Stephen Adams

Source: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women Who Are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time. Vol. III. New York: James T. White & Co., 1893. page 418.

ADAMS, Stephen, senator, was born in Pendleton district, S.C., Oct. 17, 1804, son of David Adams, a Baptist minister. In 1806 his father removed to Bedford county, Tenn., where Stephen resided until 1812, when he removed to Franklin county. In 1827 he was elected constable, but soon resigned the office to begin the study of law, and in 1829 obtained a license to practice. In 1833 he was elected to the state senate, and in 1834 removed to Monroe county, Miss. In 1837 he was elected circuit judge, and was twice elected to the same office. In 1846 he resigned, and was elected that same year to the national house of representatives. In 1850 he was elected a member of the state legislature, in 1851 a delegate to the state convention, and in 1852 to the U.S. senate. He served on several committees, and on leaving congress removed to Tennessee to practice his profession, but was smitten with small-pox, and died at Memphis May 11, 1857.