This is an update because I accidentally wrote James Adams’ bio twice. The first one is here. Looking at the second copy, it had property info so I will have it below:
James Adams first showed up in Truxton Circle in the 1930 census at 1421 New Jersey Ave NW as the owner. Looking at the DC Recorder of Deeds, the Adams owned a property at Square 553W lot S. A cursory look revealed they borrowed from Nathan Levin of the WSIC sale.
James and wife Matilda F. Adams purchased 1421 NJ Ave NW in 1928 from Laura Lee Beck. They borrowed $1,470 from trustees at a 7% interest rate. Then late that year they took out a 2nd mortgage to pay a debt to Mabel Butler. Why? No idea. They borrowed quite frequently. They sold the home in August 1937 to Ralph P. Gibson.
Let’s return to the census. In 1930, James is working as a railroad porter. His wife listed as Florence, worked as a maid for a private family and his 22 year old son Charles worked as an elevator operator for the rail road station. Prior to this they were on a farm in White Plains, MD. James was farming, Matilda Florence was a farm wife, and Charles was in school.
Despite selling the house in 1937, they were still at 1421 NJ Av NW, but as renters in the 1940 census. James’ birth year shifted to approx. 1884. He still worked as a porter. Matilda Florence went back to being a housewife. Their son did not live with them, instead they had a husband and wife lodger couple from South Carolina.
Thousands of people have lived in the Truxton Circle neighborhood for over 100 years and they have thousands of stories. The goal of the Truxton Circle History Project is to find every man, woman, and child who lived in the neighborhood using every available source. The Project uses the 1880-1950 censuses, the power of Ancestry and every other online resource to discover and uncover neighborhood history.