Frederick Baldwin Adams
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Frederick Baldwin Adams (5 February 1878 - 23 October 1961) was born in Toledo, Ohio, the son of a bank cashier. His father had moved to Ohio from New England to "grow up in the country." Frederick was sent east to attend St. Paul's in Concord, New Hampshire, at the age of fourteen. From St. Paul's, he went to Yale, where he received an AB in 1900. He was a member of the Skull and Bones society.
His first job after Yale was as a claim agent for the Mohawk Division of the New York Central Railroad. In 1902 he became secretary to Robert C. Pruyn, and the following year became secretary of the Union Trust Company of Albany. It was only a few years latter when Robert Pruyn would hire Charles Edward Adams as his secretary. Charles was Frederick's brother, a graduate of St. Paul's and a member of Skull and Bones. Adams moved to New York City in 1905 to become a partner in the firm of Potter, Choate and Prentice.
Although almost forgotten to history, Frederick B. Adams was a well known figure in corporate America. During his life time he served as Chairman of the West Indies Sugar Corp. His primary interests were railroads, he was connected with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; the Louisville & Nashville Railroad; the Clinchfield Railroad; and the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad. Adams also branched out into other areas, becoming involved with the Union Trust Company of Albany; the Wright Aeronautical Company; the Air Reduction Company; Potter, Choate & Prentice; and Schroder, Rockefeller & Co.
One of Adams' strongest interests was the Air Reduction Co., of which he was Chairman of the Board. It was engaged in the manufacture and sale of oxygen, acetylene, and other gasses and oxy-acetylene cutting and welding equipment. It was the leading company of its field, and had links to Lee, Higginson & Co., the Chase Manhattan Bank, and the Guaranty Trust Co. In 1930 alone, the company made $5,250,397 in profits.
Adams was involved with the Boys Club of New York, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Fifth Avenue Hospital, and served on the planning committee of the Roosevelt National Memorial. He was a member of the Knickerbocker Club of New York, a tell tale sign of being part of the highest caste of New York Society.
With the small fortune he made from his business interests, Adams maintained a house in New York, a summer home on Campobello Island, and a plantation on the Cape Fear River.
In 1907, he was married to Ellen Walters Delano, a first cousin of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had two children: Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr., who graduated from Yale; and Laura, later Mrs. John Eastman, Jr.
Adams died in 1961 at River House, New York City from a long illness.
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This article incorporates copyrighted text from Doom Chronicle, used by permission of the author.
