William Morrison Adamson¹

Parents:

• Birth*: William Morrison Adamson was born on 6 January 1862 at Milwaukee, Dana Co, Wi, USA, .¹
• He was the son of David Adamson and Jennette McEwan.¹
• Marriage*: William Morrison Adamson married Caroline MacMather on Tuesday, 23 July 1895 at Butte, Silver Bow Co, Mt, USA, .¹
• Death*: William Morrison Adamson died on 21 November 1930 at Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, , at age 68.¹

• Biography*: WILLIAM M. ADAMSON.
  Since 1901 William M. Adamson has been prominently identified with the development and progress of Douglas as a successful business man and for a number of years past has represented one of the most important business interests of the city as president of the Arizona Gypsum Plaster Company. He was born in Wisconsin, January 6, 1862, and is a son of David W. and Jannott (McEwan) Adamson, both of whom were natives of Scotland. They came to America in 1858 and settled in Wisconsin, later moving to North Platte, Nebraska, where their deaths occurred.
  William M. Adamson was still a child when the family removed to North Platte and there he grew to manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools. At the age of seventeen he served his apprenticeship as a machinist and became an expert and skilled mechanician. He remained at home until he was twenty-one and then began his independent career, following his trade in various parts of the country and finally drifting westward, where he settled in Butte, Montana. There he spent thirteen years, being employed as master mechanic in the mines operated by VV.A, Clark and afterward serving for two years as assistant state boiler inspector. He was then made assistant master
  mechanic for the Butte & Boston Mining Company and held that position until July, 1896, when he came to Arizona to take charge of the construction of the United Verdie smelter owned by his former employer, W.A. Clark, at Jerome. Mr. Adamson served as master mechanic for this concern until September, 1901, when he became connected with the Copper Queen Mining Company as superintendent of construction and machinery at Douglas. He has since made his home in that city, retaining his identification with the Copper Queen Company until the smelter was completed and put in operation, when he resigned.
  Mr. Adamson then purchased the Douglas Cast Stone Company, which he reorganized and incorporated under the name of the Arizona. Gypsum Plaster Company. This is a corporation under the laws of the state of Arizona and Mr. Adamson is its president, his excellent administrative and executive ability making him one of the forceful elements in the growth of the concern. The company manufactures hard wall gypsum plaster,
  raw gypsum in gypsite form being obtained five miles east of Douglas. Here the beds cover a surface of one hundred and sixty acres and are eight feet in depth, and the raw gypsum thus obtained is hauled five miles to a two-kettle mill with a capacity of thirty tons in eight hours. From this gypsum the Arizona Gypsum Plaster Company makes building blocks of all kinds, building ornaments and hard plaster, and an extensive and
  growing trade has been built up as the high quality of the goods has become more widely known.
  Mr. Adamson’s fine business ability and his powerful qualities of mind have carried him forward into other important relations with representative business enterprises, all of which in their development and growth affect the progress of the city in a material and vital way. He was one of the organizers of the Douglas Investment Company and of the Douglas Street Railway and the city ice plant, all of these concerns being incorporated
  as one company, known as the Douglas Investment Company, in which Mr. Adamson is a director and a leading force. He helped also in the organization of the first telephone company in the city and of the Douglas vater works and is otherwise active and prominent in progressive public movements. He is not only thoroughly familiar with the work which claims his attention but is also -.1man of good business and executive powers and the flourishing enterprises which he has instituted or developed stand as testimonials to his ability and public spirit.
  Mr. Adamson was married in Miontana in 1895 to Miss Carrie Mather, a native of that state and a daughter of C. W. and Millie (Dewing) Mather. Her father was a pioneer of Montana, in which state he still lives, but her mother has passed away.
  Fraternally Mr. Adamson is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He is a progressive, up-to-date business man, of strict integrity and effective public spirit, and he enjoys in large measure the confidence and esteem of those with whom he is brought in contact.²