A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 955-957
Dr. Thomas J. Adams, one of the old soldiers of the Civil War and one of the older and respected physicians of Hendricks County, Ind., was born September 22, 1837, in Center Township, near Danville. He is the son of Solomon and Nancy (Griffith) Adams. He received an academic education at Thorntown and began the study of medicine with Dr. Lockheart of Danville, as preceptor. He taught school in Tipton, Boone and Hendricks counties for several years, and enlisted, January 2, 1864, at Danville, in Company I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Cavalry, for three years or during the war, his commanding officers being Capt. William Robbins and Col. Jackson, and he served until honorably discharged in September, 1865, at Indianapolis, on account of the closing of the war. On the organization of his regiment, he was appointed hospital steward and served in that capacity until discharged, but during six months of this period acted as surgeon, his superior officer being away. His regiment took part in many heavy skirmishes on Hood's campaign, being in the battles of Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and many others, in which Dr. Adams cared for many wounded, especially at the battle of Nashville, remaining behind to assist in gathering up the wounded and in placing them in ambulances to be taken to hospital, and then rejoined his regiment. His regiment met with severe losses, but Dr. Adams escaped without wounds and with no sickness.
After his service he returned to Hendricks County; then attended medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1865-6 and in 1869-70, when he graduated. He had meantime practiced medicine at North Salem, beginning in March, 1866, and has since practiced in this town and throughout the surrounding country, and has been more than usually successful. The doctor is a member of Hendricks County Medical Society, and possesses a valuable medical library; he is a patron of the leading medical periodicals of the day, and keeps up with the tomes. He is a member of the G.A.R., Joseph Fleece post, No. 383, at North Salem; has been commander and is now adjutant; also a member of North Salem lodge, No. 42, F.& A.M., and has held the offices of master and secretary. He married, in April, 1867, Mary A., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davis) Fleece, and to Dr. and Mrs. Adams have been born seven children: Galen, Beula, Percy and Herman (both deceased), Ella, Herbert and Earnest.
Dr. Adams comes from a family of soldiers, four of the Adams brothers having served in the Civil War. (See sketch of Judge Adams, of Lebanon, Ind.) Solomon Adams, father of our subject, came from Nicholas County, Ky., in the twenties, married in Switzerland County, Ind., and soon after marriage settled in Hendricks County, where he was one of the early pioneers. The doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and, socially, move in the best circles of Eel River Township.