John (Adam) Adams
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Johann (Adam) Adams (1885 - 1965)

Johann (John) Adams formerly Adam
Born in Plaško Polje, Croatiamap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 28 Nov 1911 in Kapetanovo Polje, Croatiamap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 79 in Catawba, Price, WI, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 7 Nov 2014
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John (Adam) Adams migrated from Austria-Hungary (now Croatia) to the United States.
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Contents

Biography

Birth

The confirmation record for Johann Adam references a birthplace of "Plasicapolje,"[1] while both Johann's and his wife Margaretha Muth's Petitions for Naturalization record his birthplace as "Blasic-Bolje."[2][3] Current maps of Croatia show no such village. However, there is a reference to a geographical place name "Plaško Polje" in the Gazetteer of the Republic of Croatia,[4] which identifies its location as +45° 3' 40.503"N and +15° 23' 22.4988"E.[5] There is a modern town very close to this spot called "Plaški," and as it is a two- to three-days' walking journey from Kapetanovo Polje ("New Captain's Field"), where Johann was confirmed, it seems plausible that this may be the place he was born.

Immigration to U.S.

Johann first came to the US from Kapetanovo Polje, Croatia either in 1905 on the S.S. Cassel, arriving in the port of Baltimore in May of that year (according to his Petition for Naturalization),[2] or in 1906 (according to the 1920 US Census).[6] Interestingly, a search of the passenger list of the Cassel, docking in Baltimore on May 25, 1905, shows only the arrival of Johann's younger brother Heinrich.[7]

Marriage, Residence, Children

He returned to Croatia, married Margaretha in November 1911 in Kapetanovo Polje,[3]and brought his new wife to the US in 1912.[8]

They eventually settled in Catawba, WI, where he was a farmer for a few years before becoming a barber, and where they raised eight children.[6][9][10]

Census

1920 U.S. Census
Catawba, Price, Wisconsin[6]
John Adams 35.
Margreth Adams 25.
John Adams 7.
Katherine E Adams 5.
Margaret Adam 3.
Henry J Adams 2.
Elisabeth Adams 0 (2/12).
1930 U.S. Census
Catawba, Price, Wisconsin[9]
John Adams 44.
Margreth Adams 35.
John Adams 17.
Katherine E Adams 15.
Henry J Adams 11.
Elisabeth Adams 10.
George Adams 8.
Margrette A Adams 5.
Agatha G Adams 4 (4 4/12).
Evaline E Adams 2 (2 10/12).
1940 U.S. Census
Catawba, Price, Wisconsin[10]
John Adams 54.
Margaret Adams 45.
Margaret A Adams 15.
Agatha Adams 14.
Evelyn Adams 12.

The family bought a building in town, in which Johann set up a saloon, pool hall and soda shop, and where out-of-towners could lodge upstairs during hunting season.[11] He received the first liquor license issued in Catawba after the repeal of Prohibition.[12]

From son Henry's autobiography, Recollections and Reflections, in which he relates how his mother packed all the family's belongings, and the family, into a horse-drawn cart and met their father walking back to the farm from town:[12]

It was one of those rare times when all 5'3" of my Mother was resolutely in charge. "You have one of two choices. You can join us or you can return to the farm." As he stood there in utter disbelief, she directed the driver to continue and the team moved on. We had moved several hundred feet when he decided to follow, silently walking beside us as we continued our journey to our new home.

Mother had secretly appropriated the barn-building stash for the acquired first and last month's payment to lease a saloon with attached residence in Catawba.

From the 1976 pamphlet Memories of Catawba:[11]

Across the street [from Baders Store, a general store in Catawba], Jerry and Shirley Kuchera have the J. Music Company; this building was originally a livery stable. Charlie [Olsen] used to stable his livery horses there. [ . . . ] John and Margaret Adams bought this building and remodeled it and made it into a home and barber shop which he operated for many years. They raised a large family: John, Kathryn, Henry, George, Betty, Aggie and Evie. He also had the upstairs fixed into a couple of apartments which he rented out.

Refugee Sponsorship

In the summer of 1955, six years after the death of his wife, Johann sponsored the arrival of a refugee family from Yugoslavia: Heinrich Arndt, 39, a barber, and his wife Eva and three children.[13]

Death

Johann died at home in 1965, at the age of 79.[14][15] He and Margaret are buried in Kennan Cemetery, Price County, Wisconsin.[16]

Sources

  1. Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994[1]"Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994," images, FamilySearch (accessed 13 Nov 2014), Evangelical (Evangelička crkva) > Hrastovac > Marriages (Vjenčani) 1889-1893, 1869-1902 Births (Rođeni) 1886-1904, 1870-1903 > image 44 of 123; Arhiva Hrvatske u Zagrebu [Croatia State Archives, Zagreb].
  2. 2.0 2.1 Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992[2]"Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992," images, FamilySearch (accessed 13 Nov 2014), Price > Petitions for naturalization and petition evidence 1924-1927 vol 9, no 850-949 > image 158 of 307; county courthouses, Wisconsin.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992[3]"Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992," images, FamilySearch (accessed 13 Nov 2014), Price > Petitions for naturalization and petition evidence 1929-1936 vol 11, no 1007-1106 > image 168 of 472; county courthouses, Wisconsin.
  4. Gazetteer of the Republic of Croatia [4]
  5. Google Maps: Plasko Polje[5]
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 1920 United States Federal Census [6]: Year: 1920; Census Place: Catawba, Price, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_2011; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 164; Image: 212.
  7. Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [7]: Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, DC; Records of the US Customs Service, RG36; Series: T844; Roll: 47. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1948 and 1954-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Baltimore, Maryland, 1891-1909. Microfilm Publication T844. RG 85. 150 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C..
  8. Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [8]: Year: 1912; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 1805; Line: 2; Page Number: 197.
  9. 9.0 9.1 1930 United States Federal Census [9]: Year: 1930; Census Place: Catawba, Price, Wisconsin; Roll: 2604; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0002; Image: 741.0; FHL microfilm: 2342338.
  10. 10.0 10.1 1940 United States Federal Census [10]: Year: 1940; Census Place: Catawba, Price, Wisconsin; Roll: T627_4514; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 50-2.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Memories of Catawba[11]: "Memories of Catawba, Wis.", Catawba Bicentennial Committee, House of Print, Phillips, Wis., March 1, 1975 (pdf of booklet).
  12. 12.0 12.1 Adams, Henry John. Recollections and Reflections[12]Adams, Henry John. Recollections and Reflections. AuthorHouse, 2008.
  13. ADAM Johann sponsoring refugees from Yugoslavia (Croatia)[13]Clipped from Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, 12 Jul 1955, Tue, Page 7. Newspapers.com [online database].
  14. Death certificate: Wisconsin State Board of Health, Death No. '65 002408, filed Feb 9, 1965
  15. Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997[14]: "Ancestry.com. Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Wisconsin Vital Records Office. Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-67, 1969-97. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin Department of Health.
  16. Kennan Cemetery, Price County, Wisconsin: John and Margaret Adams[15]: Findagrave.com Photo credit: Paul Wilcox, Find A Grave volunteer; Record added May 21, 2012; Find A Grave Memorial # 90519395




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Categories: Donauschwaben | Kapetanovo Polje, Hrvatska | Wisconsin | Kennan Cemetery, Kennan, Wisconsin