Surviving the American Civil War & A Smallpox Epidemic: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Henry Adams of Embro

A biography on Dr. Henry Adams of Embro, who survived both fighting in the American Civil War, and a smallpox epidemic in East and West Zorra.

By Liz Dommasch, Archivist

Born on Prince Edward Island on May 25, 1835, Dr. Adams would later move to Port Hope, Ontario, with his family, where they resided for five years. From there, the family went to Huron County where his father was employed as a minister.

Dr. Adams graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and served in the American Civil War as a physician. Unfortunately, nothing is known of his military career, including which side he served on, though the assumption would be that he signed up in Pennsylvania and thus served with the Union Army.

Following the war, Dr. Adams settled in Embro, Ontario where he became an early prominent citizen in the village. He not only served as the local doctor but also owned one of the village’s two newspapers: “The Planet”, which would later become the “Embro Courier”. He was also credited with having inaugurated the Embro apple evaporator while operating a vinegar factory in the village and held controlling interest in the Karn Piano and Organ Company in Woodstock. Similarly, he was also a heavy stockholder in a bicycle business and afterward an automobile business, both being located in Woodstock. He also owned a 400-acre farm near Woodstock, as well as another farm in the Chatham District, and operated a drug store in the front of his building on Commissioners Street.

During his tenure as a doctor, he is credited with almost single-handedly fighting an epidemic of smallpox that was raging through East and West Zorra during the late 1800s. In doing so, he acted as not only a doctor but also nurse and undertaker, as it is said that he hauled caskets to the Embro log cemetery using chains attached to his wagon. In an interview with the “Woodstock Sentinel-Review”, dated November 21, 1930, Dr. Adam recalls the fact that he was shunned for a long period during the outbreak as many were afraid of catching the disease. In a further article printed following his death, the newspaper noted that when vaccination became a method of prevention, Dr. Adams was quite furious with the reluctance of people to be treated.

Dr. Adams was also heavily involved in local politics. He served on Embro Council and acted as Reeve in 1880, 1881, and 1896. He served for many years as the Medical Health Officer for both Embro and the Township of West Zorra and was eventually removed from the role by the Village Council in 1924, due to his advanced age (90 years).

Embro By-law No. 400 re. removing Dr. Adams as Medical Officer of Health due to his advanced age. – 10 March 1894.

On the social front, he is credited with having brought to Embro the Masonic and Oddfellows Lodges, was active in the sporting affairs of the community, and even took part in amateur theatre, taking the part of Mordecai in the play “Queen Esther” which was said to be a phenomenal success.

Dr. Henry Adams passed away on May 22, 1933, at the age of 98, at his daughter’s home in Toronto. He is buried in Embro.

Dr. Henry Adams. "Woodstock Sentinel-Review". – 21 November 1930.