ADAMS is situated in the southern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Hounsfield and Watertown, east by Rodman, south by Lorraine and Ellisburgh, and west by Henderson. It is watered by the north branch of Sandy Creek and many tributary brooks in the south, and by Stony Creek, with numerous small branches, in the northern part. Both streams are fed by springs and afford permanent water-power, which has been utilized. The surface of the town is generally level, except in the northwestern part, which is somewhat broken by the lake ridge which here traverses the town. The territory was originally timbered with maple, beech, birch, elm, and butternut, a considerable area of which yet remains. Cedar and pine also prevailed, and contributed largely to the early wealth of the town. The soil is generally fertile---a black mold, sandy loam, or a loam somewhat mixed with clay, underlaid by limestone, with outcroppings of this rock on high ground. There is very little waste land in the town, a portion of the most elevated being susceptible of cultivation. That which seems most sterile affords excellent grazing.

This town was formed from Mexico, April 1, 1802. It received its name in honor of President John Adams, and included No. 7, or Aleppo, and No. 8, or Orpheus, of the “Eleven Towns,” or the “Black River Tract.” This area was maintained until No. 8 became a separate town, with the name of Rodman, March 24, 1804.

Adams, or No. 7, fell to the lot of Nicholas Low, in the subdivision of the eleven towns, by ballot, and was surveyed by Benjamin Wright in 1796, into fifty-six lots, numbered from west or east and from north to south, commencing near Henderson Bay and extending on the line of Lorraine. Mr. Wright complained of local attractions, that rendered it impossible to run straight lines. The lots varied in contents from 240 acres to 676 acres, and the whole made an aggregate of 26,505 acres. The town is nearly square, its sides measuring about six miles from east to west, and not quite seven from north to south. This tract of land had been mortgaged to William Constable, June 15, 1796, by Henderson, Low, Harrison, and Hoffman. It was assigned to the Bank of New York, but Low succeeded in getting a release, June 16, 1804.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Eliphalet Edmonds, March 1, 1803, when the following officers were chosen: Nicholas Salisbury, supervisor; Phineas Keith, clerk; E’Estaing Salisbury, John W. Smith, David Grommon, Jr., Thomas White, assessors; Isaac Baker collector; Thomas White, David Comstock, overseers of the poor; Paul Stickney, Jacob Kellogg, Simeon Hunt, commissioners of highways; Isaac Baker and Anson Moody, constables; Daniel Comstock, David Smith, George H. Thomas, George Cooper, fence viewers; Jacob Kellogg, Benjamin Thomas, pound keepers; Abraham Ripley, James Perry, Enan Salisbury, John Cowles, Consider Law, Solomon Robbins, Hezekiah Tiffany, Thomas White, Daniel Mansfield, Asa Davis, Squire Read, Abel Palmer, overseers of highways; David Comstock, Simeon Hunt, deer reeves.

At a special town meeting, held November 10, 1803, a remonstrance was voted against taking three ranges of lots from the north side of the town to annex to the contemplated town of Newport; also to agree to the division of the town on the line between towns Nos. 7 and 8. Wolf bounties of $5 were offered in 1803; of $10 from 1804 to 1815; and of $15 in 1815.

In 1880 Adams had a population of 3, 302. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 14 school districts, in which 19 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. The whole number of scholars attending school was 682, while the aggregate days attendance during the year was 68,234. The total value of school buildings and sites was $13,690, and the assessed valuation of all the districts was $1,870,305. The whole amount raised during the year for school purposes was $6,817.30, $4,352.94 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

ADAMS is a large and thriving post village located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, and is a station on the R., W. & O. R. R. 13 miles from Watertown, 169 miles from Albany, and 311 miles from New York. It contains two national banks, is the seat of Adams Collegiate Institute, has four churchs (Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Episcopal), two hotels, a weekly newspaper, express, telegraph, and telephone accommodations, and the requisite number of shops and stores necessary to supply its 1,500 inhabitants and the surrounding country. A daily stage runs to Belleville, Henderson, and Worth. The village was incorporated under the general act, by the Court of Sessions, November 11, 1851, and confirmed by a vote of 79 to 51 on the 19th of December of the same year. The village plat includes 812 acres. In 1823 an unsuccessful attempt had been made to obtain an act of incorporation, the notice of application being signed by Elihu Morton, David Smith, Benjamin Wright, and John Burch. The first trustees of the village were John H. Whipple, Samuel Bond, Calvin Skinner, Calvin R. Totman, and Wells Benton. May 27, 1852, the village was divided into five wards, and a code of by-laws adopted. The Rural Cemetery Association was formed January 17, 1848, of 33 citizens, who laid out a neat and quiet lot for the purpose in the eastern part of the village, is one of the finest rural cemeteries in the county. A fire company was formed in Adams about 1836, and a small crank engine purchased by voluntary subscriptions. Since its organization the village has made ample provision for protection against the destructive element. April 23, 1852, an appropriation of $650 was voted to purchase a fire engine and its necessary apparatus. May 24, 1853, the “Tempest Fire Company” was formed with 44 men. The new water-works have added largely to the protection against fire.

SMITHVILLE is a post village on Stony Creek, on the west line of the town, lying partly In the town of Henderson. It is 12 miles from Watertown, five miles from Adams Center, five from Sackets Harbor, and six from Henderson Harbor. It has telegraph, telephone, and express accommodations, and a stage line to Sackets Harbor. It has one church (Baptist), two stores, two truss factories, a grist and saw-mill, two blacksmith shops, a cheese factory, and about 200 inhabitants. It was named in honor of Jesse Smith, one of the early settlers and a prominent business man. Settlement was begun here in 1804 by Daniel Hardy, who kept the first hotel here. Brooks Harrington was the first postmaster.

ADAMS CENTER Is a very pleasant post village of about 500 inhabitants, located about three and a half miles north of Adams village. It contains three churches (Baptist, Seventh-Day Baptist, and Seventh-Day Advents), a grocery store, boot and shoe store, drug store, hardware store, four general stores, a clothing store, two hotels, three blacksmith shops, three millinery shops, a grist-mill, sash and blind factory, a manufacturer of handy package dyes, two livery stables, a dealer in sewing machines and musical instruments, a lawyer, two physicians, a printing office, and a furniture dealer and undertaker. Settlement in this locality was first made in 1816, by Luman and Hiram Arms, on a farm just north of the village site. The first house where the village stands was built by a man named Priest, who sold out to Luman Arms before it was entirely completed. Jonathan Davis built the first store about 1830.

Adams Collegiate Institute was incorporated by the Regents, April 22, 1855, but not fully organized when a proposition was received from General Solon D. Hungerford, of Adams, for a substantial endowment. The name was changed to “Hungerford Collegiate Institute,” March 24, 1864. Under this name an academic school was opened in the S. J. Mendell building, --- known as the “Basswood Hotel,” located near the sulphur springs and a few rods east of the present railroad depot, --- with Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton as principal. About this time a very valuable mineralogical cabinet was presented to the institute by Mr. J. G. Webb, which was nearly destroyed by the burning of the school building some years later. During the second year Prof. David Holbrook, a former tutor of Hamilton College, became associated with Prof. Houghton as vice-principal. During the administration of Prof. Houghton the school was noted for its thorough scholarship and excellent discipline. Col. E. S. Salisbury and others maintained military drill, materially aiding in the discipline of the school. January 29, 1868, the building was consumed by fire, and about $13,400 was paid by the insurance companies to the trustees. February 3, five days after the fire, a meeting of the trustees was held, when it was resolved to erect another building immediately. At this meeting the question of a change of site was introduced, and the site upon which the building now stands was selected. (A photo of the Adams Collegiate Institute was shown on this page.) Gen. S. D. Hungerford donated the new site, and also made a very liberal cash donation. The trustees had at their disposal about $16,000, and they were authorized to expend $20,000 in the erection of a suitable building for an academy and boarding hall, that should accommodate at least as many students as the former building. About June 1 work on the new building was begun. The plans were by Prof. J. D. Houghton and Mr. White, of Syracuse. The mason work was under the direction of Asa Lyons, of Adams. The carpenter work was done by William H. Wheeler, with David Gaylord as architect in charge. Both these later gentlemen were of Adams. The building is of brick, 97 by 129 feet, four stories high, and is heated by steam and thoroughly ventilated. The building was completed in August, 1870, and on the 28th of that month school was opened with the following corps of teachers: Albert B. Watkins, A. M., principal; Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., vice-principal; Mrs. H. N. Butterworth, preceptress; Mrs. L. B. Woodward, teacher common English; Miss L. Chatfield, oil painting and drawing; Mr. W. H. H. Taylor, natural sciences and commercial; Mr. Gustave Gunther, music; Mrs. H. B. Watkins, Spanish and English. There are six courses of study; 1, classical; 2, English; 3, college preparatory; 4, scientific or engineering; 5, commercial; 6, music. There are two literary societies connected with the school --- Calisophia and Nousas-Kean. The library contains about 650 carefully selected volumes. The chemical and philosophical apparatus is full and complete, and there is also a first-class mineralogical cabinet, mainly the gift of William Rosa, M. D., of Watertown, and J. G. Webb.

The building will accommodate sixty boarders and 200 day pupils. The school had its home in this building from 1870 to 1882, when the same was sold for debt, and the school was removed to a block in the business part of the village. The name “Adams Collegiate Institute” was restored by the Regents, November 16, 1883. August 28, 1884, the block in which the school was held was burned. Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Dwight of Adams, in cooperation with the trustees and citizens, purchased the Hungerford Collegiate building, $6,5000, the insurance from the building burned, being applied toward the payment of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight have conveyed this building by lease, subject to certain conditions, to the present board of trustees, one of the provisions of the present charter being that no person or persons shall have the power to encumber the institutions with a debt of more than $100. This makes it impossible to again put out its light with the snuffles of the law. Since 1882 the institute has been under the management of Principal Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., an alumnus of Brown University, a fine scholar and cultured gentleman. During the years 1884-85, 119 students were in attendance. The grade of scholarship is high, and the faculty competent and faithful. The following corps of teachers constitute the faculty of the institution: Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., principal, Latin, Greek, English literature; Mrs. A. H. Coughlan, preceptress, French and mathematics; Mrs. L. B. Woodward, English department; Prof. Herm Haydn (sic), music; Lincoln B. Irvin, commercial, chemistry, and physics; Mrs. W. D. Arms, painting and drawing; Miss Clara M. Cooper, elocution; Prof. R. S. Bosworth, lecturer on natural science.

Students who complete the college preparatory course are admitted on the certificate of the principal to Hamilton, Williams, Dartmouth, Hobart, and Vassar colleges, and the universities of Madison, Rochester, and Vermont. The institute has cost the community, of which Adams is the center, more than $80,000. The situation of the building is commanding; the prospect from its windows is wide and beautiful. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight have in their generosity offered the building to the Presbyterian denomination of Adams, free from debt, upon the condition of their giving it a perpetual endowment, the same to be used for school purposes forever. The citizens again contributed to the repairs and the building was entirely refurnished at an expense of $5,000. The ladies of the town assumed the debt of $800 to put the chapel in repair.

The Farmers National Bank, of Adams village, successor to the Adams National Bank, was organized May 29, 1889, with a capital of $65,000. The officers are: C. D. Potter, president; I. P. Wodell, vice-president; and G. W. Hannahs, cashier. The Adams National Bank was organized January 2, 1883, with a capital of $50,000. W. A. Waite was president and G. W. Hannahs, cashier.

The Citizens National Bank of Adams was organized August 7, 1889, under the “National Bank Act,” with a paid in capital of $50,000, and with the following directors: George Mather, Abel Bickford, Joshua W. Overton, Newton M. Wardwell, Lafayette Caulkins, William Mather, Talcott H. Camp, Willis A. Waite, Lucy J. Bullock, Anson S. Thompson, Charles A. Eastman, De Alton Rich, William H. Hathway. The officers are: George Mather, president; Lafayette Caulkins, vice-president; William H. Hathway, cashier. The bank was opened for business September 9, 1889.