Paul Philetus Adams

Paul Philetus Adams, son of Paul Adams, Jr., and his wife, Margaret Diehl, daughter of Christian and Julianna Ziegler Diehl of New Jersey, was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 25, 1840. His grandparents were Paul and Abigail Parkhurst Adams. He married Mary Mungen, born in Carrol County, Ohio, July 26, 1840, on September 22, 1864, in Hancock County, Ohio. Mary Mungen was the daughter of John Mungen, a native of Ireland, and Margaret McFarland, born in Scotland, and married in Ireland. They came to America in a sailing vessel when first married. The trip took six weeks and three days. There was a severe storm; the waves rocked the ship and the lightning was so bright that Margaret Mungen could see to read the small print in her Bible. The ship survived the storm, and they landed safely in Baltimore, Md., remained there a while, then lived in Philadelphia, Pa. before moving to Carroll County, Ohio. They moved to Findlay, Ohio in 1842.

The Paul P. Adams family was taken in Sept., 1916, beside the home of Samuel S. Adams, Toledo, Ohio, when celebrating his birthday. From Left: Harry H. Adams, Martha Bassett, Samuel S., Robert M. Adams, Margaret Bell, and Glen P. Adams.

Paul Adams, Jr. moved his family to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1842. He was a farmer and a Presbyterian minister and died in 1850. The children of Paul Adams, Jr. were: Mason, Sarah E., Jane, Paul P., Jacob, William and Adaline. Paul P. Adams was 10 years old when his father died. Later his mother married David Dorsey.

Paul P. and Mary Adams lived in Defiance County, Ohio, 11/2 years, moving to a farm in section 36 in Damascus Township, Henry County, Ohio, in 1966. Samuel S. Adams was born in Findlay, Ohio, September 27, -1866. Margaret, July 19, 1868, Harry, and Linnie were born while the family lived in Section 36. On March 25, 1875, Paul P. Adams purchased 15 acres in Section 24. After building a new house, nine foot ceilings downstairs and the upstairs 8 foot, the family moved to their new home. Other children were: Robert M., Martha A., and Glen P. Linnie died at the age of 5 years.

Paul P. was a traveling pump maker, traveling by wagon with his tools and making pumps from logs as needed. He also farmed 80 acres across the road from his home with the assistance of his sons. Samuel S. worked with his father in the shop and when drilling awell at Grand Rapids, Ohio, in 1890, was overcome by fire damp. When removed from the well, he was thought to be dead. He recovered and worked with his father two more years before starting a shop in McClure, Ohio. When the Samuel Adams family moved to McClure, Robert M. Adams and wife soon moved into the house on the farm across the road. Paul P. Adams continued to build pumps, but now they were made from sawed boards and painted. There were several varieties of fruit trees and a good sized grape arbor for the family to take care of and sell fruit. Harry H. Adams took up the business of moving buildings; Glen P. Adams helped him for a while but returned to farming for many years. Margaret attended Defiance College and taught school for several years, teaching south of Ayersville, near Deshler and at the Potter-town School in Wood Co.

Samuel S. married Sarah Lucretia Dull, and they were the parents of Melvin M., Clara Pearson, Arvin 0., and Cora Babcock. All are deceased but Arvin 0. Samuel S. Adams, wife, and Cora moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1916. After the death of his wife, he lived with his daughter Clara Pearson in Toledo and Grand Rapids, Ohio.

Margaret married Albert Bell and they were the parents of three children: Grace Marie, married Glenn S. Carter; Albert Lloyd, married Sarah Burrell; and Paul William married Clara Spicer.

Harry H. married Edna Jones, and they were the parents of Cloyce H.,

Paul P., Gladys Evanoff, Vernabelle Carter (husband Earl was a double cousin of Glenn S. Carter), Miss Evelyn, and Everett A. Two children died in infancy.

Robert M. married Ella Kalmback, and they were the parents of Howard and Herbert. They farmed until 1918, then later moved to Toledo.

Martha A. married Augustus L. Bassett and lived in Norwalk and Toledo, Ohio, and after 1914, moved to the Bassett paternal home at Pottertown, where he worked as a carpenter as long as his health permitted. Cloyce and Sigrid died while they lived in Norwalk. Later, Marguerite Morehouse (now deceased), Sarah M. Stivers and Dorothy Fisher were born.

Glen P. farmed over 18 years, until after the death of his wife, Edith Overy. He moved to Napoleon and worked at the Ford Roundhouse. He married Mrs. Hattie Ernst and later worked at the City Waterworks for many years.

The Adams children attended the Foltz school and the family were members of the Damascus M. E. Church, east of their home, taking part in many church activities, while they lived in that community.

Harry H. and Edna Adams, Robert M., and Ella Adams, Martha and A. L. Bassett celebrated 50 years of marriage. All of the children of Paul P. and Mary Adams are deceased, Robert M., being the last. All are buried in the Hockman Cemetery except the Bells and Bassetts, who are buried in the Beaver Creek Cemetery, N.E. of Grand Rapids, Ohio.