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    Adams, Samuel Emery

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1857-60 (District 19)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic

    Counties Served:  Carver, Wright

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 12/1/1828
    Birth Place: Reading, Vermont
    Birth County: Windsor
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: ??/??/1912
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Monticello
    Occupation (when first elected): Merchant

    EDUCATION

    Thetford Academy, Vermont; At Least Elementary School;
    Chester Academy, Vermont; At Least Elementary School;
    Springfield Academy, Vermont; At Least Elementary School;
    West Randolph Academy, Vermont; Secondary;
    Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Attended College; 1851-1852
    Studied Law; Admitted to the Bar, 1862

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Historical Society (Member); 18?? to 18??
    School Board/Administration: Monticello, Minnesota (Board of Education, Member and President); 18?? to 18??
    U.S. Executive Branch: Boston, Massachusetts and Burlington, Vermont (Route Agent, Appointed by President Pierce); 1853 to 1855 [Appointed]
    Postmaster: United States Post Office, Iowa and Minnesota (Special Agent); 1859 to 18?? [Appointed]
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Land Office, St. Cloud, Minnesota (Receiver); 1860 to 1861 [Appointed]
    Military: United States Army (United States Civil War, Paymaster, Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln, Brevetted Lieutenant Colonel); 1862 to 01/1866 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Agricultural Society (President, 1879); 187? to 187?
    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Minneapolis, Minnesota (City Council); 1892 to 19?? [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Single (when first elected); Augusta J. Smith (married on July 21, 1859)
    Children: Two children: Henry Rice, and John Cain (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He came to St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota in the fall of 1855. A few months later, he returned to Vermont. He moved to Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota on June 1, 1856. He moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1883.

    His father, Solomon Wright Adams, was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.

    "He was in politics what was then known as a 'war Democrat,'..." (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 338)

    He was a 33rd degree Mason and a charter member of the Monticello Lodge. He was an Inspector General of the Scottish Rite. He was also a Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1133

    SESSIONS SERVED

    2nd Legislative Session (1859-1860)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 19
    Elected: 10/12/1858
    Residence: Monticello
    Term of Office: 12/7/1859 to 1/7/1861
    Counties Represented: Carver, Wright
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: "He was in politics what was then known as a 'war Democrat,'..." (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 338)
    Committees:
    • State Affairs

    1st Legislative Session (1857-1858)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 19
    Elected: 10/13/1857
    Residence: Monticello
    Term of Office: 12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
    Counties Represented: Carver, Wright
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: "He was in politics what was then known as a 'war Democrat,'..." (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 338)
    Committees:
    • Engrossment (Chair)
    • Public Lands
    • State Affairs (Chair)
    Session Notes: He was sworn in on December 7, 1857 and subscribed to the oath of office on December 8, 1857. An 1858-59 session was not held due to the protracted session of 1857-58. (Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1872, p. 66) Thus, even though the first session was adjourned on August 12, 1858; the term end date for it is listed as the day before the second legislative session's start date.
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Photographs
    Samuel E. Adams of Monticello, member of the First State Legislature (ca. 1858) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database

    Articles & Books About
    Shutter, Marion Daniel. "Samuel Emery Adams." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 338-339.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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