Henry Cullen Adams (1850-1906)

Main

1883-85: Wisconsin State Assembly
1887-95: Wisconsin Board of Agriculture
1889-91: Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Property
1898-02: Wisconsin Food and Dairy Commissioner
58th & 59th U.S. Congress / Died in office
Alumni: University of Wisconsin

Henry Cullen Adams was born 28 November 1850 in Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States to Benjamin Franklin Adams (1822-1902) and Caroline Melissa Shepard (1825-1898) and died 9 July 1906 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of unspecified causes. He married Anna Norton (1855-1933) 15 October 1878 in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States.

Henry Cullen Adams was an American farmer, public administrator, and U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin, best known for his support of pure food laws.

Biography

Adams was born in Verona, New York to Hamilton College professor Benjamin Franklin Adams and Caroline Shepard,^[1] but moved to his father's farm in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, when he was an infant. The family moved again a few years later to southeastern Dane County, Wisconsin. His father was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for that area and served in the Assembly in 1862 and 1872.

Adams attended Albion Academy and then the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but withdrew for health reasons before earning a degree. After marrying Anne Burkley Norton in 1878, he operated a successful dairy and fruit farm and served as president of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1882, representing the same geographic area that his father had represented, though the districts had been reapportioned. He was re-elected in 1883 and in 1884—the first year that Assemblymembers were elected to two-year terms. He left office in 1887 and became a member of the Wisconsin Board of Agriculture (1887–95). He also held the offices of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Property (1889–91) and Food and Dairy Commissioner (1898-1902).

Congress

In 1902, Adams was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district. He served in the 58th United States Congress and was reelected to the 59th Congress serving until his death (March 4, 1903 - July 9, 1906). He was a progressive Republican and supporter of Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette. In Congress, he worked for passage of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Death and burial

He died of intestinal illness in 1906 in Chicago, while en route from Washington, D.C., to his home in Wisconsin. He is buried in Madison, Wisconsin.

Children

Offspring of Henry Cullen Adams and Anna Norton (1855-1933)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Benjamin Cullen Adams (1880-1959)
Frank Adams (1881-)
Mabel Adams (1883-)
Carrie Adams (1886-)
Charles Cullen Adams (c1884-)

Siblings

Offspring of Benjamin Franklin Adams (1822-1902) and Caroline Melissa Shepard (1825-1898)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Henry Cullen Adams (1850-1906)	28 November 1850 Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States	9 July 1906 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States	Anna Norton (1855-1933)

Residences

References

^ Buenker, John D. (2000). "Adams, Henry Cullen". Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0500004. https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0500004.

Sources

Henry Cullen Adams (1850-1906) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
American National Biography, vol. 1, p. 93.
Wisconsin Historical Society biography
Henry Cullen Adams, late a representative from Wisconsin, Memorial addresses delivered in the House of Representatives and Senate frontispiece 1907

Vital Records

Madison Gravestone

Location: Forest Hills Cemetery (Madison), Dane County, Wisconsin
Henry Cullen Adams at Find A Grave

Service Table

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Herman B. Dahle	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1903 – July 9, 1906	Succeeded by John M. Nelson

Footnotes (including sources)

MainTour

[1] Buenker, John D. (2000). "Adams, Henry Cullen". Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0500004. https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0500004.

[1]