CAPTAIN THOMAS B. ADAMS owns a five acre orchard property on Race
Street, on "Sansevain Villa" tract, in
the Willow District.
This place he bought and took possession of in February, 1885, the
orchard having just come into bearing at that time. The buildings and
improvements have all been made by Captain Adams. The fruit trees are
now in a very
thrifty condition, and comprise white cherry, apricot, and egg plum
trees in about equal numbers. In the season of 1887 (the first year in
which the
orchard was in full bearing), $1,000 was realized from the entire crop.
In the same season, the fruit from one-half of an acre of white
cherry-trees was
sold for $490. These facts are mentioned to give an idea of the
thriftiness of this young orchard.
The subject of our sketch was born in Washington County, Maine, in
1836. He commenced a seafaring life as a sailor boy in the merchant
marine, and from this position was promoted rapidly, reaching the
honorable position of
master mariner at the youthful age of twenty-two years. He has
navigated every sea known to commerce, and for over twenty years has
been in the pacific trade.
At Eastport, Washington County, Maine, in 1865, he was united in
marriage with Miss Annie A. Chaloner, who was a native of Lubec of the
same county. The family home was established at Trescott, Washington
County, and
retained until, in 1873, they removed to Calais, Maine. There they
resided for four years, when they came to San Francisco, which city was
their home
until, as before stated, they became residents of Santa Clara County.
The captain had visited this coast before 1875, in command of merchant
vessels from New York City. The last ship he sailed in the Atlantic
merchant marine, the Hesperus, was lost on the passage from St. Mary's,
Georgia,
to the Rio de la Plata. Clearing from St. Mary's March 9, 1875, she
encountered a gale in mid-ocean, and foundered, though kept afloat by
the most
strenuous exertion on the part of the captain and his crew. She was
abandoned 350 miles north of the Bermuda Islands, the crew being
rescued by an Australian
bound vessel, and later transferred to a Norwegian steamer. This vessel
landed them at Havre, France, whence by a sail vessel they reached New
York. By this
misfortune Captain Adams was quite a heavy loser, being impoverished to
the extent of $8,000. It caused not only financial trouble, for the
great mental
strain, the suffering, and responsibility, brought the first gray hairs
to his head. Soon after, the captain, in obedience to a summons by
telegraph,
came overland to San Francisco, and took command of the W. C. Parks, a
vessel in the Honolulu trade. Since that date he has sailed as master
of different
vessels in coasting and foreign trade from San Francisco, and thus
called the Pacific Coast his home for two years before he brought his
family from the East.
Captain Adams enjoys the reputation of being one of the most successful
ship masters living, and has always had the confidence of his
employers. Though he has a home where life can well be passed
pleasantly, his long life
on the ocean has weaned him from the plodding one of a landsman. His
seasons for rest and recruiting his energies are spent in his pleasant
home, but
his vocation is still that of a thorough seafaring man. His only child,
Annie Louise, born in September, 1868, is yet at her parental home.
Captain Adams is identified with the Republican party. He is interested
in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Washington Lodge, F. &
A. M., of Lubec, Maine.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden
of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. -
Edited by H.S.
Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.- transcribed
by Roena Wilson