Encyclopedia Dubuque
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ADAMS, Austin
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lisa000009&id=I18109
ADAMS, Austin. (Andover, Windsor Co., VT, May 24, 1826--Oct. 17,1890). Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme Court. Austin Adams came from a long line of distinguished men. Of the same family as Samuel Adams, Revolutionary War hero, Austin's father was a Vermont legislator and his uncle organized the Adams Express Company. (1) After closing his studies in the common schools, Adams at the age of fourteen entered Black River Academy to complete his preparatory studies. At the age of nineteen, he entered the sophomore class of Dartmouth College at Hanover, New Hampshire, from which he graduated. (2) During this time, he frequently attended the courts and listened to the arguments of the advocates. (3)
After leaving college, he accepted the position of principal of the Academy at West Randolph, Vermont, while using his leisure time to studying law. He attended the Harvard Law School and was admitted to practice at Windsor, Vermont in January, 1854, after being examined by the Hon. Jacob Collamer, since United States Senator, and, before that time, Postmaster General in Taylor's Cabinet. (4)
Adams with his wife Mary moved to Dubuque in 1854. He became a leading Iowa attorney and served as a judge on the Iowa Supreme Court from January 1, 1876, until December 31, 1892 and as its Chief Justice beginning in 1880. (5) He held the office of regent of the State University of Iowa for sixteen years, president of the board of education in Dubuque, and was a law lecturer from 1875 until his death. (6) The Young Men's Library Association was organized in his office 1856. He contributed many books to its library and delivered a series of lectures as part of its program. (7)
One of the state's most farsighted jurists, Adams was one of Iowa's first lawyers to encourage women to study law. He was the first chief justice in Iowa to allow women to practice before the Supreme Court. (8) Austin Adams was the father of Eugene ADAMS and the husband of Mary Newbury ADAMS.
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Source:
1. "Notable Dubuque County Lawyers of Past Years," Telegraph Herald, Feb. 11, 1917, p. 17. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qwheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=518NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2788,1478831&dq=dubuque+central+improvement+company&hl=en
2. Austin Adams. Online: http://www.iowacourtsonline.org/wfdata/frame1773-1463/pressrel20.asp
3. Oldt, Franklin T. The History of Dubuque County, Chicago: Western Historical Company, p. 759-760
4. Ibid.
5. Gue, B. F. "History of Iowa From the Earliest Times To The Beginning of the Twentieth Century, Volume IV, Iowa Biography." Online: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/iastbios/hi1903/hi1903-a.htm
6. Adams Family Papers. Online: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/manuscripts/MS010.html
7. "Notable Dubuque County Lawyers..."
8. Gue, B. F. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/iastbios/hi1903/hi1903-a.htm