Updated: 10 March 2009
The 2nd great-grandfather of Jack, James Otto Lewis of Detroit was an artist (The Aboriginal Portfolio). The US Indian Department (possibly BIA?) commissioned Lewis to attend government sponsored Indian councils and treaty ceremonies between 1825-1828. Lewis executed portraits and interviewed Indian chiefs who attended these meetings. Lewis ventured to such locales as Prairie du Chien, Fond du Lac, Butte des Morts, and Fort Wayne. There is a website featuring his artwork and some are in the Smithsonian. See: Famous Wisconsin Artists and Architects by Hannah Heidi Levy, James Otto Lewis The American Indian Portfolio: An Eyewitness History, 1823-1828. McKenna & Hall History of the Indian Tribes of North America, Janet Campbell & Kenna A. Franks The Wilderness Legacy of James Otto Lewis. Donald A. Heald has some of his artwork for sale.
John Keith Adams Obituary
John K. Adams, known by most as Jack, died May 6, 2007 after a short illness. Jack was born October 5, 1921, the son of Hazel Adams and Claude Lewis. He spent most of his childhood in Detroit moving to Ypsilanti in 1954. Jack married his beloved wife, Louise, July 29, 1944, who survives him. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in March of 1943 and spent time in England, France, Holland, and Germany as a member of the 250th Engineer Combat Battalion before returning home in 1943. He worked for US Trucking Company for 35 years before retiring. He enjoyed his retirement perusing his interest in genealogy, refining his computer skills, traveling with Louise in their camper, doing woodworking projects, reading, or doing crossword puzzles. He also was very active with the Adams-McKain Reunion. He transferred reunion secretary-treasurer notes written between 1919-1963 to a bound spiral notebook and put the sheets in plastic covers. The repaired books were presented to the family in August 1964 and are still in use today. He also contributed to the 1989 "Wildcat: Centennial Edition" of the Marcellus School yearbook. Jack also contributed to the family history section of the newsletters numerous times which included letters written by G.W. Alford during the Civil War and a charcoal drawing of Effie May Adams which was restored and presented to the family in August 2002. He generously has shared genealogical information, anecdotal notes, cemetery data, and pictures. Thank you, Jack. Jack is survived by his son, John Adams of Glendale, Arizona, his grandson, James, daughter Marilyn of Brooklyn, Michigan, sister Jean (William) Blanchard of Kalamazoo, Michigan and last but not least, Nicky, their dog. Any donations to his memory should be made to the Lenawee Medical Care Facility, (Castlewood Neighborhood) 200 Sand Creek Hwy, Adrian, Michigan 49230, where Louise resides.
Chester & Jack at the Centennial Farm
