A STURDY PIONEER

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LII, Issue 91, 12 November 1931, Page 5

A STURDY PIONEER

THE LATE MR. JOHN ADAMS.

ALMOST A CENTENARIAN,

Mr John Adams, senr., who passed away a few days ago at the residence of his son, Mr William Adams, Dunsandel, at the age of 98 years, probably held two notable records—that of being the oldest man in the Ellesmere district and of having lived in one locality for a longer period than any other man. He had lived in the Kiliinchy-Dunsandel district continuously for 65 years, and was a fine example of the sturdy pioneer settler. Born in Riffisband, County Down, Ireland, from which district Ellesmere received many of its best early settlers, he and his wife decided to strike out for themselves in a new land when Mr Adams was about 32 years of age. They had been married several years, and made the voyage to New Zealand, which occupied 106 days, in the famous ship Eastern Empire, landing at Lyttelton on January 5, 1865. After spending about a year in Christchurch they removed to Killinchy, where Mr Adams took up a section of land from the Crown. In those days there were few properly formed roads, but the land which Mr Adams first occupied now has a frontage to the SouthbridgeDunsandel road and is situated on the Dunsandel side of what is still known as McKee's farm. Some years later Mr Adams acquired the farm now held by the Bilbrough family, near Dunsandel. In course of time he disposed of that property and acquired another near the Heslerton run, where he remained until his death : his son having taken over the farm a number of years ago. For a long period the late Mr Adams combined with his farming operations road contracting work for the old Ellesmere Road Board, during the time the late Mr W. G. Lunn was clerk and surveyor to that body. |He became an expert at this work 'and formed many of the roads in the J district under Mr Lunn's supervision, and became . widely known as an industrious and conscientious contractor. Apart from serving on School | Committees, Mr Adams did not manifest a liking for public life. . He won the esteem of other settlers in the district because of his neighbourly qualities and readiness to lend any assistance in his power to those who needed help of any kind. Although he suffered severely from rheumatics in recent years, he remained in possession of all his faculties, notwithstanding his great age, and possessed an active and retentive memory. Mrs Adams passed away on July 6, 1906, and of a family of seven, four sons survive. They are Messrs John Adams (a resident of the Hawera district, Taranaki), Samuel Adams (Killinchy), William Adams (Dunsandel) and Alex. Adams (Lowcliffe) There are 29 grandchildren, 27 greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. A large number of old friends attended the funeral, which took place on Monday afternoon, from the residence of Mr William Adams. The service in the Presbyterian portion of the Ellesmere Cemetery, Leeston, was conducted by the Rev. W. G. Hannah, minister of the SouthbridgeDunsandel parish. Those who acted as bearers were members of the Orange Lodge, the late Mr Adams having been a member of the institution prior to leaving Ireland. They were Messrs J. E. and R. Millar, D. H. Reid and D. Reid, jun. Floral tributes were received from the following: Mr and Mrs John Adams and family, Mr and Mrs Alex. Allen and family, Mr and Mrs William Adams and family, Mr Samuel Adams and family, Mr George Scott and Miss Scott, Mr and Mrs J. H. Skinner and family, Mr and Mrs E. Sollitt, Mr and Mrs H. Wright Johnson, Rev. land Mrs W T. G. Hannah, John and Elsie, Nell and Len Finnic, Greatgrandchildren, Jack, Dcs, Ken and Sam, Mr and Mrs J. Spence, Mr and Mrs J. K. Boon.