James N. Adam
Encyclopedia
James Noble Adam was Mayor
of the City of Buffalo, New York
, serving 1906–1909. He was born in Peebles, Scotland on March 1, 1842, a son of Reverend Thomas Adam. He married Margaret Linton Paterson of Edinburgh, on January 9, 1872; she died in 1894. Also in 1872, upon the advice of his brother, Robert B. Adam, co-founder of Adam, Meldrum & Anderson
, he came to America. He initially settled at New Haven, Connecticut
, where he began a successful retail operation. In 1881, he moved back to Buffalo and started a full-scale department store at Main and Washington Streets, the J. N. Adam & Co.
In 1905, he retired from the company.
In 1901, he was elected alderman
of the 24th ward. He was elected mayor on November 7, 1905, as the Democratic
candidate. He did not run for another term.
Some time between 1910 and 1915, he purchased almost 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land adjacent to the village of Perrysburg, New York
using proceeds from his own personal fortune to establish a tuberculosis
asylum. A hospital was opened known as the J. N. Adam Memorial Hospital for Tuberculosis; it later became the J. N. Adam State School for Severely Mentally Retarded. He died at Buffalo on February 9, 1912, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland, next to his wife.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, serving 1906–1909. He was born in Peebles, Scotland on March 1, 1842, a son of Reverend Thomas Adam. He married Margaret Linton Paterson of Edinburgh, on January 9, 1872; she died in 1894. Also in 1872, upon the advice of his brother, Robert B. Adam, co-founder of Adam, Meldrum & Anderson
AM&A's
Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Company was a chain of department stores based in Buffalo, New York. It was an institution to generations of shoppers in the Buffalo area. The company remained family owned until its sale to The Bon-Ton in 1994....
, he came to America. He initially settled at New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, where he began a successful retail operation. In 1881, he moved back to Buffalo and started a full-scale department store at Main and Washington Streets, the J. N. Adam & Co.
J. N. Adam & Co.
The J.N. Adam & Co., commonly referred to as J.N.'s was a department store located in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1881 by James Noble Adam, a brother of Robert B. Adam, a founder of AM&A's, another Buffalo based department store. The co-founder of the store was William H. Hotchkiss who,...
In 1905, he retired from the company.
In 1901, he was elected alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the 24th ward. He was elected mayor on November 7, 1905, as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate. He did not run for another term.
Some time between 1910 and 1915, he purchased almost 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land adjacent to the village of Perrysburg, New York
Perrysburg (village), New York
Perrysburg is a village in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 408 at the 2000 census. It is named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.The Village of Perrysburg is in the south-central part of the Town of Perrysburg...
using proceeds from his own personal fortune to establish a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
asylum. A hospital was opened known as the J. N. Adam Memorial Hospital for Tuberculosis; it later became the J. N. Adam State School for Severely Mentally Retarded. He died at Buffalo on February 9, 1912, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland, next to his wife.