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Pvt. Nicholas Adams – 50th Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 23, 2011
Nicholas Adams (1843-1927) was born in Sacramento, Hubley Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Some sources give his birth date as 20 April 1843 while other sources give it in March. He was the son of Nicholas Adams and Salome [Hoffa] Adams of Sacramento, who had twenty-one children, among them the sisters Hannah Adams and Ellen Adams, both of whom married Emanuel Dietrich; Hannah gave birth to twins and died shortly thereafter, whereupon her sister Ellen married Emanuel Dietrich and had 11 children with him in addition to raising her sister’s twin sons. See prior post on the Dietrich family in the Civil War. Nicholas Adams married Lucy Rothermel who was the daughter of Isaac Rothermel and Hannah [Wiest] Rothermel. Lucy’s brother, William Rothermel was the subject of a prior post.
On 9 September 1861, Nicholas Adams was mustered into the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private. At his enrollment, he claimed to be 19 (but was actually 18), was 5 foot 7 3/4 inches tall, florid complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, and lived in Sacramento. His occupation was given as laborer. Future brother-in-law William Rothermel was in the same regiment and company. After three years of service, Nicholas could have received an honorable discharge, but instead, while at Blaine’s Cross Roads, Tennessee, he re-enlisted along with his future brother-in-law for a term of three years. Shortly after the war ended, the regiment was mustered out on 30 July 1865.
The war record of Nicholas Adams is interesting in that he lost an eye at Chancellorsville, Virginia, in 1863, and after three months of recovery, he returned to the front, continuing to serve although he was eligible for a surgeon’s discharge.
He fought in many battles and when in a reminiscent mood, his war history was more interesting than many found on the printed page, because it was drawn from actual experience which was [sic] never known to shy danger when the liberty of his country was at stake. He was minus one eye which was shot out… in a skirmish which came near costing him his life. The bullet passed through the eye and lodged in his throat. He coughed it out and in less than three months he was back in the ranks.
He was taken captive in the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, 2 April 1865 and his experiences were most interesting but not without a touch of pathos when he recalled the suffering and privations he endured during his captivity.
Upon returning from the war he married Lucy Ann Rothermel and the couple moved to Williamstown, Dauphin County. To their union were born many children, including: Hannah Sevilla Adams (1866-?); Rolandis “Paddy” Adams (1868-?); Isaac Monroe Adams (1870-?); Charles Milton”Farmer” Adams (1875-?); William Victor Adams (1876-?); Sarah Ellen Adams (1878-?); Nicholas Edwin Adams (1880-?); John Quincy Adams (1882-?); Lucy Mary Adams (1885-?); Clayton Franklin Adams (1890-?); Lizzie Adams; and Mae Adams.
After the war, Nicholas Adams supported his family by working as a coal miner and as his sons reached an appropriate age, they too worked in the mines. In 1900 Nicholas was a team driver at the mines and his sons were working as laborers or miners; daughter Lucy was working in a shirt factory. By 1910, he had “retired” and had his “own income.” Youngest son Clayton, still living at home at age 30, was a retail confection merchant.
Because he lost an eye during the war, Nicholas Adams was eligible for a invalid pension, which he applied for in 1867. He received a pension until his death at age 84 on 16 September 1927. After his death, his widow Lucy applied for and received a widow’s pension which she collected until her death in 1928.
The description of his funeral was told in the Williamstown Sesquicentennial Book, 1976:
The funeral was held from the home of his son Clayton, on Tuesday afternoon, 20 September 1927. It was the largest held in the town for years and was in keeping with the aged veteran’s illustrious military career. The casket, draped with American flag, was decorated with beautiful flowers and was escorted to the grave by the following delegations: Colors and color guards from Spanish and World War, Williamstown Band, Chester Post G.A.R., flag borne by a delegation of boys and girls from the high school (this flag was presented by him to the public school), American legion Post No. 239, and Spanish War Veterans, Washington Camp 250 P.O.S.A. The pall bearers were selected from the ranks of the local Spanish and World War veterans. Rev. Cornwell Beamesderfer, assisted by the Rev. Geiseke were the officiating clergymen.
Nicholas Adams is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Tower City, Schuylkill County.
More information is sought on Nicholas Adams, his life and Civil War service. Readers are invited to contribute!
Some information for this post was taken from the Williamstown Sesquicentennial Book, 1976 (portrait and quotes); A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Archives (Veterans’ File card); Ancestry.com (Pension Index Card); and from member family trees on Ancestry.com.
I am one of Nicholas Adams’s decendants. He was my Great-Great Grandfather. His son, Charles had a son named Floyd, my grandfather. He had my mom, Katherine. My grandfather spent many hours telling me stories of “Nicky’s” Civil War adventures as told to him by Nicky. He was very close to his grandfather as was I to him.
Tony Berkheimer
York, Pa
We used to live n PA in the late 50’s and early 60’s my father was a collector, I have an original yankee cap, inside the brim is the signed name Adams Nicholas.
Tony,
Small world….I too am a direct descendant of Nicholas Adams. My maternal grandmother was the daughter of Clayton Adams. I am certain I was probably told but forgot Nick Adams had this many children. He has many direct descendants in the Williamstown area, which is where my family still resides. It would certainly be interesting to see how far his descendants have dispersed.
All the best.
Rich Schaefer
Brick, NJ
Got it
My grandfather was Clayton Adams son of Nick Adams. Clate’s daughter, Ester Adams Sweikert (my mother) was a resident of Williamstown.. In fact in Clate’s later years, he lived with Ester in Williamstown until his death 12 Nov 1964. Clate did live with Betty Adams Buffington in Allentown as well. My brother Jack Sweikert (resident Wiconisco) has discharge paper and other documentation of Nick’s years in the Civil War.
Patricia A. Sweikert Schaefer
Millersburg, Pa
My sister sent me an item from your Civil War Blog about my Great Grandfather Nicholas Adams. The information on his lost eye is incorrect. I have two documents that show he was wounded 1 September 1862 at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia.
John R. Sweikert
Wiconisco, Pa
John is there any way that u could fax that to me because that is all I am getting is that he lost his eye in battle.
Thank’s
Tim
I came across this when I was on ancestry.com today and found out that he is my 4th grand father by:Nicholas Adams (1802 – 1850)
is your 4th great grandfather
Nicholas Adams (1843 – 1927)
William victor Adams (1876 – 1920)
Son of Nicholas
Buelah Adams (1903 – 1987)
Daughter of William victor
Ethel Nace (1939 – )
Daughter of Buelah
Daveena janvier (1962 – )
Daughter of Ethel
Timothy Gladden which is me am glad that I found this
My father was the son of William Victor Adams his name is George Washington Adams. He is a twin. He past away in 1989. Nicholas Adams my great grandfather is buried in Williamstown I have visited his grave site. My name is Nancy Adams Ford and I live in Levittown, Pennsylvania
Timothy seems we are cousins on some level I tink if I am following the line correctly William Victor is my great grand father his daughter Beulah is my grand fathers sister my grand father is one of her twin brothers George Washington Adams Ethel Nace was my Grandfathers niece and Daveena would have been my grand fathers great niece and you would be his great great nephew
This is an incredible story, and the fact that his ancestors were looking him up and finding this information is awesome. I am a Lieutenant in the 50th PVI re-enactors group. I will be mentioning this story to my men as it is definately an inspirational one. Thank you for doing research and preserving history.
Lt. Pollock
50th PVI
I am Nicks great great grand daughter my grandfather was his grand son born to William Victor Adams my mother was born in Willamstown PA where Nick is buried he is not buried in Tower City my cousins still live on all sides of the cemetery where he is buried the info on how Nick lost his eye is correct as we have documentation on that fact as well as his paystubs from the service I would love to catch up with anyone who is related to track back how we connect thru NIck my email is mopargyrl@msn,com please feel free to email me with any info or questions
Nicholas and Lucy were my great great grandparents. Their daughter Esther Adams was married to John Sweikert, my grandparents. It is interesting to see this picture which I had to send to my brother as his youngest son, Daniel, is the SPITTING image of Nicholas. Interesting also is that my brother’s oldest son is named Nicholas as well 🙂
Stefanie Sweikert (Perkins)
Lemoyne, PA
As an edit to my prior post, Esther (my grandmother) was the daughter of Clayton Adams (Nicholas’ son).
Stefanie Perkins