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JOSIAH ADAMS, residing on his valuable farm of 140 acres, which is situated near Adams Corners, on the Harrisville and Franklin Road, belongs to families who have been prominently identified with the development of
Slippery Rock Township, for generations. He was born on a farm that adjoins his own, in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1832, and is a son of James and Eliza (Harris) Adams.
The location of Adams Corners bears his family name, while Harrisville, three miles distant, was named for his maternal grandfather, Ephraim Harris, who purchased the 400 acres, which includes the site of that town, from James Hartley, another old pioneer with
Jonathan Adams, who was the grandfather of the wife of Josiah Adams. James Adams and wife spent their lives in Slippery Rock Township and died on the farm now owned by their son Josiah.
Josiah Adams was reared in Slippery Rock Township and obtained his education in the country schools. In 1853 he started for California and remained in the far West until 1873, during this long period having spent his time in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Utah,
teaming, mining and farming. After he returned to Pennsylvania, in 1873, he was married to Miss Mary Hartley, a daughter of James and Isabella (Van Dyke) Hartley. Mrs. Adams was born and reared in Marion Township, Butler County. Her grandfather, James Hartley, was born in
Westmoreland County and, as stated above, he once owned the land on which the flourishing town of Harrisville stands.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams have had six children, namely: Samuel Dale, who died when aged twenty-five years; James A., who married Edith Shields, and has four children — Samuel Dale, Frances Catherine, Mary Isabella, and Eli James; Harry, who married Mary Delia Bovard, deceased;
Mary, wlio married W. E. James, of Chicora; Ralph, who married Effie Dible, resides at Mars, and they have three children, Kathleen Adelaide, Sarah and Ray Roosevelt; and one deceased. Mr. Adams and wife belong to the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 784.
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