Elnathan B. Adams Biography


	This biography appears on pages 826, 829 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ELNATHAN B. ADAMS. 

	Elnathan B. Adams, who is successfully engaged in the practice of 
law at Hot Springs, South Dakota, was born at Westhaven, Vermont, May 
21, 1881, the youngest child and only son in a family of five children 
born to Benajah P. and Emma S. (Benjamin) Adams, who were natives of 
Westhaven, Vermont, and Washington county, New York, respectively The 
father's birth occurred on the 16th of June, 1845, and the mother's on 
the 15th of June of that year. Benajah P. Adams devoted his entire life 
to farming and in 1886 removed with his family to Campbell county, 
South Dakota, where he engaged in the cultivation of the soil and the 
stock business. He was also a carpenter but did not devote much time to 
that trade. In 1887 a removal was made to Walworth county, this state, 
where Mr. Adams engaged extensively in dealing in stock. He is still 
living and is in business in that county, making his home at Java. He 
has served as justice of the peace but has never aspired to other 
offices. His wife passed away in 1910. 

	Elnathan B. Adams entered the country schools of Walworth county, 
South Dakota, when ten years of age and gained his elementary education 
there His professional work was done at Drake University of Des Moines, 
Iowa, which institution conferred upon him the degree of LL. B. in 
1906. When but twelve years of age he did a man,s work on his father's 
ranch and when seventeen years old began teaching school, being so 
employed during the winters until he was twenty-two years of age. He 
then entered Highland Park College of Des Moines and there prepared for 
his college work, which he took in Drake University, as previously 
stated. By intense study he was able to finish a four years' high-
school course and a three years' law course in two years and one month. 
In July after his graduation he took the state bar examination at 
Pierre, South Dakota, and in the following September began practice at 
Java, where he practiced until September 1, 1912. On that date he 
removed to Hot Springs and entered into partnership with Elmer R. 
Juckett for the general practice of law. That relationship has since 
been maintained with mutual pleasure and profit and the firm is 
represented as counsel in most of the important litigation tried in the 
courts of that section of the state. Mr. Adams possesses a logical mind 
which has been trained to the greatest efficiency and his arguments are 
convincing, as they are based on exact reasoning. He devotes his entire 
time to his legal business and is respected by both the general public 
and his colleagues in the profession. 

	On the 25th of June, 1907, at Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Adams was 
married to Miss Lillian G. Hall, who was born at Nevada, Missouri, and 
is a daughter of D. Coleman and Almira (Hairline) Hall, both natives of 
Tazewell county, Illinois. Her father made teaching his life work and 
was for a number of years instructor in the Reform School at Pontiac, 
Illinois. In his early life he also did some carpentering and likewise 
engaged in farming. He was killed at Des Moines in an automobile 
accident on the 21st of June, 1906. His widow survives and resides with 
our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born two children: E. 
Hall, whose birth occurred July 22, 1909; and Janice A., born June 2, 
1912. 

	Mr. Adams is a republican and in 1910 was elected states attorney 
Of Walworth county, this state, and served for two years, resigning in 
order to remove to Hot Springs. While living in that county he was 
chairman of the republican central committee and at present holds the 
same position on the Fall River county republican central committee. He 
is a member of the Christian church and fraternally is identified with 
the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks. He 
belongs to the blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery of the York 
Rite of Masonry and is high priest of the chapter and eminent commander 
of the commandery. He is likewise a member of the Eastern Star. He is 
also quite prominent in the Modern Woodmen, being at present vice 
consul and having served as a delegate to three national conventions of 
the order. He fulfills all of the obligations devolving upon him, 
whether as a lawyer, as a good citizen or as a man, and in the few 
years that he has resided in Hot Springs has won many warm personal 
friends and the respect of the community.