Mr. Adams was early possessed of an ambition to become an overseer; and to this end he labored hard and faithfully, never thinking or dreaming, however, that he would become agent of a large mill. This was his real beginning, the wedding to his long and uninterrupted manufacturing life, the "golden wedding" anniversary of which event occurred in November, 1879.
Soon after his commencement at Lowell, he was promoted to the position of second overseer in the weaving department, a post he retained until 1831, when he passed to a similar position in the Methuen Company's mill, of which his uncle was agent. In 1833 he made another change, going to Hooksett, where he became overseer in the Hooksett Manufacturing Company's mills, of which his father was then the agent. Not long afterwards he assumed a similar position in the Pittsfield Manufacturing Company's mill, at Pittsfield, then under the administration of Ithamar A. Beard. Mr. Adams remained in Pittsfield from December, 1834, until Mr. Beard resigned.
On the 7th of March, 1835, Mr. Adams, who had previously decided to return to Lowell, left Pittsfield; embarked in the mail stage, and found himself about noon of the next day at Nashua, where his parents then resided. In those days there was no city of Manchester, neither was there a splendid railroad service running through the fertile Merrimack valley. But the waters of the Merrimack, though scarcely at all utilized at that time to propel water-wheels, carried upon its bosom heavily laden vessels from Boston, via the old Middlesex canal, which ran as far north as Concord. Locks were in use at Garvin's Falls, Hooksett, Manchester, Goffe's Falls, Nashua, and at other points. A passenger steamer plied in those days between Lowell and Nashua upon the river. Mr. Adams remained at home only until Monday. He was industriously inclined, and proceeded immediately to the Merrimack Mills in Lowell, the scene of his earlier labors, where he accepted the office of overseer. He remained with this company until he came to Manchester, in 1846. In December, 1841, John Clark, the agent of the Merrimack Mills at Lowell, proposed that Mr. Adams should enter the office as a clerk. This idea was very distasteful to Mr. Adams, but he yielded to the wishes and advice of Mr. Clark, to get acquainted with book-keeping and the general business of the mills, to prepare for a higher position. For five years he held this position.
In the year 1846, Mr. Adams left Lowell to assume the agency (succeeding the Hon. William P. Newell) of the "Old Amoskeag Mills," then located on the west side of the Merrimack River at Amoskeag Falls,—now a part of the city of Manchester,—on the present site of ex-Governor P. C. Cheney's paper-mill. The building of the Amoskeag mills was the beginning of Manchester's wonderful career of prosperity, which has developed to such great proportions. Her many mills, now running more than three hundred thousand spindles, many looms, and many cloth-printing machines, and the many other signs of industry, are abundantly attesting to the truth of the statement. With the Amoskeag company Mr. Adams remained until the 17th of November, 1847, when he became agent of the Stark Mills.
Of the great manufactories of Manchester, that of the Stark Mills company ranks third in magnitude and second in age. This company was organized September 26, 1838, and began active operations during the following year. During its forty years and more of busy existence, up to April 30, 1881, when Mr. Adams resigned on account of ill health, it had but two resident agents: John A. Burnham held the position from the inception of the corporation until the 17th of November, 1847, the date marking the commencement of the long term of service of the subject of this sketch. At that time the capital of the Stark Mills company was the same as now,—one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The shares, the par value of which was one thousand dollars, were worth six or seven hundred dollars when Colonel Adams was chosen agent; but they had risen to fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars when he resigned.
In the early days of New England manufacturing, more labor was performed by hand than is to-day; and, though substantially the same machinery was employed, yet it had by no means attained its present capacity and wonderful completeness. In December, 1863, Mr. Adams was commissioned by the directors of the Stark Mills to go to Europe for the purpose of securing machinery, and information relating to the manufacture of linen goods. At that time, owing to the war, cotton goods were very scarce and expensive. For unmanufactured cotton itself the Stark company paid as high as one dollar and eighty-six cents per pound, and a higher price than even that was paid by other companies. A bale of cotton brought nine hundred and thirty dollars. Mr. Adams traveled extensively through England, Scotland, and Ireland, and visited the city of Paris. He ordered considerable machinery of the English manufacturers, who were very busy with American orders at the time. So great, in fact, was the demand upon them, that the Stark machinery did not arrive until the September following, nearly a year after being ordered.
From choice, Colonel Adams has been quite clear of politics, having only served as ward clerk when a young man in Lowell, and, later, as a presidential elector for General Grant. He was Governor Straw's chief-of-staff, which, by the way, it is believed never "turned out in a body" as such. He was also four years a director in the Concord Railroad, just after the decease of Governor Gilmore. About the year 1848 he was chosen one of the assistant engineers of the Manchester fire department, in which capacity he served with peculiar fidelity for twelve years. Mr. Adams and the other engineers resigned their positions after two steamers had been obtained, thus giving the captains of the old companies chances of promotion. Never being "up for office," as were many of his friends, he could act with positive independence; and he invariably did act, as he thought, for the best interests of the city.
Col. Adams has for a long time been closely identified with the moneyed institutions of Manchester, having served as a director in the Merrimack River Bank from 1857 to 1860, the same in the Manchester National Bank from 1865 to the present time; and as a trustee in the Manchester Savings Bank nearly all the time since it obtained its charter. Since the decease of Hon. Herman Foster, Mr. Adams has been one of the committee on loans for the latter institution. He is one of the directors of the Gas-Light Company, and was for many years a trustee of the public library. He was elected, in 1865, one of the original directors of the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association.
For many years, Mr. Adams has been engaged, as opportunity occurred, in procuring rare coins and medals. Of the former, he now possesses very complete collections of the various denominations in gold, silver, nickel, and copper; and he has a great number of valuable medals. Many of these antiquities command a very high price in the market, their numbers being absolutely limited, and the demand for them steadily increasing.
During the administration of Colonel Adams, which covered a long series of eventful years, a great many changes occurred. In what may be called, more particularly, the manufacturing world is this especially true. He is the oldest agent and the longest in such position in the city,—nay, more, in the entire Merrimack valley; and most of those holding similar positions thirty-two years ago are now passed from this life. That fine old estate on Hanover street, for a long time known as the "Harris estate," was formerly owned by the Stark company, who built the commodious mansion now converted into a charitable institution,—the "Orphans' Home,"—for the use of their agents. John A. Burnham was its first occupant; and next, Mr. Adams, who resided there nine years, beginning with 1847.