Lieutenant A. B. Adams California Naval Militia

[army historian]

Profiles of Service Series, #6

(A Collection of Militarymen's Service and Their Awards)

By CPT George J. Albert, Jr.

26 Sep 2002

Lieutenant Adolph Berry Adams,

Private Company A, 10^th Infantry Bn. CNG, Seaman and Last Commander of the Fifth Division California Naval Militia.

(Served 1891-1924)

Lieutenant Adams just prior to World War I

Lieutenant A. B. Adams' medals, awards and honors:

World War I Victory Medal with Naval "Escort" bar.

California Service Medal #701 named A. B. Adams with 15, 20 and 25-year bars.

California National Guard Marksmanship Badge bars: Marksman 1891, Rifleman 1901, Revolver third Class 1904, and Revolver Third Class 1905.

California National Guard Marksmanship Badge bars: Marksman 1913, Sharpshooter 1914, and Expert Rifleman 1915.

Certificate and medal (Jewel) "Master of the Royal Secret 32^nd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite", 20 April 1919, Balboa, Canal Zone Certificate #130855.

Medal Improved Order of Redmen

California Representative badge International Order of Odd Fellows 1901

Appointed Public Appraiser, Humboldt County.

Appointed Justice of the Peace, and Public Notary, Eureka Township, Humboldt County in 1920.

Appointed Grand Marshall of Memorial Day Parade in Eureka in 1929.

Adolph Berry Adams Was the son of a California pioneer, but himself a native of Australia, where his father had gone in answer to the lure of the gold mining. Adolph Berry Adams was a resident of Humboldt County since 1884, when he was sixteen. He was employed later in his life in the real estate and insurance businesses and represented the best-known companies, both in life and fire insurance. Adolph was also appointed a Justice of the Peace. Adolph Berry Adams was born on October 28^th 1868 in Omeo, (Gippsland), Victoria, Australia. His father was St. Clair Adams, a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and a pioneer of Humboldt County. St. Clair first arrived in Humboldt County in 1854 with his brother Barry Maxwell Adams, as they were interested in gold mining. They were among the first white settlers to land at Humboldt Bay. They engaged for a time in mining with much success, and later took up government land and engaged in the cattle business. At that time they were also interested in packing freight to the Salmon Creek gold mines. They employed pack trains of mules, and made a successful business from that enterprise. When the great gold excitement broke out in Australia in the early 1860's, St. Clair Adams answered the call. He left his brother, Barry M. Adams in Humboldt County. While in Australia St. Clair met and married Miss Marie Craig, of Glasgow, Scotland, and by her had four children, three daughters and one son Adolph Berry Adams. The mother died in Australia and later the father St. Clair Adams returned to Humboldt County, where he died in 1890, and was buried at Weaverville, Trinity County, California.

Adolph or "Dolf" to his friends spent his boyhood days in the vicinity of the Australian Gold mines. ¹⁴ His mother died when he was 14 years of age. So in 1882 Dolf sought adventure on the high seas, signing on as a cabin boy on one of the 19 Pope and Talbot's square-rigged vessels, the SS Locksley Hall^{1, 14} . He remained with that vessel for several years, until she docked at San Francisco^1,14. He then made his way to Eureka, Humboldt County, California were he spent the remainder of his life^{1, 14}, except for 2 year active Military Service during World War I.

During the early part of Dolf's life, he worked at several occupations in Eureka. He first (about 1884) secured employment in the lumber mills near Eureka with Isaac Minor, at Glendale (east of Blue Lake). He did not care for that class of work. As an interesting note, Isaac Minor had been involved in the formation of the Arcata National Guard Company in 1874, being its first Captain. The Company lasted about one year then disbanded. At one time Dolf was employed as a conductor on the streetcar railway during the horse drawn car era¹. Dolf saved his earning and took a business course at the old business college, located on Fifth Street in Eureka. Completing his course he became a bookkeeper and stenographer, and for a time made that his occupation¹⁴. On April 30th 1891 Dolf joined Company A, 10^th Infantry Battalion, California National Guard in Eureka as a private⁸. He qualified as a marksman with the 45-70 trapdoor Springfield rifle in 1891, earning the California National Guard Marksmanship badge #6178 with bar "Marksman 1891". In 1892 Dolf started his own Insurance business, in conjunction with his public notary and public stenographer endeavors.¹ These were hard times to start a business due to the panic and recession of 1892-1893, but Dolf made a go of it. Dolf reenlisted for a second term in Company A on May 4^th 1894^5,8.

Dolf became a seaman, and a charter member of the Fifth Division California Naval Militia on the 7^th of Dec. 1895, when Company A, was converted to the Naval Militia. It was said that the members of Company A ended their careers in December eating Clam Chowder. He reenlisted on May 4^th 1897^5,8. He was appointed a coxswain on October 5^th 1897⁵.

In A. B. Adams' obituaries are a couple of references to his active service in the Spanish American War with the U.S. Navy¹. It appears from extensive research that A. B. Adams did not have Active Federal Service with the U. S. Navy during the Spanish American

A. B. Adams as an Enlisted man

War²⁰. Dolf may have done his summer cruise under wartime conditions. Note: In attendance at A. B. Adams' funeral were the members of the United Spanish American War Veterans¹⁵.

On 26 May 1898 a joint resolution of Congress was passed for the purchase of 3 armed and converted tugs: the Iroquois; Vigilant; and Active, and immediate preparations for coastal defense. The Navy created the United States Auxiliary Naval Force, which was almost entirely made up of Naval Militia men from the various States. Almost 4,000 officers and men entered this service. From California there were 13 officers and 82 men assigned to The Auxiliary Naval Force of the U. S. Navy and they were active along the Pacific Coast. They guarded the coast and ports from an expected attack from the Spanish Fleet¹⁶.

It appears Dolf worked his way up in the Naval Militia to a Petty Officer, being promoted Quarter Master 2^nd Class on March 1^st 1899^5,8. He would have been 31 years old at this time. He reenlisted on May 12^th 1901^5,8. Adolph Barry Adams married Miss Mae Louisa Nellist, daughter of James Nellist, one of Eureka's oldest pioneers in 1902¹⁵. Mr. and Mrs. Adams had four children, three boys, Marcel, St. Clair and Adolph Barry Jr., and one daughter Faith Adams¹.

A. B. Adams as an Ensign about 1902

The Fifth Division, Naval Battalion, California National Guard was redesignated as the Fifth Division, Naval Militia of California on 23 March 1901. Their Armory was at 2^nd Street near C Street (across form the Eagle House) in Eureka. Adolph B. Adams held a number of assignments in the Naval Militia; in 1900 he was elected Financial Secretary^6,8. He was elected Ensign on April 1^st 1902 and again on November 1^st 1904^5,6. Dolf was elected Senior Ensign on March 12^th 1907⁹. On December 3^rd 1909 Lt. Mclaughlin was relieved of command of the Fifth Division California Naval Militia of Eureka and Ensign Adolph B. Adams became the new Commander. In April 1910 he was elected Lieutenant

Junior Grade⁹. In June 1911 he was elected full Lieutenant and received his commission on October 28^th 1911⁹.

It appears by the correspondence between Capt. Bauer and Ensign Adams that the problems caused by Lt. Mclaughlin along with the loss of funds and equipment almost caused the end of the Fifth Division Naval Militia³. In 1912 the California Naval Militia did their summer cruise on board the cruiser USS Marblehead. They sailed to Washington State and the Straits of Juan de Fuca, where they participated in gunnery practice. Here they established the world's record for accuracy with the 4 inch naval gun. Their score was far in advance of the showing made by other and older State organizations, and this in spite of ammunition, and gun sights, which were pronounced to be of miserably poor condition. Lieutenant B. G. Bartholow, detailed by the U.S. Navy Department as instructor and Inspector of the California Naval Militia, rendered a glowing report of the cruise of the Marblehead under Captain George Bauer.¹⁹

Adams qualified again as Rifleman in 1901 with the 45 caliber Lee Magazine Rifle, and earned a second bar to his Marksmanship badge "Rifleman 1901". He further qualified with the Colt 38 caliber revolver in 1904 and 1905 earning the "Revolver Third Class" bars for 1904 and 1905. He again qualified with the 30 caliber rifle, earning the following bars: "Marksman 1913", "Sharpshooter 1914", and "Expert Rifleman 1915".

Summer Cruise USS Marblehead 1912

Lieutenant Adams applied for his California Service Medal with 15, and 20-year bars in 1912 (see letter and service list). The Fifth Division Naval Militia rebuilt itself under the command and watchful eye of Lt. Adams. There were a number of regular yearly functions, events and socials. There was also a number of one of a kind events. The normal or typical events each year included the following: The Remembrance Day Parade in May, Flag Day Parade, the 4^th of July Parade, the Annual Formation Day Military Ball (15 March), The Annual weapons training and qualification (usually held on the Samoa Peninsula), a yearly encampment (usually held at Camp Campton later renamed Camp Mclaughlin, in Eureka), and The Annual Cruise on one of the California Naval Militia Ships such as the USS Badger, USS Marion, or USS Marblehead. These cruises were annual trainings⁶.

A 1915 article lists personnel of the 5^th Division California Naval Militia as: Lt. Adolph B. Adams, commanding, W. E. Torry, Lieutenant Junior Grade, 12 Petty Officers and 55 enlisted men. "This Division is fully equipped to go aboard ship for active service. The men were fully instructed in drills and gunnery practice, having mounted in their armory one ten ton four inch naval gun, a three-pounder, a one-pounder and a gatling gun. Each year the Division went to sea on the U.S.S. Marblehead for summer cruise and target practice. This vessel is manned entirely by Naval Militia men of California, and the Eureka Division had a good rating."

Some of the Special Events include the following:

1896 - Visit of the Monitor USS Monadock to Humboldt Bay.

1897 - Illumination Parade on Humboldt Bay and entertaining the Officers and crew of the Monitor USS Monadock.

13 April 1898 placed on alert for the Spanish American War.

September 1899 - cruise on the USS Badger.

Gatling Gun, and 1-pound quick firing cannon on Samoa Peninsula

1901 - Visit of the Monitor USS Monadock to Humboldt Bay

1903 - Hosting the Grand army of the Republic (Civil War Veterans) reunion.

1905 Receiving a 28-foot steam launch (cutter).

December 1906 - Governor J. N. Gillett visits the armory and a reception and banquet are held in his honor. (Gillett had been a member of Company A, 10^th Infantry Bn. Eureka)

1907 Cruise on board the USS alert

July 4 1908 - Hosting the Torpedo boat flotilla in Humboldt Bay¹².

1909 - Cruise to San Diego.

July 1910 Cruise on board the USS Marblehead.

May 26-27 1911 - Participating in the Ely Flight Exhibit at New Era Park, Samoa, and the later hosting the 10^th Infantry Battalion reunion.

July 1912 - Cruise on board the USS Marblehead to Washington State and setting 4 inch gun record.

April 24, 1915 Letter and General Order No. 4 From Captain G. W. Bauer awarding the Efficiency "E" patches to Fifth Division.

1915 - Cruise to San Diego on board the USS Marblehead.

15 Dec 1916 - Participating (Naval Militia hospital Corps Beach Camp) in the rescue of the crew of the wrecked Submarine H-3 USS Garfish on the Samoa peninsula beach.

13 Jan 1917 participation in the rescue and comfort of the crew of the wrecked Cruiser USS Milwaukee on the Samoa peninsula beach.

Add Telegrams about USS Milwaukee

When the Fifth Division was mustered into Federal Service on April 7^th 1917 in Eureka, Lieutenant Adams was in Command. The Division placed an article in the Humboldt Standard newspaper asking for 40 men to join the Division in order to bring their strength up to the maximum of 100 men. It was also stated that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was called upon to supply comfort bags to all the Division members containing needles, bandages, pens, absorbent cotton, a testament, and other small articles¹.

Auxiliary Cruiser USS Badger

On the Evening of 10^th of April a farewell dance was held for the Division at Sequoia Auditorium. Before the Dance the Division held a full dress parade for those in attendance. H. E. Speas, who had served in the Spanish-American War, presented a flag to the Division. Brigadier General J. B. Brown, a Civil War Veteran, the Last Commander of the 6^th Brigade C.N.G., and Assistant Adjutant General of California, ret. present Lieutenant Adolph B. Adams with a gold mounted sword and a 25 year gold and diamond bar for his Service medal for his 26 years of service. The money that was raised at the dance was used for the dependents of the men in the Division¹. At 7:30 Thursday morning, April 11^th 1917 the Division, numbering 81 men, departed for San Francisco on the North Western Pacific Train. The division was met at the train by Professor Flower's band and several hundred people¹. The Division arrived in San Francisco and reported at the Hale Armory at 14^th and Mission streets. On April 15^th the Division left with the San Francisco and Santa Cruz Divisions for Mare Island. At Mare Island the Division reported to George W. Williams on board the USS Oregon and were assigned to the Armored Cruiser USS San Diego. On April 17^th, sixteen men of the division were transferred to the USS Frederich².

Gunboat USS alert 1907

Cruiser USS Marblehead

Between May 31^st and July 18^th 1917 those of the Division that were aboard the USS San Diego participated in Convoy duty along the California coast. One mission was a trip

Cruiser USS San Diego

from Honolulu, Hawaiian Territory to Port Townsend with an interned German vessel under convoy. On 18 July 1917, the USS San Diego was ordered to the Atlantic Fleet.

Lt. Adams at gun practice

She reached Hampton Roads, Va. Via the Panama Canal. On 4 August 1917, she joined Cruiser Division 2, and later bore the flag of Commander, Cruiser Force, Atlantic, which she flew until 19 September 1917. She served in the Atlantic as a convoy escort, at one time stopping at the port of La Croisie, France. San Diego's essential mission was the escort of convoys through the first dangerous leg of their passages to Europe. Based on Tompkinsville, N.Y., and Halifax, N.S., she operated in the weather-torn, submarine-infested North Atlantic safely escorting all of her charges to the ocean convoys. These services earned the crew the "Escort" bar to their World War I Victory medals. The navy awarded 20,381 Escort bars in World War I. After removal of some of her 6-inch guns in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the San Diego steamed to New York to meet up with a transatlantic convoy. At 11:05 a.m. on July 19^th 1918 most the crew of the San Diego felt a dull thud which originated from the port side engine room. The crew that worked in this area must have experienced a large explosion as bulkheads were smashed in. The ocean soon followed and within 20 minutes the USS San Diego gently rolled over and was gone, along with six of her crew. It is amazing that 1,177 of the ship's crew and officers were able to abandon ship in such a short time. The San Diego sunk off Fire Island, New York¹ probably by a mine laid by U-156. Note one Fifth Division man died during the sinking of the USS San Diego⁶.

Before the USS San Diego was sunk, probably in June 1918, Lieutenant Adams was transferred to the monitor USS Tallahassee at the Panama Canal Zone, which was serving as a Submarine tender¹. He was further assigned to Naval Intelligence. Lt. Adams became involved in conducting research and tests on various radio transmitters and receivers aboard aircraft in flight ^1,7. He would fly from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back, testing various equipment, with a pair of Curtiss flying boats¹⁰. Lt. Adams' Active Service is listed from his Certificate of Service⁴ as Commissioned 1 July 1918 to 7 September 1924 in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. Enrolled in National Naval Volunteers 9 September 1917. Continuos Active Wartime Service from 7 April 1917 to 29 June 1919 (2 years, 2 months). Character of Service Honorable, Rank held at Discharge Naval Lieutenant⁴.

Adams Photo of Naval Curtiss Flying Boat over Panama Canal c.1918

Monitor USS Tallahassee

After World War I Adolph Berry Adams was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U. S. Naval Reserve Force, which rank he held up until his retirement in 1924. A. B. Adams organized a reunion on March 15 1927, which was held in Eureka for the "Fighting" Fifth Division California Naval Militia and the old National Guard units. Upon his retirement in 1924, Lt. A. B. Adams had 33 years of military service, 11 years as an enlisted man and 22 years as an officer. In 1929 Lt. A. B. Adams was appointed the Grand Marshal of the Memorial Day Parade in Eureka. There is a 1929 newspaper article that has a photo of Dolf wearing his California Service Medal with bars (below). A. B. Adams died at his home in Eureka in March 1930. He was interned at Sunset Memorial cemetery; his head stone simply reads "Lieut. A. B. Adams 1868 1930"²¹.

Lt. A. B. Adams in 1929 wearing his California Service Medal

Adams' WW1 Uniform, and pistol hostler.

Membership in Fraternal and Service Organizations:

Officer Chief of Records for the Hupa Valley Tribe, Improved Order of Redmen.

Secretary for the Fortuna Lodge #221, International Order of Odd Fellows.

Member of the Rebakah Lodge

Clerk For the Modern Woodsmen of American

Past Chancellor of the Lincoln Lodge #31, Knights of Pythias¹

Free Mason 32^nd Degree (Balboa, Panama 1919)

Exempt member of Engine Company #1, Eureka Volunteer Fire Department

Director and Commissioner of Sea Scouts for Humboldt Bay District

Member of the District Council Boy Scouts of America

Member of the Fort Humboldt Post #212, of the American Legion

References:

#1. Newspaper Article Times Standard 3-14-1930- "Attack Fatal to Prominent Eureka".

#2. Newspaper Article Humboldt Times 4-23-1958 "Naval Reserve Long a Part of Humboldt".

#3. Correspondence Letter Captain Bauer to Ens. A.B. Adams Original Records 5^th Div N.M. Humboldt County Historical Society (St. Clair Adams Collection).

#4. Certificate of Service Adolph B. Adams (World War I Service) Recorded at Humboldt County Records Office Misc. Book record dated 8 February 1928.

#5. Original Records 5^th Div N.M. Oath of Office Adolph B. Adams 1909 at Clarke Memorial Museum - transferred to Humboldt County Historical Society.

#6. Humboldt State University Thesis: History of the Naval Reserve in Humboldt County 22 Jan 1960 G. C. Harber.

#7. Back of Photograph in the Adams Family Collection.

#8. Original Records 5^th Div N.M. Humboldt County Historical Society (St. Clair Adams Collection).

#9. Original Records 5^th Div N.M. Annual Muster 1914, Humboldt County Historical Society (St. Clair Adams Collection).

#10. Photograph in the Adams Family Collection.

#11. NNM Form.

#12. Lance Madsen Photographs.

#13 Adams Family Photographs.

#14 Book History of Humboldt County California with Biographical Sketches, by

Leigh H. Irvine, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA 1915 pp 568-569.

#15 Obituary A. B. Adams "Humboldt to Pay Tribute to A. B. Adams" Humboldt

Standard.

#16 Article "The Naval Militia in the War with Spain" by Major Norman

Marshall, California Center for Military History.

#17 Website: http://www.history.n...ry/victoryq.htm list of

Ships and bars entitled to.

#18 Website: http://www.history.n.../medals/scm.htm Navy Spanish

Campaign Medal.

#19 Article "The Builder of the California Navy" by Harold French, Sunset

Magazine, Sept 1914, pgs. 1321-1323, under the magazines section "Interesting

Westerners".

#20 General Order #4 1898 Leave of absence issued to Naval Militia men serving

in the Spanish American War.

#21. Personal research and visit to cemetery plot 26 Oct. 2001.

#22. Souvenior Eureka Volunteer Fire Department 11 Dec 1895, Humboldt

County Historical Society (HCHS).

Edited December 1, 2009 by army historian

[army historian]

Edited December 1, 2009 by army historian

[Oiva]

Captain:A most interesting historial account and it was nice to read about my old hometown. My father was sent to Eureka with the 107th Horse Cav. reg. in 1942, I believe that date is correct. He was a Finn from Michigan and the family stayed in that area untill 1959. Regard, Oiva

[army historian]

Captain:A most interesting historial account and it was nice to read about my old hometown. My father was sent to Eureka with the 107th Horse Cav. reg. in 1942, I believe that date is correct. He was a Finn from Michigan and the family stayed in that area untill 1959. Regard, Oiva

Thanks for the reply, Oiva. Yes I have seen pictures of the 107th Cav. on the beach (Samoa) with what looked like M2-A2's or M3 Stewart tanks in 1942. They were the first unit sent here in WW2. Good Luck. Captain Albert