History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Mary Newbury Adams
MARY NEWBERRY ADAMS
MARY NEWBURY ADAMS, wife of Judge Austin Adams, was born at Peru, Indiana, October 17, 1837. Her ancestors had been for generations in public life in New England, five of whom had been Governors. Her parents removed to the West and her childhood was passed in a log cabin amid the wilderness of towering black walnut trees, surrounded by Indians with whom the family lived on terms of friendship. The older sister of Mrs. Adams became the wife of Governor John J. Bagley of Michigan. Her early education was received from her mother, but after the family removed to Cleveland, Ohio, Mary enjoyed the privilege of entering the classes of Emerson E. White, who was one of the great educators of the State. When eighteen she graduated from the Emma Willard Seminary at Troy, New York, and at nineteen was married to Austin Adams, a talented young lawyer. They came to Iowa, making their home in Dubuque. Both were students of science, history, philosophy and poetry. Mrs. Adams was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic advocates of the advancement of women, and was a leader in the progressive movements of the times. She was one of the original members of the Association for the Advancement of Women, of the Social Science Association, the Anthropological Society, National Science Association, Woman Suffrage Association, American Historical Association, the Federation of Women's Clubs and many other progressive and scientific organizations. She was an accomplished public speaker and addressed various associations and meetings throughout the country on subjects in which she was deeply interested. She was chairman of the historical committee of the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. Mrs. Adams died at Dubuque, August 5, 1901.