Gilbert, Frank T. "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a1. FRED F. ADAMS the proprietor of the wholesale and retail establishment, on the corner of Main and Third streets Walla Walla City, was born in Lexington, Richland Co., Ohio, October 5, 1842. His father, John F., was a merchant, but retired from business before this son was old enough to enter the establishment. At fifteen years of age, Fred F. left home and commenced life for himself as a clerk in a general merchandising establishment, in Mount Gilead, Morrow Co., of his native state. When the War broke out, he enlisted as a soldier in company B of the 43rd Ohio Infantry, and served in that company, from the fall of 1861 till the fall of 1864, participating in many of the most notable battles of the Rebellion. He saw the serried ranks of Price and Van Dorn, hurled back from before Corinth; the Confederate columns at Iuka, shattered by the Federal charge, and passed, unscathed, through the fierce storm of shot and shell that saluted Sherman's advance in the Atlanta Campaign. After leaving the army, he started across the continent in 1865, and reached Walla Walla by way of Fort Benton and the Mullan road, arriving in September of that year. His cash capital to start business, on arriving in the West, was $18. The brother of Fred F., named W. P. Adams, was at that time, a partner of the Brown Bros., a wealthy and popular house, doing a wholesale business in Walla Walla. A copartnership was at once formed between the Adams brothers and Fred F. returned to Helena, Montana, and spent the ensuing two and a half years in that place, Reynolds City and Fort Lemhi on the Salmon river in Idaho. In July, 1868, the Brown Bros. sold their mercantile interests to the Adams Bros., who continued their joint business until July, 1880, when Fred F. became sole proprietor by purchase, and his brother, retiring, moved to Oakland, California. A sketch of the corner building, where business is carried on by Mr. Adams, accompanies this work; but, though representing truthfully the external appearance, it, after all, gives but a meager exhibit of the establishment, as seen by one, who enters the door. His business reaches beyond the department of retail into that of wholesaling, and an $80.000 stock is about the average amount carried by him. His goods include those pertaining to various branches of merchandise, such as clothing, groceries, hardware, dry goods, etc.; and would be properly termed a general merchandise establishment. It is not the province of this work, to say that Mr. Adams sells his merchandise at lower figures, and gives a better article than other merchants of Walla Walla; the customer can be his own judge of that. But the conclusion is a natural and inevitable one, that the development from $18 to a business that requires an $80,000 stock of goods constantly on hand to supply patrons must have been obtained by giving satisfaction to customers, both in price and quality of goods. While time passed and the country was developing, Mr. Adams did not forget that the soil of this region was, in itself, a mine of wealth, and he has purchased portions of it from time to time, until 2040 acres have been acquired; of this 600 acres join the celebrated Blalock ranch and are enclosed. The remaining 1440 acres are in Eureka Flats and all his land is under cultivation. As a citizen, he is respected by all; as a business man his integrity is unimpeached. As a suave, courteous and generous gentleman, with whom to do business or meet socially, he has no superior in the city and few equals any where. Mrs. Mary V. Adams, born March 2, 1854, is the daughter of the old Oregon pioneer, D. J. Schnebly, and was married to Mr. Adams in Walla Walla City, June 29, 1870. The following are the names and dates of birth of their children: F. May Adams, May 6, 1872; Arthur M. Adams, December 12, 1873; Died February 1, 1875; Philip H. Adams, February 12, 1876; M. Edua Adams, January 24, 1878; Herbert H. Adams, January 20, 1880. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.