from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)---pages 276-278
Among the men of the past generations who have been influential factors in the life of Hendricks County, the late Dr. Thomas J. Adams occupied a prominent place. Doctor Adams was born September 22, 1837, in Center Township, near Danville, and died at North Salem, this county, March 13, 1908. He was the son of Solomon and Nancy (Griffiths) Adams. Solomon Adams was a native of Nicholas County, Kentucky, and in the twenties of the last century came to Switzerland County, Indiana, where he married. After his marriage he came to Hendricks County, where he was one of the leading pioneers.
Thomas J. Adams received an academic education at the old Thorntown Academy in Boone County and began the study of medicine with Doctor Lockhart, of Danville, as his preceptor. For several years before the war he taught school in Tipton, Boone and Hendricks counties and on January 2, 1864, he enlisted at Danville in Company I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, for three years. He served until he was honorably discharged in 1865, the close of the war. On the organization of his regiment he was appointed hospital steward and served in that capacity throughout the remainder of his service. During six months of this time he acted as surgeon, his superior officer being absent from the regiment. His regiment took part in many heavy skirmishes on Hood's campaign, being in the battles of Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and many others. Doctor Adams helped to care for the wounded. At the battle of Nashville, he remained behind several days to help gather up the wounded and send them to hospitals.
After the close of the war Doctor Adams returned to this county and at once entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he graduated in 1870. However, in the meantime he had been practicing at North Salem, beginning in March, 1866, after he had had one term at the medical college. After graduation he started to practice at North Salem and was more than usually successful. He was a member of the county, state and national medical societies and had a large medical library.
Doctor Adams was married in April, 1867, to Mary A. Fleece, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davis) Fleece. John Fleece was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, the son of Charles and Mary (Harlan) Fleece. In 1836 the Fleece family came to Hendricks County and settled in Eel River Township. Elizabeth Davis was born near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky, and was the daughter of Nathan and Nancy (Kidd) Davis. She was about fourteen years of age when her parents came to this county and located northeast of North Salem, where they entered government land. While Mrs. Davis was still a small girl, her parents moved to Ladoga, where the father engaged in the general merchandise business for sixteen years. Then they moved to North Salem, and after the war her father moved to Jamestown, where he again engaged in the mercantile business until his death, about fifteen years later. While living in Ladoga he served as township trustee.
Doctor Adams continued his practice in North Salem and vicinity until two or three years before his death, when a stroke of paralysis necessitated him giving up his practice. He died in North Salem, March 13, 1908. Doctor and Mrs. Adams were the parents of seven children: Galen, Una and Herbert are still living with their mother at North Salem; Beulah is the wife of Dr. C.M. Trotter, a dentist of North Salem, with one son, Richard; Percy died at the age of twenty; Herman died when he was about six years of age; Ernest, the youngest child, is a graduate pharmacist of Purdue University.
Doctor Adams was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Grand Army of Republic, and held official positions in both. He was one of those strong, sturdy individuals who have contributed largely to the material welfare of this county and was a public-spirited citizen who always stood for the best interests of his community. For a long term of years he was active in promoting the community's progress along social and moral lines, and consequently his name will long be remembered for his potent influence for good in this county.