John H. Addams

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name =John H. Addams
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office =Illinois State Senate
term_start =1854
term_end =1870
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John Huy Addams (July 12, 1822–August 17, 1881) was a politician from the U.S. state of Illinois during the 19th century. Addams was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, where he married Sarah Weber. In 1844 the couple moved to Cedarville, Illinois, and he purchased the Cedar Creek Mill. Addams quickly became a successful businessman working as a director for two railroad companies and a bank president. He constructed a prominent Federal style home in 1854 which still stands today. In 1860 he and his wife Sarah had the eighth of their nine children, social activist Jane Addams.

Addams became active in state politics during the 1850s and eventually served as an eight term Illinois State Senator from 1854–1870. In 1863 his wife, Sarah, died and he was remarried in 1867 to Anna H. Haldeman, herself a widow. He was a key influence on his famous daughter and part of the reason she focused so much attention on social causes. John H. Addams died in Green Bay, Wisconsin while on a family vacation in 1881.

Early life

John Huy Addams was born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania in on July 12, 1822. He married Sarah Weber, five years his elder, while still living in Kreidersville, Pennsylvania. Both families, Addams and Weber, were from old Pennsylvanian lineage; Addams' ancestors had been granted by land by William Penn in the 17th century.Berson, Robin Kadisson. "Jane Addams: A Biography", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=JXTKtFs1BOEC&pg=PA1&dq=%22John+Addams%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=M8ef1guSQX-u6aSWW13lv-XDrB8#PPA1,M1 Google Books] ), Greenwood Press: 2004, pp. 1-2, (ISBN 0313323542). Retrieved 20 August 2007.] In 1844 Addams, then 22, and his new bride arrived in Cedarville, Illinois, near the Illinois-Wisconsin state border in Stephenson County.Linn, James Weber. "Jane Addams: A Biography", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=SXM_zMK3u4YC&pg=PA4&dq=%22John+H.+Addams%22+Pennsylvania&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=yNCqmhSiCpA61q6xHY_I3AFaMaY Google Books] ), University of Illinois Press: 2000, p. 4, (ISBN 0252069048). Retrieved 20 August 2007.] " [http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/200240.pdf John H. Addams Homestead] ," (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, HAARGIS Database, "Illinois Historic Preservation Agency", pp. 1-8. Retrieved 20 August 2007.] Addams established himself quickly as a successful mill operator when he purchased the Cedar Creek Mill in 1844. When the couple first arrived in Stephenson County they lived in a small two-room home with a loft. In 1854 Addams completed construction on an addition which made the Addams' home a much larger, prominent Federal style house. Though the couple had nine children, only four survived to adulthood; their eighth child was Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams.Fox, Richard Wrightman and Kloppenberg, James T. "A Companion to American Thought", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=2uO3OfRKOpEC&pg=PA14&dq=%22John+Addams%22+Illinois+Senate&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=JN8mNP7gGBBbfNm_KXPepemHUuU Google Books] ), Blackwell Publishing: 1995, p. 14, (ISBN 0631206566). Retrieved 20 August 2007.] Jane Addams was born at the Addams House in Cedarville on September 6, 1860.

In January 1863 Sarah Addams, then pregnant with her ninth child, went to assist in the delivery of a baby for the wagon-maker's wife. During the birth, she collapsed and was carried home. Sarah's own baby was delivered prematurely and as a result, stillborn. Sarah Addams died a week later, Jane Addams was just 2 years 4 months old at the time of her mother's death. Jane Addams was cared for mostly by her older sisters after 1863.

Business career

Addams' milling business became one of the largest operations in northern Illinois, comprising a saw mill, linseed mill, and grist mill along Cedar Creek on the Addams' property. The mill also represented the start of Addams' successful business career. From 1864 until 1881 he was the president of the Second National Bank in Freeport, Illinois. Addams also served in directorships with the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad, he was also a founder of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1867. Addams achieved a level of local fame due to his many successful business ventures and was regarded as Stephenson County's most successful entrepreneur.Elshtain, Jean Bethke. "Jane Addams and the Dream of American Democracy: A Life", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=ceqgUPfGi1wC&pg=PA2&dq=%22John+Addams%22+Illinois+Senate&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=rhFPnVDxONULKJJsAD-mcap3TrQ#PPA2,M1 Google Books] ), Basic Books: 2002, pp. 2-3, (ISBN 0465019129). Retrieved 20 August 2007.]

Political career

Jane Addams wrote that her father spoke specifically of two politicians when a greater zeal than others, Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Mazzini."The New York Times". "Jane Addams A Foe of War and Need," ( [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:v64m2M4hTbcJ:www.uwec.edu/newsbureau/bulletin/2003-04/11-10-03/OBITUARY.doc+Jane+Addams+obit&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a HTML link] , [http://www.uwec.edu/newsbureau/bulletin/2003-04/11-10-03/OBITUARY.doc Microsoft Word link] ), 1935. Retrieved 20 August 2007.] Lincoln became a close personal friend and correspondent of Addams during his political career and addressed him in letters as "My Dear Double D-‘ed Addams." Lincoln and Mazzini would later become known as Addams' "political heroes."

Addams' political career began in the early 1850s when he was selected as a delegate to the Whig conventions in both 1850 and 1852. Addams was a staunch abolitionist, friend of Lincoln and instrumental in organizing the People's Mass Convention in 1854 which lead to the creation of the Republican Party. Addams identified as Anti-Nebraska when he was elected to the Illinois State Senate as a Republican in 1854. When the 19th Illinois General Assembly convened on January 1, 1855, Addams was one of eight newly elected senators identified as "Anti-Nebraska."Moses, John. "Illinois, Historical and Statistical", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=IXgcAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA590&dq=%22John+H.+Addams%22&ie=ISO-8859-1 Google Books] ), Fergus Printing Company: 1892, p. 590. Retrieved 20 August 2007.]

Addams went on to serve eight terms in the Illinois Senate from 1854–1870. During his career in politics, Addams was noted for his purportedly exemplary character. It was stated that Addams, while not the only Illinois State Senator to refuse bribes during the Civil War and Reconstruction, was the only one who no person dared offer a bribe.Malone, Dumas. "Saints in Action", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=mpIIJzuW7IMC&pg=PA109&dq=%22John+H.+Addams%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=Fz9ZP7jq20g8zeUMIQ9s5bHM70s Google Books] ), Ayer Publishing: 1971; originally published 1939, p. 109, (ISBN 0836920627). Retrieved 20 August 2007.] Addams was always seen as humble and extremely pious, a Quaker by upbringing, later in life he practiced evangelical perfectionism. Though an active politician he turned down nominations to both the office of Illinois lieutenant governor and the U.S. Congress.

Influence on Jane Addams

Jane Addams stated that her father, John, was a primary influence in her life. In her 1910 autobiography she described various ways in which she attempted to imitate her father, as well as establishing him as her primary influencer. She stated that her father was her reason for civic involvement and interest in the "moral concerns of life."Addams, Jane. "Twenty Years at Hull-House: With Autobiographical Notes", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=h9oJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=Jane+Addams+Hull#PPA15,M1 Google Books] ), The Macmillan Co: 1910, pp. 1-22. Retrieved 20 August 2007.] It was Addams' deep civic involvement that had such a profound influence on his daughter, Jane. John Addams was active in the Cedarville School Board and a trustee of the Rockford Young Ladies' Seminary, later known as Rockford College, where Jane would earn her undergraduate degree. Besides his role in founding the state's Republican Party he was also one of the key individuals who helped bring the second Lincoln-Douglas Debate to Freeport.

Late life and death

In 1867, four years after Sarah Addams' death, John H. Addams was remarried to Anna H. Haldeman. Haldeman was herself a widow who brought two additional children of her own into the family. One of her sons, George, would also have a strong influence on Jane Addams.

In early August 1881 Addams decided to take his family on a vacation in northwestern Michigan, where he planned to inspect some of the iron and copper ore mines as potential investments; they left on August 4. A week later John Addams became ill while climbing in an ore mine and the family decided to return home by train. They made it to Green Bay, Wisconsin before Addams was too sick to travel any further and the family booked a hotel room. John H. Addams died suddenly of acute appendicitis on August 17, 1881 in the hotel in Green Bay at the age of 59.Knight, Louise W. "Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=aBGDBYfI970C&pg=PA114&dq=%22John+Addams%22+died&sig=u_baeh0TY1p_pLpzNYJrKXN92Uc Google Books] ), University of Chicago Press: 2005, p. 114, (ISBN 0226446999). Retrieved 20 August 2007.] His death came as a shock to his daughter Jane, and she spent eight years in a state of depression after his death.

ee also

*Hull House
*Jane Addams Burial Site
*John H. Addams Homestead

Notes

Persondata
NAME = Addams, John H.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Addams, John Huy
SHORT DESCRIPTION = 19th century American state politician
DATE OF BIRTH = July 12, 1822
PLACE OF BIRTH = Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania, United States
DATE OF DEATH = Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
PLACE OF DEATH = August 17, 1881