Named after his father's brother, Lewis Adams was the second of that name in our family. He grew up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania with his two brothers and his sister, Emily. His father was in management at the coal mines there.
Lewis went to MIT and became an engineer, in which capacity he worked with his brothers in the southwestern states. He had a great interest in, and empathy with the Native American people that he met there. He did a great deal of work at the Acoma Pueblo - helping to restore the Church and other adobe buildings. He was made an honorary member of the Pueblo at Acoma. We have many fine photographs he took of various southwestern scenes and ceremonials at the pueblos.
This photo reminds me of a wonderful story my Mom relates,whch her Dad told her, about his travelling out to the Southwest. I will check on my memory of it with Lucy and relate it fully on another page. It's a great story and I don't want to screw it up !
Lewis Adams married Gertrude Knapp, of Maryland, and together they had two sons, Lewis Adams the 3rd and Miles Beach Riley. Gertrude died quite young, around 1911, leaving him with two small boys. He married Lucy Lee Burdick, in 1930, and began a second family at about age 50. They had three children, Lucy Lee, Barbara Joan and Edward L. Riley.
He was a great reader and philosopher, loved the poetry of Swinburne, particularly, and had a gift for storytelling. I can still see the captain of the riverboat , Oliver, whose adventures he related to me in serial form whenever I asked !
