The Biographical Dictionary of America/Adams, Austin

ADAMS, Austin, jurist, was born in Andover, Vt., May 24, 1826; son of Capt. Jerry and Dorcas (Austin) Adams, grandson of Corp. Jonas and Phebe (How) Adams, and a direct descendant from Henry Adams, of Braintree, 1636. He was prepared for college at Black River academy, and was graduated at Dartmouth in 1848, receiving his A.M. degree in course. He was principal of the West Randolph academy, 1848-52, studied law at Harvard, and was admitted to the bar in 1854 at Windsor, Vt., practising with ex-Governor Carlos Coolidge. He removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where he practised law; taught in the academy; was president of the Iowa state board of education, 1868; trustee of the State university of Iowa, 1871-77, and lecturer in its law department, 1875-92; justice of the supreme court of the state, 1876-80, and chief justice from 1880. He received the degree of LL.D. from Dartmouth in 1883. He died in Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 17, 1890.