John Harvey Adams (1866 - 1945)

Mary "Mollie" McCabe (1871 - 1930)

Left to Right: Harvey and Keith Adams, brothers.

John Harvey Adams was born in 1866 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the oldest child of George Washington and Joanna (Barnes) Adams.

When Harvey was a young boy, his family moved a few miles away to Portage, Cambria County. He had been living near his paternal grandparents Solomon and Ann Adams in Ryot, and in Portage he lived near his maternal grandparents Tobias and Elizabeth Barnes.

In 1888, when Harvey was 22, his mother died. She was 42. His sister Clara assumed the responsibility of raising their 6-year-old brother Ervin. She married the following year, and Ervin went to live with their sister and brother-in-law Solomon Meck in Broad Top Township.

Harvey was a coalminer in Broad Top Township when he married Mary McCabe on September 27, 1891. Mary was born in April 1871 in Hopewell Township, Bedford County, the daughter of James and Catherine (Adams) McCabe. Mary had a 1-year-old child named John H. McCabe, who was born out of wedlock.

Harvey and Mollie had the following six children: Leona Mary (Adams) Biss, Daisy G. (Adams) Kaiser, George Washington Adams, Helen Adams, Catherine (Adams) Long, and Stella (Adams) Dunlap.

By 1900 Harvey was an engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and he and his family were living in Portage. His brother Keith and father George were also living in Portage.

In 1911 their daughter Leona had a son out of wedlock named Lester Gillum whom they raised as their own until Leona married in 1918.

Their daughter Helen died as a child sometime before 1920.

Mollie died in 1930. She was 59.

Harvey must have lost his job on the railroad, for her returned to coalmining. He was last employed by the Koppers Coal Company at Sonman in Portage Township.

Harvey was remembered fondly by one granddaughter as a quiet but kindly grandfather. He was small in stature but he had a kind heart.

Harvey died on February 19, 1945 at Memorial Hospital, Johnstown, Cambria County. He was 78 years old.

Harvey and Mollie are thought to be buried in Prospect Cemetery, Portage, but no grave maker exists. There is some speculation that they may be buried in Potter County, PA.

Harvey and Mollie had about 21 adult grandchildren, who produced numerous great-, great-great-, and great-great-great-grandchildren.