Son of James and Katherine "Kittie" Thornton Adams. Married Martha Margaret Sparks on 02 MAR 1851 in Monroe County, Missouri. To this union eleven children were born.

Occupation: Farmer

MO d/c 21406

Information on file with Shelby County Historical Society & Museum

Judge Newton Adams
—The venerable citizen of Shelbina has outlived the allotted time of man, as prescribed by the Psalmist, but he is still hale and hearty, and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the progress and advancement of the people among whom he has so long lived and labored.
—Judge Adams is a native of the "Blue Grass" state, having been born in Henry county of that state on January 1, 1823.
—His parents, James and Katherine (Thornton) Adams were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively, the father, like himself, being a native of Henry county, and there passed the active years of his life engaged in farming. In 1864, however, he severed the ties that bound him to his native state, and joined his children, who had preceded him to the great state of Missouri, making his home with them until his death, which occurred in Monroe county in 1874.
—He was twice married. His first wife the mother of Judge Adams, died in Kentucky, in 1845. Six sons and three daughters were born to them, all of whom are now dead but two sons and a daughter. The father chose for his second wife, Susan Kerlin, a widow. To them was born one son, Joseph W., who is now a resident of Chariton county, Missouri.
—The grandfather of Judge Adams was William Adams, a native of Ireland. He emigrated to America just prior to the revolution and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of the revolution, serving for nearly two years. When the colonies secured their independence, and peace was at last restored, he emigrated to Kentucky, and there passed the residue of his life. Four of his sons saw service in the war of 1812, thee of them were in the Northern campaign and one was with General Jackson at New Orleans. One son, William, died in Canada, while in the service.
—Judge Newton Adams grew to manhood among the pioneer scenes of his native state, and endured many of the hardships and dangers incident to the settlement and development of that great commonwealth.
—He attended the primitive schools of the day, but was early in life compelled to make his own way in the world, and began laying the foundation of h is own fortune by working on nearby farms. The wages were small and thinking to better his condition, in 1850, he severed the ties and started for Missouri, which was at that time attracting so many young men of that section. The trip was made by water to Hannibal, and he arrived there on Christmas day of the same year.
—He at once made his way inland to Monroe county, and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, five miles south of Shelbina.
—The land was unimproved and he at once set about making a home for himself, enduring all the hardships and privations incident to the founding of a home in a new country. He continued to reside on that farm until 1864, improving it to a high state of productiveness. In that year he disposed of the land and removed to Shelbina, where he made his home until 1883, when he purchased another tract of land in Monroe county, six miles southwest of Shelbina.
—This land he improved and resided upon until 1889, when he disposed of and removed to Columbia, Missouri, that his children might have the advantage of the excellent schools of that place. After a residence of two years in Columbia, he again returned to Shelbina, and purchased a farm one mile south of the city on which he lived until 1906, when he retired from all active pursuits and is now passing the evening of his long and active life in the city of Shelbina, surrounded by a host of friends who respect him for the many sterling qualities of mind and heart they know him to possess.
—While a resident of Shelby county, Judge Adams was called upon to serve as county judge of the county, being first appointed to fill an unexpired term in 1871, and elected in the fall following to succeed himself in the same office, and in this connection it might be well to state that he was the first Democrat elected to office in Shelby county after the war. While a resident of Monroe county he filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and also of county assessor for one term. In politics the Judge was first "Know Nothing," but after the death of that party he aligned himself with the Democratic party, and for many years was considered one of the leaders in Shelby county. He was married in Monroe county, March 2, 1851, to Mrs. Martha (Sparks) Herndon, who like himself is a native of Kentucky. Ten children have been born to them, seven of whom are living-Sarah, William, Lucy, Mattie, Newton T., Jane and Vinnie.In religion he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, the judge having united with the church when he was twenty years of age. He was also one of the charter members of the church at Shelbina and an elder of the same. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, becoming a Master Mason in 1862, and has filled the chairs of Sr., Deacon and Worshipful Master of Shelbina Lodge, No. 228.
GENERAL HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, MISSOURI 1911
pp 257, 258, 259
Written by Shelby Countians and graciously donated by the Shelby County Historical Society, Kathleen Wilham, President—©Copyright 1911

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Note:
The 1860 Census includes - Nancy E. Sparks, age 22, born in KY.

The 1900 census lists his birth as Jan 1823 - age 77, while the death record appears to read 1828.