John J. Adams (1860–1926) was an American lawyer and judge. He served as the 5th Dean of the

Ohio State University Moritz College of Law The Michael E. Moritz College of Law is the Law school in the United States, law school of Ohio State University, a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1891, the school is ...

from 1909 to 1926.

Early life

Adams was a practitioner at the

Muskingum County Muskingum County ( ) is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based ...

bar and for six years judge of the Judicial Circuit of Ohio, he was born on 18 November 1860, on his father's farm (

Prospect Place Prospect Place, also known as The Trinway Mansion and Prospect Place Estate, is a 29-room mansion built by abolitionist George Willison Adams (G. W. Adams) in Trinway, Ohio, just north of Dresden in 1856. Today, it is the home of the non-pro ...

) near

Dresden, Ohio Dresden is a village (United States)#Ohio, village in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States, along the Muskingum River at the mouth of Wakatomika Creek. The population was 1,650 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Mus ...

, 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 Zanesville is a city in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located at the confluence of the Licking River (Ohio), Licking and Muskingum River, Muskingum rivers, the city is approximately east of Columbus, Ohio, Columb ...

, being graduated from the latter institution with the class of June 1875. His more specifically literary education was acquired in

Kenyon College Kenyon College ( ) is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1824 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase. It is the oldest private instituti ...

, 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.

Judicial career

The following year Adams received the Republican nomination for judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Ohio, and was elected in November by a plurality of 8,894 votes. 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 9 February 1895, until 9 February 1901. On 26 October 1892, Judge Adams was married to Dora May Black, who died 27 October 1904.

Academic administrator

Adams became the fifth Dean of the

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

Moritz College of Law The Michael E. Moritz College of Law is the law school of Ohio State University, a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1891, the school is located in Drinko Hall on the main campus of the Ohio State University in C ...

in 1909. 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 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

when the University President was called away for military service.

Sources

*The

Archives. * ''History Past & Present of the City of Zanesville and Muskingum County Ohio'' published in 1909 written by J Hope Sutor. {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, John Jay Deans of law schools in the United States Ohio state court judges Ohio lawyers People from Dresden, Ohio 1860 births 1926 deaths Kenyon College alumni Ohio State University faculty Moritz College of Law faculty 19th-century American lawyers