"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1901. p. 304.
WILLIS F. ADAMS
Among the extensive farmers and stockmen residing in the vicinity of Almota, the man whose name forms the caption of this article is certainly to be considered as one of the most prominent and progressive. He is also a pioneer of a very early date, and it is with pleasure that we accord him representation in this part of our volume as one of the potent factors in the industrial development of Whitman county.
Mr. Adams is a native of Missouri, born March 14, 1853, to William A. and Eliza (Scotten) Adams. In 1854 his parents crossed the plains with ox teams to California, locating in Eldorado county, and engaged in mining. After some years spent in this industry they turned to dairying, in which business they continued until 1869, when they removed to Douglas county, Oregon. In this state and California, our subject received a good education and engaged in farming in Douglas county until 1877, when he came to Whitman county and located four miles west from Almota. Here he engaged in the business of raising cattle and in agriculture, and to these kindred occupations he has devoted himself with assiduity and energy ever since. His realty holdings have been increased as time went by, yet he has ever been conservative in the expansion of his industry, never allowing himself to "grasp at too much." He is now the owner of a princely domain of one thousand acres, improved with a good house and good outbuildings, and supplied with all those equipments which tend to make rural life comfortable and to add to it a charm. At the present time he keeps a large herd of cattle and horses, though the settlement of the country and consequent narrowing of the range has necessitated some retrenchment in this direction.
In fraternal affiliations Mr. Adams is identified with the Woodmen of the World. He married Miss Rebecca Daniels, a native of California, and daughter of John P. Lovicy, who crossed the plains from Illinois in 1852. To this union have been born six children: Bertha, wife of Frank Endsley, of Wilcox, this county; Thomas; Eva; James; Eliza; Sarah. Mr. Adams has always been quite active in political matters of the state and county, always laboring for the advancement of those principles deemed by him to be for the benefit of all interested. In addition to his other stock, of which he has some well-bred specimens, he takes quite a lively interest in breeding chickens and has some fine trios of all the leading varieties. Mr. Adams has always been quite active in political matters of the state and county, always laboring for the advancement of those principles deemed by him to be for the benefit of all interested. I addition to his other stock, of which he has some well-bred specimens, he takes quite a lively interest in breeding chickens and has some fine trios of all the leading varieties.
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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.