David Barclay Adams was born 4 May 1814 at Carron Iron Works Sterlingshire Scotland. He was the son of James Adams and Margaret Barclay. Of his early life we know very little, but he followed the trade of his father, in the iron foundry. He was married when he was 21 to Mary Cook who was born 10 Oct. 1812 at Wilsontown Lanarkshire Scotland. Five children came to bless their home in Scotland they were James, Adam Annie Margaret and Mary. Adam died in infancy. From what we know of our ancestors they were a large strong and sturdy race of people very industrious and dependable. Great Great Grandfather James was a General in the Scotch Army serving his country well. Grandfather would tell his family about the superior strength of his father James and what a large man he was he weighed 350 lbs. and he worked in the foundry where the large Cannon falls were manufactured. And his father could life and carry the immense balls. He could stand up and take two ordinary men by the nap of the neck one in each had and lift them off from the floor and touch their heads together.

We don't know why he left Scotland and came to America unless it was to better his financial conditions he hadn't yet received the gospel when he reached America he worked in South Eastern Pa. and it is here he embraced the gospel, being baptized 6 April 1844 by Joseph Clemens and was ordained an Elder by William Grover. In Aug. 1845 a baby boy David Cook came to bless their home in America in Glenden South Hampton Pa. In May 1845 a little girl Ellen came to them in Red point North Umberland Pa. From the way they moved around one would conclude the work wasn't very plentiful or wages poor. At any rate we find them in the steamboat Mary on the Missouri River in the latter part of April 1849 on their journey to Utah. When the Cholera broke out among the passengers and on the 7 May 1849 great grand father was forced to see his beloved wife buried in a watery grave, and four days later on the 11 of May his two little daughters Ammie eleven years and Mary 5 were laid to rest in the Missouri river also. It was a sad trial to him because he couldn't bury them on land, but the Captain would not permit it. He said all the bedding had to be burned or thrown over board. He having found Motherless Children the youngest baby Ellen not quite a year old. An Elderly couple friends volunteered to take the baby until he could get himself a home so he could take care of her which offer he accepted.

At Winter quarters he met a noble Canadian girl Lydia Catherine Mann, who attracted his attention, and it wasn't long before she consented to marry him and undertake the responsibility of caring for his little family. He settled in Beaver Utah. Here he was ordained a High priest on the 3rd of March 1862 by William Barton. Seven years later when Adamsville and Greenville were made into one ward. He was chosen bishop and was ordained 12th of March 1869 by Geo. A Smith. He had only been bishop three years when he was needed at Iron County to make iron. So he was released from the Bishopric 15 Jan. 1872. On reaching Iron City (20 miles from Cedar City) he was appointed to preside over the Branch in Iron City. He held the office of Justice of the Peace and was also postmaster of that place. He moved back to Adamsville in May 1873 where he worked at his trade (iron works) I have heard my Aunt Mary telling of the big furnace and of looking down at the beautiful red hot iron.

By his second wife he had eleven children (Lydia Catherine Mann) namely George William, Gilbert Mann, Elizabeth Akin, Robert Nelson, Alexander Frank, Lydia Catherine, Lewis, Cynthia Jane, Christina, Daniel Cook, and Andrew Patterson, Both families together made a very large family to take care of. Grandfather was a very strict observer of the principles of the gospel. Especially the Sabbath day which was never violated. Even when they only had bran bread and milk it had to be prepared on Saturday, for the fire was never lit in the Cook stove on Sunday. It has been told how noble and kingly he looked on his prancing steed when he was marshal of the Day at Celebrations with his beautiful Scotch scarf and sword at his side. In 1875 he went back to Iron City to manage the iron works, for awhile but did not stay very long as the iron industry at Fort Adams or Adamsville wasn't a paying proposition and having a good offer of having all the butter and cheese he could make from as many cows as he desired to milk, just for breaking of them, far the Beaver Cooperation - and it would also give him the opportunity of visiting Escalate and deciding about making his home there. On the 24 of June 1876 he and his family left their home that had been named after him (Adamsville) to spend the summer on the East Fork of the Sevier just about there Widstow now stands. Urban Van Stewart and family accompanying them. It was an exciting summer handling so many wild cows and calves. In the fall he moved into Escalate and was soon comfortably settled there and helped establish and build up the place. Here he acted as postmaster and led a very busy life the five years he lived there. He died very suddenly in Aug. 4th, 1881. He was buried in Escalate Utah.