John Jay Adams

John Jay Adams, Early Life

John J. Adams (1860-1926),was a practitioner at the Muskingum County bar and for six years judge of the Judicial Circuit of Ohio, he was born on the 18th of November, 1860, on his father's farm (Prospect Place) near Dresden, Ohio,his parents being the late George Willison and Mary J. R. Adams. His primary education was obtained in the district schools and was continued in the High School at Dresden and Zanesville, Ohio, being graduated from the latter institution with the class of June, 1875. His more specifically literary education was acquired in Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, which he entered in the fall of 1875, completing the course there by graduation with the class of 1879. Through the succeeding three years he engaged in teaching in Harcourt Place Academy, at Gambier, Ohio, a private boarding school for boys, and in September, 1880, he entered upon the study of law under the direction of the Honorable Moses M. Granger, of Zanesville. Following his careful preliminary reading he was admitted to the Ohio bar, January 2, 1883, entering upon the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with Colonel Gilbert D. Munson, under the firm name of Munson and Adams, which relation was maintained from the spring of 1883 until November, 1893, when Colonel Munson was elected to the Common pleas bench.

Becomes Judge

The following year Mr. Adams received the Republican nomination for judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Ohio, and was elected in November by a plurality of eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-four. The fifth circuit is composed of the counties of Ashland, Richland, Wayne, Stark, Morrow, Delaware, Licking, Knox, Holmes, Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Muskingum, Morgan, Fairfield and Perry. Judge Adams was the first Republican judge elected to the circuit bench in this circuit, large Democratic party majorities having previously been given. He served on the bench for the full term of six years, from February 9, 1895, until February 9, 1901. The practice of law was his real life work, and at the bar and on the bench he won distinction.

On the 26th of October, 1892, Judge Adams was married to Miss Dora May Black, the only daughter of Thomas and Cornelia (Van Ham) Black. Mrs. Adams died October 27th, 1904.

Becomes Dean of OSU School of Law

Mr. Adams went on to become a Dean of the Ohio State University School of Law. He served in that capacity until six months before his death in 1926. Mr. Adams was also twice "acting President" of the entire University during the period of the First World War when the University President was called away for military service.

The honorable John Jay Adams contributed to the advancement of the law in Ohio as a professional and teacher.

Informational sources:

The G. W. Adams Educational Center, Inc.

The Ohio State University Archives.

History Past & Present of the City of Zanesville and Muskingum County Ohio" published in 1909 written by J Hope Sutor.