Individual Details

Ziba was first married to Catherine Lamb, 13 Feb 1862. He married Sarah Emmaline Inman about 1895.

1870 Census. Indian Creek Twp, P.O. Fayetteville, Lawrence Co IN
Ziba Adamson, 29, Farmer, family all born in IN
Catherine, 28
Ahemina, 5 (female) (listed as Acena on FindAGrave)
Letna, 2, (male) (listed as Isaiah on FindAGrave)

1880 Census. Indian Creek Twp, Lawrence IN, Hh 250
Zibe Adamson, 39
Catharine, 39, wife
Ahenium, 15, dau
Litma, 11, son
Frank, 9, son
Anne, 5, dau
Acoam, 3, son
William Hopper, 33, Laborer
Hiram Lamb, 56, brother-in-law

1880 Census. Owensburgh, Greene Co IN, Hh 51
Joel Blackburn, 32, physician
Elvira J., 25, wife
Lucy, 6, dau. Lloyd 4, son. Annie, 3, dau. Florence, dau, 4 months, b. December

Found in the Jasper Weekly Courier, Jasper, DuBois Co, IN, 24 Jul 1885. This story likely appeared in this newspaper because Dr. Josel S. Blackburn had previously lived in DuBois Co. The title was "Domestic Tragedy in Real Life" and is almost beyond belief. The following is an abstracted version of the story.
Dr. Blackburn, age 37, had been practicing for three years in Silverville, Lawrence co but had absconded accompanied by Miss Aline Adamson who would be 21 on November 15th. [By all indications this is the eldest daughter of Ziba, although the name is slightly different.] Blackburn had married Elvira Josephine Harison eleven years previously in St. Joe, MO. Eight years ago they had moved to Ireland in DuBois Co, where he had been unfaithful to his wife.
In 1883, two years earlier, Ziba Adamson had taken his daughter, then 18, to see Dr. Blackburn. Adamson was at that time a Justice of the Peace, a member & elder of the Christian church, etc. He was also currently a fugitive.
Dr. Blackburn treated Miss Adamson at her home twice a week from August until December of 1883, at which time he took her into his home where treatment continued for over a year.
Adamson left his wife on May 30th, she expecting his return. On June 2nd, Ziba Adamson deeded his property to John Pinkston to convey to Mrs. Adamson. He then disappeared leaving debt and the administration of a estate. His wife and six children wait on his 250 acre farm for his return. Mrs. Blackburn left in the company of Mr. Adamson, but returned 10 days later - Ziba Adamson having given her $500 in acknowledgement of his wrongs against her.
At Silverville, on Jun 29, she made a statement that she believed Dr. Blackburn had been a kind husband and good father and she believed the slanderous reports regarding Miss Adamson to be false. They had nothing to do with her own affair and she makes the statement of her own free will. Signed, Josie Blackburn. The author of the article points out that she wrote these lies to save her husband's life and that he had taken the $500 for himself.
Mrs. Adamson made the statement that her husband had sent some word to John Pinkston, but not to her and she no idea where her daughter was. Her son had taken Aline to the train and she left with the doctor. The doctor was the cause and she had thought to send the daughter away to live with kinfolks.
John Pinkston, an attorney, was interviewed, and he had had letters from Adamson from Floyd county and St. Louis and Loogootee, and had stated "Pinkston, by this time you must know this was a job set up on me?" Pinkston had been present when Adamson had settled with Dr. & Mrs. Blackburn with the $500. Adamson then left on the train stating he'd not go back to his family, that he couldn't stand the disgrace.
Since the Dr. was now gone, Mrs. Blackburn decided to tell the whole story. She admitted she and her husband had not been happy together since the incident in Dubois with their servant girl. While Miss Adamson was in their house, she had the best room, the parlor, and the doctor treated her daily - they would be along together from a half hour to three hours. His practice fell away while they were boarding this girl. He claimed he was being paid but Mrs. Blackburn never saw one cent. They appeared to be in love. When I confronted him, he insisted I receive attentions from Ziba Adamson who Dr. claimed loved me. If I consented to Adamson, then she and Dr. Blackburn would be as equals.
Dr. Blackburn took her to Adamson and told her he would take her to her mother's home. Adamson told her on the way that she was never to go back to her own home. They confronted Blackburn but he promised to exposes them to the community and she gave up and went to her mother's to avoid exposing her innocent children to the scandel.
The reporter had located Dr. Blackburn in Mitchell (Lawrence Co) and found him quite drunk. He denied any conspiracy to embarrass his wife and Ziba Adamson, but admitted he had taken the money. He refused to tell the wherabouts of Miss Adamson. He had collected $240 from Mrs. Adamson for professional services to Aline and had used the money from Ziba ADamson to pay off the mortgage on his home and deeded it over to his wife. He is believed to have over $2000 in his possession. He has no plans to return home.

Apparently at some point Ziba Adamson did return to Lawrence Co. He took another wife in 1895, but whether the first wife died or obtained a divorce I have not discovered.

In 1895, Ziba married Sarah Emmaline Inman whose first husband was James Harvey Miller

1900 Census. Indian Creek Twp, Lawrence, IN, Hh 163
Ziba H. Adamson, b. Apr 1841, age 58, married 5 years, b. IN, father b. TN, mother b. KY
Emma, wife, b. Aug 1853, 46, 3 children, all living
Brayd M., dau, b. Apr 1897, age 3
Willard Miller, stepson, b. Mar 1881, age 19

1910 Census. Indian Creek Twp, Lawrence, IN, Hh 41
Ziba H. Adamson, 67, married 2 times, 14 years this time
Emeline, wife, 56
Braida, 13, dau

1920 Census. Indian Creek Twp, Lawrence, IN, Hh 86
Zeba Adamson, 77
Emma, wife, 64
Braida W., dau, 22

1930 Census. Indian Creek Twp, Lawrence, IN, Hh 119
Ziba Adamson, 88, married the first time at age 20
Emma, wife, 73, married the first time at 18
Braidie, dau, 33

Ziba is buried Fayetteville Community Cemetery, Lawrence Co, IN. Daughter Brada has a joint marker with him - she died in 1938.

Birth	29 Apr 1841
Death	19 May 1937

Father	William W. ADAMSON (1800 - 1896)
Mother	Susannah Mahala Chesnut (1810 - 1887)
Sibling	Mahala H. Adamson (1826 - 1884)
Sibling	Rachel W. Adamson (1828 - 1902)
Sibling	Julia E. Adamson (1832 - )
Sibling	Thomas Marion Adamson (1835 - 1901)
Sibling	William Benjamin Adamson (1838 - 1905)
Sibling	Anza-Letta Adamson (1844 - 1891)
Sibling	Marshall F. "Frank" Adamson (1849 - 1905)