Sunday Favorites: Major Adams I Presume?

Major Alden Joseph Adams (1843 - 1915) was a decedent of the Adams dynasty that produced two presidents and famously immigrated to the United States aboard the Mayflower.

He was a man of unusual personality who had many fascinating experiences throughout his lifetime. He was a Civil War veteran, a world traveler, a foreign correspondent for a New York newspaper and the largest landowner in Manatee County, according to various articles and speeches by the Manatee County Historical Society.

At age 16, Adams enlisted in the Union Army attaining the rank of Major. Following the war, he joined the Secret Service where he served as a government observer during three battles with General Giuseppe Garibaldi.

During the French-Prussian War of 1871, he was a war correspondent for the New York Herald under the famous editor James Gordon Bennett, a major figure in the history of American newspapers.

Adams' headquarters were in Paris, where he documented eyewitness accounts of Parisian life under the Paris Commune, a group of working class citizens that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It is rumored that Adams may have even been a prisoner during this time.

While living in Europe, Adams crossed the Atlantic 40 times. He was an accomplished linguist, fluent in French, German, Italian, two dialects of Spanish and was familiar with many other languages.

The one missed opportunity Adams may had was not accepting an assignment to travel to Africa and find missing explorer Dr. David Livingston due to health issues. He instead recommended journalist Henry Morton Stanley, most noted for uttering the famous greeting, "Dr. Livingston, I presume?"

The decision proved serendipitous for Adams. He instead traveled to Florence, Italy to recuperate and met Adelaide Gilbert, an American from Boston whom he later married. Major and Mrs. Adams were both extensive travelers and affluent linguists, which conveniently allowed them to converse in several languages -- a nifty trick for protecting a private conversation.

The Adams' came to Florida in the late 19th Century. While traveling along the Manatee River Major Adams decided he had discovered the most beautiful place in the world. He had originally planned to move to California, but the serene scene on the river changed his mind. He purchased a 400-acre tract from the state where he built his home, Villa Zanza, on one of the highest bluffs on the Manatee River (his property ran from present-day Manatee Memorial to Ninth Street East).

Villa Zanza was a three-story, Spanish-style mansion that is rumored to have taken seven years to complete. The delay was due to the lack of available high-grade cement; any time it rained the material would crumble and wash away, according to Lillie McDuffie in her book "The Lures of Manatee."

Major Adams recovered parts of a sunken ship in the Manatee River to decorate the interior of his home with. According to reports, he almost drowned in the process of diving to the wreck.

While the home was impressive with its open piazzas, arched architecture, and unique woodwork, the exotic landscaping and surrounding grounds were its most attributable feature. Footpaths made of oyster shells meandered among orange trees, rare tropical plants and flowering shrubs which Adams had gathered from all over the world. Major Adams thoughtfully landscaped his driveway with oleanders and bamboo -- it would eventually become a portion of Manatee Ave.

Unfortunately, shortly after their dream home was complete, Adelaide passed away. Major Adams took an extensive holiday to several tropical countries to mourn her passing. During his travels, he collected several rare birds including geese, ducks, parrots, macaws, cockatoos and songbirds, which he brought back to live at Villa Zanza. He also kept two monkeys as pets.

In addition to his affinity for rare animals, Adams began collecting land in Manatee County. He acquired over 300,000 acres -- becoming the largest landowner in the county. This gave him legal claim over a third of the county.

Major Adams was an agent for the Plant Steamship Line and the Independent Line. The vessels docked daily at his property for shipments of outgoing fruits and vegetables.

Adams received appointment of the United States Commissioner by President Chester Arthur and for years was the only Justice of Peace and notary in this part of the country. As Sarasota was part of Manatee County at that time, all citizens accused of a crime were tried before him.

Adams also ran a large mercantile store on Manatee Avenue. The store was so well stocked that residents often made ridiculous requests to test the inventory. One day a traveling salesman made a ten-dollar bet that he could name an item missing from the inventory, he asked for a Methodist pulpit.

To his surprise, Adams produced one with little effort. It just so happened that the Manatee Methodist Church was being remodeled and the Major had supplied all the materials and furnishings -- including the pulpit.

Not everyone enjoyed the Major's antics. In 1895, Adams' barn was set on fire, killing several of his beloved animals. A local arsonist burned down his store two years later. As the fire raged, Adams broke in the door to save his goods. He was overcome with smoke and passed out after inhaling too much. He would have died, had it not been for the bravery of a young woman named Miss Maude Davis, his secretary, who rushed into the burning building and dragged his unconscious body out.

Adams married Davis in 1898. She was the granddaughter of Asa Bishop, one of the early settlers of Shaw's Point. To this union, two children were born -- Tekla Maude and Irma Adelaide.

Maude died at age 24, after she was stricken with Scarlett Fever. Irma was only four years old at the time. The Major donated land for the Dew Cemetery on Ninth Avenue and First Street West where Maude was buried. (It was supposed to be "New" Cemetery, but there was a misprint on the deed).

Tekla was fond of riding many of the thoroughbred horses the family owned, only she was rather careless about her riding ability and would recklessly gallop through town on her favorite horse upsetting many of the villagers. This resulted in the Major receiving a ticket from the town Sheriff -- possibly the first speeding ticket ever issued in Manatee County.

In June of 1915, Major Adams died at DeSoto Sanatorium in Jacksonville at age 72. So ended the life of a remarkable man. He was buried next to his second wife in the cemetery he gave to the community.

As amazing and mysterious as Villa Zanza was, it was razed during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s to make way for a high-end subdivision called Beau Vue.

Major Adams and his Villa Zanza will remain one of Bradenton's most remarkable historical figures and landmarks.