A STURDY PIONEER

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1931, Page 7

A STURDY PIONEER

THE LATE MR. JOHN ADAMS.

ALMUoT 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, prob’ ably, says the Ellesmere Guardian, 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 Killinchy-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. 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. 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 aevtive 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 Uawera district, Taranaki), Samuel Adams (Killinchy), William Adams (Dunsandel) and Alex. Adams (Lowcliffe). There are 29 grandchildren, 27 greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.