a clerkship in the mercantile business in Boston, and from that city removed to Florida in 1856. He located at Palatka and was one of the early modern settlers of Putnam County. His first occupation after arriving was as driver of a stage between Palatka and Tampa. In 1861 he joined Norton's company at Gainesville but did not enlist. He was ordered to Indian River by Colonel Dilworth and for two years was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department, being enrolled in Company H, Fifth Battalion, Florida Cavalry. During the expedition to St. Johns Bluff, he had charge of the wagons, and after the evacuation, was left with the teams on the east side of the river to get out as best he could. By dint of hard work and much worry he managed to swim the creeks with his animals, got out to Waldo and stationed there for some time afterward and was in charge of the wagon train between Bayport and Archer. For five months he was engaged in transporting blockade goods between these points. Later, he was stationed at Gainesville in the quartermaster's department and furnished supplies to all the commands east and south of the Suwanee river. In 1864 he was relieved by Major Hamilton and ordered to Fort Meade with supplies for Dickinson. He was met by that officer at the flat ford of the Hillsboro river, but was afterward taken prisoner by deserters and his wagon train burned. Later, after traveling through Alachua, Levy and Hernando Counties, he got to Lake City and joined General Finegan at Olustee, where he helped in the care of the wounded. He was next ordered to furnish commissary supplies from his wagon train until he joined Finegan at Camp Milton, where he remained until the brigade was ordered back to Florida from Quitman, and there he remained until the surrender. One of his later services was to take the machinery off the gunboat Columbine from Horse Landing to Waldo by wagon train. After the surrender he returned to Palatka and resumed his occupation in the steamboat business for several years. He carried the mails on the only boat not captured by the Federals, and his was the first passenger boat up the Ocklawaha river. In 1872 Captain Adams was appointed agent at Palatka for the river boats and has since served in that capacity through all the changes of the different lines at that point. He has long been prominently identified with the affairs of this section and a factor in the development of the State. In 1869 he was married to Miss Emily F. Holland of Georgia, and they have one child, Richard F. Adams."
Capt. Adams is survived by his wife an d one son , Mr. Richard F. Adams of this city. (Palatka News Obituary dtd Friday, 22 Nov 1912.)
The funeral service was held at his late home at 10:30 Wednesday morning and was conducted by Rev. P. Q. Cason of the First Baptist Church. The interment was in West View Cemetery.
The death of Capt. Adams while not unexpected was nevertheless a shock to the people of Palatka and during the day many calls were made at the home by personal friends, and many letters and telegrams of sympathy have been received from out of town acquaintances and friends. At the funeral there were many beautiful tokens of esteem in the way of floral tributes, among which were those of Patton Anderson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Clyde Line, Beach & Miller Line, officers of the Steamer Crescent and from numerous friends. The pallbearers were George E. Gay, W. A. Walton, S. J. Kennedy, W. H. Rosenberg, E. C. Jackson and H. O. Hamm. The attendance was large, filling the house, porches and front yard, and all walks of life were represented, among the out-of-town people who were noticed as being present were Mrs. Mary Scott Miller, General manager of the Beach & Miller Line, Capt. George S. Crotty of the Steamer Crescent, Mr. H. C. White, agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Mr. L. S. Scroble, commercial agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Hon. J. H. Harp of Crescent City, Mrs. R. B. Young of Quitman , Ga., and Mrs. Mary H. Deal of Miami, his niece.
Capt. Adams was the dean of Palatka's male citizens by reason of his long residence and as an authority on its history, growth and personal recollections. He had resided in Palatka since Oct. 1856 - term of 56 years - a period exceeded by no man except perhaps Capt. Dunham of East Palatka. Capt. Adams was perhaps most highly honored and best known as a man of sterling integrity. He was a man of rare good sense and sound judgment, who had little sympathy with cant or affectation. The "square deal" as exemplified in the Golden Rule was his invariable rule of business. He was a man whose word was an unquestioned bond that never went below par.
In his "Memoirs of Florida," the late Governor Francis P. Fleming, volume 2, page 405, says of Capt. Adams:
"Richard J. Adams, of Palatka, was born at Cavendish, Windsor County, Vt., in 1833 and received the usual education of a New England boy in the public and district schools of his county, while being reared upon the farm. Later he obtained a clerkship in the mercantile business in Boston, and from that city removed to Florida in 1856. He located at Palatka and was one of the early modern settlers of Putnam County. His first occupation after arriving was as driver of a stage between Palatka and Tampa. In 1861 he joined Norton's company at Gainesville but did not enlist. He was ordered to Indian River by Colonel Dilworth and for two years was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department, being enrolled in Company H, Fifth Battalion, Florida Cavalry. During the expedition to St. Johns Bluff, he had charge of the wagons, and after the evacuation, was left with the teams on the east side of the river to get out as best he could. By dint of hard work and much worry he managed to swim the creeks with his animals, got out to Waldo and stationed there for some time afterward and was in charge of the wagon train between Bayport and Archer. For five months he was engaged in transporting blockade goods between these points. Later, he was stationed at Gainesville in the quartermaster's department and furnished supplies to all the commands east and south of the Suwanee river. In 1864 he was relieved by Major Hamilton and ordered to Fort Meade with supplies for Dickinson. He was met by that officer at the flat ford of the Hillsboro river, but was afterward taken prisoner by deserters and his wagon train burned. Later, after traveling through Alachua, Levy and Hernando Counties, he got to Lake City and joined General Finegan at Olustee, where he helped in the care of the wounded. He was next ordered to furnish commissary supplies from his wagon train until he joined Finegan at Camp Milton, where he remained until the brigade was ordered back to Florida from Quitman, and there he remained until the surrender. One of his later services was to take the machinery off the gunboat Columbine from Horse Landing to Waldo by wagon train. After the surrender he returned to Palatka and resumed his occupation in the steamboat business for several years. He carried the mails on the only boat not captured by the Federals, and his was the first passenger boat up the Ocklawaha river. In 1872 Captain Adams was appointed agent at Palatka for the river boats and has since served in that capacity through all the changes of the different lines at that point. He has long been prominently identified with the affairs of this section and a factor in the development of the State. In 1869 he was married to Miss Emily F. Holland of Georgia, and they have one child, Richard F. Adams."
Capt. Adams is survived by his wife an d one son , Mr. Richard F. Adams of this city. (Palatka News Obituary dtd Friday, 22 Nov 1912.)
Capt. Richard J. Adams, best known to the present and immediately preceding generation as the local agent of the Clyde, Beach & Miller and other lines of St. Johns River steamers, but to an earlier generation as a pioneer stage transportation man between Palatka and Tampa and as a dauntless soldier of the Confederacy, passed away at his home on Second street at an early hour on Tuesday morning after an illness which had confined him to his bed for more than a month.
The funeral service was held at his late home at 10:30 Wednesday morning and was conducted by Rev. P. Q. Cason of the First Baptist Church. The interment was in West View Cemetery.
The death of Capt. Adams while not unexpected was nevertheless a shock to the people of Palatka and during the day many calls were made at the home by personal friends, and many letters and telegrams of sympathy have been received from out of town acquaintances and friends. At the funeral there were many beautiful tokens of esteem in the way of floral tributes, among which were those of Patton Anderson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Clyde Line, Beach & Miller Line, officers of the Steamer Crescent and from numerous friends. The pallbearers were George E. Gay, W. A. Walton, S. J. Kennedy, W. H. Rosenberg, E. C. Jackson and H. O. Hamm. The attendance was large, filling the house, porches and front yard, and all walks of life were represented, among the out-of-town people who were noticed as being present were Mrs. Mary Scott Miller, General manager of the Beach & Miller Line, Capt. George S. Crotty of the Steamer Crescent, Mr. H. C. White, agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Mr. L. S. Scroble, commercial agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Hon. J. H. Harp of Crescent City, Mrs. R. B. Young of Quitman , Ga., and Mrs. Mary H. Deal of Miami, his niece.
Capt. Adams was the dean of Palatka's male citizens by reason of his long residence and as an authority on its history, growth and personal recollections. He had resided in Palatka since Oct. 1856 - term of 56 years - a period exceeded by no man except perhaps Capt. Dunham of East Palatka. Capt. Adams was perhaps most highly honored and best known as a man of sterling integrity. He was a man of rare good sense and sound judgment, who had little sympathy with cant or affectation. The "square deal" as exemplified in the Golden Rule was his invariable rule of business. He was a man whose word was an unquestioned bond that never went below par.
In his "Memoirs of Florida," the late Governor Francis P. Fleming, volume 2, page 405, says of Capt. Adams:
"Richard J. Adams, of Palatka, was born at Cavendish, Windsor County, Vt., in 1833 and received the usual education of a New England boy in the public and district schools of his county, while being reared upon the farm. Later he obtained a clerkship in the mercantile business in Boston, and from that city removed to Florida in 1856. He located at Palatka and was one of the early modern settlers of Putnam County. His first occupation after arriving was as driver of a stage between Palatka and Tampa. In 1861 he joined Norton's company at Gainesville but did not enlist. He was ordered to Indian River by Colonel Dilworth and for two years was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department, being enrolled in Company H, Fifth Battalion, Florida Cavalry. During the expedition to St. Johns Bluff, he had charge of the wagons, and after the evacuation, was left with the teams on the east side of the river to get out as best he could. By dint of hard work and much worry he managed to swim the creeks with his animals, got out to Waldo and stationed there for some time afterward and was in charge of the wagon train between Bayport and Archer. For five months he was engaged in transporting blockade goods between these points. Later, he was stationed at Gainesville in the quartermaster's department and furnished supplies to all the commands east and south of the Suwanee river. In 1864 he was relieved by Major Hamilton and ordered to Fort Meade with supplies for Dickinson. He was met by that officer at the flat ford of the Hillsboro river, but was afterward taken prisoner by deserters and his wagon train burned. Later, after traveling through Alachua, Levy and Hernando Counties, he got to Lake City and joined General Finegan at Olustee, where he helped in the care of the wounded. He was next ordered to furnish commissary supplies from his wagon train until he joined Finegan at Camp Milton, where he remained until the brigade was ordered back to Florida from Quitman, and there he remained until the surrender. One of his later services was to take the machinery off the gunboat Columbine from Horse Landing to Waldo by wagon train. After the surrender he returned to Palatka and resumed his occupation in the steamboat business for several years. He carried the mails on the only boat not captured by the Federals, and his was the first passenger boat up the Ocklawaha river. In 1872 Captain Adams was appointed agent at Palatka for the river boats and has since served in that capacity through all the changes of the different lines at that point. He has long been prominently identified with the affairs of this section and a factor in the development of the State. In 1869 he was married to Miss Emily F. Holland of Georgia, and they have one child, Richard F. Adams."
Capt. Adams is survived by his wife an d one son , Mr. Richard F. Adams of this city. (Palatka News Obituary dtd Friday, 22 Nov 1912.)
The funeral service was held at his late home at 10:30 Wednesday morning and was conducted by Rev. P. Q. Cason of the First Baptist Church. The interment was in West View Cemetery.
The death of Capt. Adams while not unexpected was nevertheless a shock to the people of Palatka and during the day many calls were made at the home by personal friends, and many letters and telegrams of sympathy have been received from out of town acquaintances and friends. At the funeral there were many beautiful tokens of esteem in the way of floral tributes, among which were those of Patton Anderson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Clyde Line, Beach & Miller Line, officers of the Steamer Crescent and from numerous friends. The pallbearers were George E. Gay, W. A. Walton, S. J. Kennedy, W. H. Rosenberg, E. C. Jackson and H. O. Hamm. The attendance was large, filling the house, porches and front yard, and all walks of life were represented, among the out-of-town people who were noticed as being present were Mrs. Mary Scott Miller, General manager of the Beach & Miller Line, Capt. George S. Crotty of the Steamer Crescent, Mr. H. C. White, agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Mr. L. S. Scroble, commercial agent Clyde Line, Jacksonville, Hon. J. H. Harp of Crescent City, Mrs. R. B. Young of Quitman , Ga., and Mrs. Mary H. Deal of Miami, his niece.
Capt. Adams was the dean of Palatka's male citizens by reason of his long residence and as an authority on its history, growth and personal recollections. He had resided in Palatka since Oct. 1856 - term of 56 years - a period exceeded by no man except perhaps Capt. Dunham of East Palatka. Capt. Adams was perhaps most highly honored and best known as a man of sterling integrity. He was a man of rare good sense and sound judgment, who had little sympathy with cant or affectation. The "square deal" as exemplified in the Golden Rule was his invariable rule of business. He was a man whose word was an unquestioned bond that never went below par.
In his "Memoirs of Florida," the late Governor Francis P. Fleming, volume 2, page 405, says of Capt. Adams:
"Richard J. Adams, of Palatka, was born at Cavendish, Windsor County, Vt., in 1833 and received the usual education of a New England boy in the public and district schools of his county, while being reared upon the farm. Later he obtained a clerkship in the mercantile business in Boston, and from that city removed to Florida in 1856. He located at Palatka and was one of the early modern settlers of Putnam County. His first occupation after arriving was as driver of a stage between Palatka and Tampa. In 1861 he joined Norton's company at Gainesville but did not enlist. He was ordered to Indian River by Colonel Dilworth and for two years was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department, being enrolled in Company H, Fifth Battalion, Florida Cavalry. During the expedition to St. Johns Bluff, he had charge of the wagons, and after the evacuation, was left with the teams on the east side of the river to get out as best he could. By dint of hard work and much worry he managed to swim the creeks with his animals, got out to Waldo and stationed there for some time afterward and was in charge of the wagon train between Bayport and Archer. For five months he was engaged in transporting blockade goods between these points. Later, he was stationed at Gainesville in the quartermaster's department and furnished supplies to all the commands east and south of the Suwanee river. In 1864 he was relieved by Major Hamilton and ordered to Fort Meade with supplies for Dickinson. He was met by that officer at the flat ford of the Hillsboro river, but was afterward taken prisoner by deserters and his wagon train burned. Later, after traveling through Alachua, Levy and Hernando Counties, he got to Lake City and joined General Finegan at Olustee, where he helped in the care of the wounded. He was next ordered to furnish commissary supplies from his wagon train until he joined Finegan at Camp Milton, where he remained until the brigade was ordered back to Florida from Quitman, and there he remained until the surrender. One of his later services was to take the machinery off the gunboat Columbine from Horse Landing to Waldo by wagon train. After the surrender he returned to Palatka and resumed his occupation in the steamboat business for several years. He carried the mails on the only boat not captured by the Federals, and his was the first passenger boat up the Ocklawaha river. In 1872 Captain Adams was appointed agent at Palatka for the river boats and has since served in that capacity through all the changes of the different lines at that point. He has long been prominently identified with the affairs of this section and a factor in the development of the State. In 1869 he was married to Miss Emily F. Holland of Georgia, and they have one child, Richard F. Adams."
Capt. Adams is survived by his wife an d one son , Mr. Richard F. Adams of this city. (Palatka News Obituary dtd Friday, 22 Nov 1912.)
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