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Joseph Frederick (Fred) Adams
Agnes Allan
J Frederick Adams
Born: 26 Jan 1870 at Parowan, Iron, Utah Territory, USAAgnes Allan
Born: 13 July 1871 at Richfield, Sevier, Utah, USALIFE SKETCH J FREDERICK AND AGNES ALLAN ADAMS
Southeastern Utah was one of the last areas in Utah to be settled by Mormon pioneers as part of their systematic colonizing efforts in the territory. Bluff was established in the spring of 1880 by a weary band of Mormon pioneers who had miraculously succeeded in their perilous winter trek across the inhospitable, rocky canyon region of southern Utah. They discovered that the site of their new community had significantly less arable land than they had hoped, and the water supply proved to be unreliable.
After struggling to survive for four years, the final straw came when a disastrous flood destroyed their irrigation canals and ditches, wiping out any hope of crops that season. It became clear to the people of bluff that they would either have to find another means of making a livelihood or abandon the town and settle elsewhere. Some did leave.
Those that stayed turned to stock raising, and by 1890, San Juan county, along with Box Elder County and Rich County, were the centers of the cattle industry in Utah. In 1880, for example, there were 267 head of cattle other than milk cows and working oxen in San Juan County. That was 1/3 head for every person in the area. In 1890, there were 17,000 head of cattle in the county, 47 for every man, woman, and child. According to one historian "Never again in Utah history would so few people live with so many cattle.
With the growth of the cattle industry, Bluffs built environment began to change. In 1890, all of Bluffs approximately 25 families lived in log houses, and all of the public buildings, including the post office, the hotel, the church, and the school house were built of logs. Gradually, the log buildings began to be replaced with stone ones. The nearby sandstone cliffs provided the stone for the buildings. Although no specific stone masons have been credited with the work on these houses, it is likely that local builders, such as Charles Sitzer and Edward Thompson, were involved to at least some degree in the construction.
(The Adams) house was probably built ca. 1895 for Joseph Frederick "Fred" Adams and his wife, Agnes Allan Adams. As children, both Fred and Agnes were among the first settlers of Bluff, accompanying their families to the new settlement in the early 1880s. Fred was born in Parowan in 1870 to William and Mary B. Adams who settled in Bluff in 1882. Agnes Allan Adams was born in 1872 to John Allan and his wife Jane Shaw, pioneers to San Juan County in 1881.
Fred and Agnes were married in c. 1892 and had three children over the next six years.
Judging from the size and quality of this house, Fred was successful in both his livestock
and mining interests. He owned several hundred dollars worth of capital stock in the San
Juan Pool, a cattle cooperative, and in the San Juan Co-op. He also owned a placer mining
claim located 75 miles west of Bluff, where he died unexpectedly of typhoid fever in
November 1899.
Life Sketch by great-granddaughter, Barbara Gardner
Joseph Fredrick (Fred) Adams was born 26 January 1870, in Parowan, Iron County, Utah, to William Adams and Mary Barbara Bolanz. He was the fourth of five sons. When he was a small boy, his parents were called to pioneer San Juan County. They moved there in 1882 and settled in Bluff. This was a call from the Church and William acted as a missionary in early San Juan. It was there he met his lovely wife, Agnes Allan, a daughter of John Allan and Jane Shaw. They were married Dec. 4, 1891 in Bluff. Agnes was born in Coalville, Summit Co. Utah, 13 July 1871.
Fred and Agnes were the parents of four children: Florence, Myrtle, who married Orzo Hunt, Joseph Allan, who married Charlotte Lake, and a child who died at birth.
Fred was a prominent man in his community, enterprising and industrious. He was loved and respected by all, and especially the Navajo and Ute Indians. He helped hundreds of settlers ford the San Juan River without recompense or reward.
Fred died 28 Nov 1899 of Typhoid Fever. He was working at Cable Camp at the time, seventy- five miles west of Bluff. He was shipped home and buried the same day. He left behind a young wife and three small children. Many people, especially travelers, missed him. He was always helping someone and was a devoted and inspired man.
His wife, Agnes Allan, later found herself lonely and married Alfred Henry Pehrson. She was sealed to him in the temple 15 September 1961. Her children were also sealed to her second husband.
(This information was taken from an article from the "Bluff Correspondent and from
personal knowledge of great-granddaughter, Barbara Gardner).)
Sources:
1 Memories: Frederick Adams on FamilySearch
2 Life of John Allan and Jane Shaw
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
Joseph Frederick (Fred) Adams
Agnes Allan