E L Adams of Rockwall, TX

photographer: E L Adams
Rockwall, TX
example from LOST GALLERY

Facts on Ellis L Adams were scarce. Only a few documents and no newspaper items were found to outline his history as a photographer. Below is a timeline of what has been found so far. Suggestions and contributions are welcome.

Ellis L Adams
(1870-1960)

1870 Dec 08
From Death Certificate; Birth Month according to 1900 Census Dec 1861;
1880 Jun 04
McLennan, TX, US census, Ellis Adams at age 9
1898 Nov 06
Rockwall, TX, state records, Ellis Adams and Annie Atherton are married
1900 Jun 15
Greenville, TX, US census, Ellis Adams as photographer; res Templeton Av. (age is miss-stated at 38, sh/be 28; wife Anne age 19)
1902 Aug 15
Greenville, TX, state records, Son Everett Leroi Adams is born

1910 Apr 18
Altus, OK, US census, Ellis Adams as “Owner of photograph gallery”; age given as 38; res North Grady Street
1920 Jan 05
Duke, OK, US census, Ellis Adams as General Farming
1925 Jul 25
Duke, OK, state records, son Everett Adams and Mildred Darby are married
1930
1930, US census. Ellis Leroi Adams was not found with search, line by line of Duke, OK and Rufigo, TX
1935
Refugio, TX, from 1940 US census, Ellis Adams lived here in 1935
1940 Apr 13
Refugio, TX, US census, Ellis Adams as Owner/Cobbler of shoe shop
1943 Nov 05
Austin, TX, state records, Ellis Adams’ wife Anne dies
1947
Austin, TX, city directory, Ellis L Adams NOT listed

1949
Austin, TX, city directory, Ellis L Adams, res 3407 Robinson, no occupation shown
1950 Apr 09
Austin, TX, city directory, Ellis L Adams, living with son Everett; no occupation shown
1953
Austin, TX, city directory, Ellis L Adams NOT listed
1955
Austin, TX, city directory, Ellis L Adams at 3407 Robinson, no occupation shown
1960 Feb 02
Austin, TX, death certificate, Ellis L Adams dies at age 89, listed as “shoemaker”

So it can be said that Ellis Adams was photographer in Rockwall, TX, Altus, OK, and Greenville, TX, between 1900 and 1910, perhaps three or four years before and after. In the 1920 census, he is listed as a Farmer. After that, he became a cobbler and followed that profession for the balance of his business life. It appears he retired from business after about 1947.

El Paso (TX) Herald - 31 Oct 1898

(probably not the photographer)

Altus (OK) Plain Dealer - 07 Jul 1925

Unknown newspaper of Austin, TX - 06 NOv 1943

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Additional information and new examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

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