The ABCs of Lowell History is back for another round. This popular series explores a wide variety of topics in Lowell area history in weekly online articles and is written by volunteers and staff from the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
A is for Adams Family
The O. O. (Omar) and Mary (Lyon) Adams family lived around the Lowell area including Vergennes, the Village of Lowell and South Boston.
Omar Adams was born in Green, New York in 1839, while Mary Lyon was born in Vergennes Township in 1850. She was the daughter of Morgan and Louisa (Purple) Lyon. Morgan was a well known Lowell business man and namesake of the “Lyon block”.
Omar was working on a Vergennes township farm but went to Colorado to enlist in the Civil War. He was a bugler and was first appointed as principle musician of the 3rd Colorado Infantry. He was promoted to chief musician and then appointed chief bugler of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry. In March and April of 1864 he was detached from his unit to serve in a band in Independence, Missouri. He was detached again in September and October of 1864 to play in a regimental band in Ft. Leavenworth Kansas.
Adams had entered the military as a mason by profession, and he served Lowell in that field. He also used his musical talents throughout his life to the benefit of the Lowell community. He played at various events throughout the area. The following advertisements are examples of this.
“The Young Men’s Quadrille Club has put out invitations and will dance to the music of O.O. Adams tonight.” (1875)
“Popular old violinist O.O. Adams and his orchestra (two violins, clarinet, piano and bass) play for the Vergennes Dancing Club New Year’s party.” (1896)
“O.O. Adams’ full orchestra played for the annual party of the old residents of the Grand River Valley at the music hall in Lowell.” (1896)
Adams continued using his music for his military family. He was active in the G.A.R., playing in parades and other statewide G.A.R. events. He had the honor of being made a member of the National Association of Civil War Musicians.
In a letter from Charles Quick, on May 16, 1908, to “old Lowellites”, he pleads with them to come to the homecoming. He asks, “Don’t you feel homesick every time you think of the old town?” He shares memories including the old bands, asking, “Was ever music so sweet and compelling? When the Brass band was organized with Geo. Balcom, John Maynard, Earl Avery, Omar Adams, Milo Hiler, ‘Let’ Hildreth, Arthur Sherman, Mac. Shaw, ‘Bill’ Edie, ‘Gene’ Mathewson, ‘Oc.’ Robinson and ‘Bill’ Pullen, the music was simply entrancing, no such bands as that now.”
In addition to his profession and musical interests, Adams farmed and enjoyed introducing progress to the area. In 1889, he made a silo, the first in the area and the next year he built a double deck wagon to take his fresh vegetables to town daily.
Mary was very active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and was a county delegate for the group. She was involved with the Vergennes Ladies Aid, continuing on with the group even when she moved to Lowell.
Omar and Mary had one daughter, Cora. Cora married John Krum in 1894. John was the son of Vergennes Pioneers Adelbert and Addie (O’Harrow) Krum.
The Lowell community lost the Adams family in a short time period.
Omar died on July 21, 1909, suddenly of heart failure. He was just one week short of 70 years old. The G.A.R. post conducted the service for his funeral. He was buried at Fox’s Corner Cemetery.
Cora died the next year at the Reeds Lake Sanatorium from an abscess on the brain. At the time the sanatorium was the largest private institution in Western Michigan specializing in the care of convalescents and sufferers from nervous disorders. She too was buried at Fox’s Corner Cemetery.
Her husband John went on to remarry and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
In 1924 Mary fell in a railroad station in Chicago and later died at St. Luke’s hospital in Chicago. She joined her husband and daughter at Fox’s Corner Cemetery.
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