William David Adams (1872 - 1928)

William David Adams was born on June 2, 1874 in Saxton, Liberty Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the only son of John Quincy and Delilah (Sparks) Adams. He had two sisters. Sarah was two years older, and Minnie was two years younger.

William's father was a carpenter. In 1880 their family resided in nearby Huntingdon, Huntingdon County in 1880. In 1884, they moved permanently to Coopersdale, a borough of Johnstown in Cambria County. In 1889 they witnessed the tragedy that became known as the Great Johnstown Flood.

 

In 1892, it is thought that his sister Minnie gave birth to a son out of wedlock named John Russell Adams. Tragically, John died in a fire at age of 5 on April 23, 1897. His nephew's tragic death may have influenced him to become a fireman.

As a young man, William worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, first as a freight brakeman then as a conductor. At age 34 he entered the Johnstown City Fire Department. He was captain of Company No. 5 for 13 years.

About 1893 William married Daisy Mae Austin. She was born on May 8, 1876 in Johnstown, the daughter of Frederick and Emma (Burgess) Austin.

William and Daisy had the following four children:  Jessie Marie (Adams) Edwards, Lawrence R. Adams, Horace R. Adams, and Earl B. Adams.

William died on April 5, 1924 in Johnstown from endocarditis. He had been in ill health for the last four months. He was 51.

Their three sons later moved with their mother to Baltimore, Baltimore County,  Maryland.

Daisy returned to Johnstown to live with her daugher. She died on February 8, 1956 at Memorial Hospital in Johnstown. She was 79.

William and Daisy are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown.