Powell Orgain Adams

b. 3 July 1869, d. 4 March 1943
  • Powell Orgain Adams was born on 3 July 1869 in Alabama.
  • Felix Grundy Adams and Sarah Elizabeth Powell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Linden, Marengo County, Alabama. Other members of the household included Powell Orgain Adams, George F. Adams, Laura Shields Adams, Walter Benjamin Adams and Thomas Felix Adams.
  • Powell Orgain Adams appeared in the '1889-1890 Dallas, Texas, City Directory boarding with Mrs. M. L. McQueen, and employed as a clerk by B. T. Anderson..
  • The following appeared in The Cameron Herald in August 1895: P. O. Adams is now managert of the Cameron baseball team and this gives assurance that all matters will be honestly looked after.
  • The following appeared on 14 August 1895 in the Brenham Daily Banner: As was mentioned in the Banner several days ago, the Brenham Baseball nine offered to accept the invitation to play in Cameron on Friday the 16th inst. provided the Cameron people would furnish them with transportation and would play for a percentage of the gate receipts. Capt. Aaron Eldridge received another letter from Manager P. O. Adams, advising that instead of the Cameron nine guaranteeing all expenses and also playing for a percentage of receipts, they were only willing to either give them their expenses or else the winner to take 60 per cent and the loser 40 per cent of the receipts. This did not conform with the original proposition made, and Cameron has been notified that our nine will only play under the conditions first offered. It is understaood that Cameron has imported a great deal of new material, taken from the San Antonio team, but unless they play better ball than they did while in the league, Brenham will give them a close call.
  • He married Mary Laurence Taber, daughter of William C. Taber and Alice O. Owens, on 15 September 1897 in Milam County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 18 March 1899 in The Houston Post: (Cameron) The greatest attraction in Cameron at the present is at the opening at the new dry goods store of P. O. Adams & Co.
  • Powell Orgain Adams and Mary Laurence Taber appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Cameron, Milam County, Texas, at Belton Street. Other members of the household included Marcellus Powell Adams and Sarah Elizabeth Powell. Also in the household were three young female boarders.
  • He was a drygoods merchant, according to the 1900 census.
  • The following appeared in The Cameron Herald in August 1900: Sam Houston, who has been selling dry goods to the Cameron trade for many years is now engaged with P. O. Adams and Co., where he will be glad to meet all his old friends.
  • The following appeared on 22 August 1901 in The Houston Post: (Cameron) P. O. Adams of the Favorite Dry Goods company has accepted a position with the Desnoyer Shoe company of St. Louis as drummer, and left for that city Monday.
  • The following appeared on 12 September 1901 in The Cameron Herald: P. O. Adams came in last night from St. Louis and will be at home a couple of weeks.
  • The following appeared on 6 July 1902 in The Houston Post: (Cameron) Miss Sammie Adams of Buckholts is visiting her brother [sic], P. O. Adams.
  • The following appeared on 29 January 1903 in The Cameron Herald: Mr. P. O. Adams was at home this week for a few days.
  • The following appeared on 12 May 1904 in The Cameron Herald: Minnie Lawrence, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams, died at the family residence in this city last Monday, after a brief illness. The burial was Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in Oak Hill cemetery. This is the second death in town from bowel trouble, and we understand that physicians hold that the cause is due to eating Irish potatoes.
  • The following appeared on 3 February 1906 in The Jimplecute: Texas Patents. List of patents granted to Texas inventors this week. Reported by C. A. Snow & Co., patent Attorneys, Washington, D. C.:
         Powell O. Adams, Cameron, Emer[gen]cy rail brake. . .
  • The following appeared on 18 April 1909 in The Sunday Gazetteer: Texas Patents. Granted this week. Reported by C. A. Snow & Co., Patent Attorneys, Washington, D. C.
         P. O. Adams, Cameron, pneumatic rail brake. . .
  • The following appeared on 18 November 1909 in The San Antonio Daily Express: [Died] (Cameron, Tex., Nov. 17) Mrs. Sadie Adams died at the home of her son, P. O. Adams, yesterday and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery today. The funeral services were held at the home on Hefley Heights. Mrs. Adams was 76 years of age. She had lived in Cameron about twelve years and up to a few days before her death has taught a large music class. Her only child, P. O. Adams, is of the wholesale hosiery firm here of Adams & Trigg.
  • Powell Orgain Adams and Mary Laurence Taber appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Cameron, Milam County, Texas, at Roberts Street Also living in the household were boarders Mattie and Minnie Edwards.. Other members of the household included Marcellus Powell Adams, Walter Brooks Adams, Alice Louise Adams, Mary Elizabeth Adams and Arthur Taber Adams.
  • He was a traveling salesman, according to the 1910 census.
  • The following appeared on 22 September 1910 in The Palestine Daily Herald: Patents Issued to Texans. Jack A. Schley, United States patent attorney of 410 Main Street, Dallas, Texas, announces the issuance of the following patents to Texans for the week ending September 17:
         Powell O. Adams, Cameron, rail joint (2). . . .
  • The following appeared on 1 August 1918 in The Cameron Herald: P. O. Adams and Company who represent the Standard Knitting Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, and other knit goods concerns have moved their office and wareroom, or show room, from the space next door to the Triggs Cotton office to the corner building on South Houston Avenue formerly occupied by Joe Griffith as a plumbing shop. Mr. Adams has much better equipment, greatly enlarged display room and much more comfortable quarters all the way rond in his new location.
  • The following appeared on 8 August 1918 in The Cameron Herald: One citizen of Cameron by his generosity and unselfish feeling has made it possible for from 25 to 50 children enjoy themselves for several hours every day by supplying some play apparatus at the City Park. Now is there not another, or will not a a number of others do as much as Mr. P. O. Adams has done for the enjoyment of the little folks.
  • The following appeared on 7 November 1918 in The Cameron Herald: P. O. Adams and daughter, Louise, motored to Georgetown Saturday and returned accompanied by Jack Adams, Swick Hiemer and Misses Oleter Youngblood and Ophelia Bourers, all of the Southwestern University. T.
  • The following appeared on 16 January 1919 in The Cameron Herald: P. O. Adams of this city returned last Saturday evening from a business trip to Cleveland, Ohio, and Elyria, Ohio, where he was in consultation and feasting with the Standard Knitting Company and the Fay Stocking Company representatives. Mr. Adams trip lasted for eight days. He reports a very enjoyable visit with several big feasts on the side.
  • Powell Orgain Adams and Mary Laurence Taber appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Cameron, Milam County, Texas, at East Fifteenth Street. Other members of the household included Marcellus Powell Adams, Walter Brooks Adams, Alice Louise Adams, Mary Elizabeth Adams, Arthur Taber Adams and George Felix Adams.
  • He was a traveling salesman for a knitting mill, according to the 1920 census.
  • The following appeared on 17 June 1920 in The Cameron Herald: Mr. P. O. Adams, Miss Louise Adams and Mamie Lee Tabor of Austin, motored over to Georgetown Saturday to be present at the graduation of Mr. Adams' son Jack, who is a member of the Class of 1920.
  • The following appeared on 16 September 1920 in The Cameron Herald: Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams returned Sunday from a visit to friends and relatives in Doublin, Holly Springs and Bolivar, Tennessee. While at Holly Springs, they attended the funeral of Mrs. Adams' cousin.
  • The following appeared on 27 December 1928 in The Cameron Herald: Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams had as their guests during the holidays their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Daly of Houston, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Adams and baby of Lampasas, Walter Adams of San Antonio and Miss Elizabeth Adams, who teaches at the Oklahoma School near Gause.
  • The following appeared on 2 May 1929 in The Cameron Herald: Friends of Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams and family will regret to know that they have moved to Waco to live. Mr. Adams sold his knit goods shop recently to Mrs. Ruth Mayfield and he plans to go into business in Waco.
  • Powell Orgain Adams and Mary Laurence Taber appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, at 2825 Morrow Avenue. Other members of the household included Mary Elizabeth Adams, Arthur Taber Adams and George Felix Adams. Also in the household was roomer Kenneth Wiley.
  • He was a traveling salesman, hosiery mills, according to the 1930 census.
  • The following appeared on 1 December 1932 in The Cameron Herald: The remains of Walter B. Adams, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams who died at Waco at the home of his parents, Thursday, November 24th, was brought to Cameron Friday afternoon and taken to the First Methodist church where the funeral was held at 2 o'clock by the pastor, Rev. J. E. Buttrill. Interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery.
          Walter Adams was born in Cameron and spent his early boyhood days here, moving with his parents to Waco several years ago. He was a congenial youth who had made many friends during his school days, who regret his early passing. He had not been in good health for some little time, but was only seriously ill for a few days, and when the end came the family was shocked and friends grieved. He was a member of the methodist church and had led a quiet Christian life.
         He is survived by his parents and several brothers and sisters. A number of friends accompanied the family from Waco. Among the relatives were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Adams, sister Miss Elizabeth Adams, brothers, George and Arthur Adams of Waco; Mrs. Hugh Daly of Galveston, sister; Jack Adams and wife of Lampasas, brother; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Tabor, mrs. Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Stewart of Austin; Mrs. Taylor and son of Florence; Mr. and Mrs. John Tabor, Mrs. Fred Cable, Mrs. John Mace, Mrs. M. M. Kemp, Mrs. Ed Humphrey and Leslie Byrd of Waco.
         Beautiful floral offerings accompanied the remains, and were laid with those from Cameron on the grave.
         Many friends in Cameron sympathize with mr. and mrs. Adams and family in their hour of trial.
  • Powell Orgain Adams and Mary Laurence Taber appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, at 2214 McKenzie. Other members of the household included Mary Elizabeth Adams and Alice Louise Adams.
  • He was self-employed as a traveling salesman of ladies' and men's hosiery, according to the 1940 census.
  • At the time of his death Powell Orgain Adams was living in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, at 2214 McKenzie Street.
  • Powell Orgain Adams died on 4 March 1943 at age 73 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, at Hillcrest Memorial Hospital . His death was officially witnessed by Mary Laurence Taber.
  • He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Cameron, Milam County, Texas.
  • His wife Mary Laurence Taber became a widow at his death.
  • The following appeared on 11 March 1943 in The Cameron Herald: P. O. Adams, 70, former business man here, died at his home in Waco from a heart stroke late Thursday.
         Funeral Services were held at 3pm from the Methodist Church in Cameron Friday with the Rev. Bob L. Pool, Pastor conducting the services. Interment was had in Oak Hill Cemetery with the Green Funeral Home directing arrangements.
         Mr. Adams is survived by his widow and 5 children. Three sons are Jack Adams, Arthur Adams, and George Adams. Two daughters are Elizabeth and Louise. The family of children were reared in Cameron.
         Mr. Adams at one time was engaged in business here. About 20 years ago he was owner of a wholesale knitting goods business in Cameron. He left this city about 13 years ago.
         Mr. Adams was a civic leader here and much of the progress of the city in those days can be traced to his energy and foresight. He was a member of the Methodist Church and many old time friends here are deeply affected by his death.
  • Last Edited: 11 Jan 2016

Family: Mary Laurence Taber b. 1 February 1880, d. 17 February 1965