by Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
The public can be fickle.
Joshua Adams, the first Sarnia Mayor to be defeated at the polls, found that out the hard way.
Mayor Adams, who was elected the community’s fifth Chief Magistrate in 1862, started out as an exceedingly popular politician. But he was turfed out of office at the end of his second term after becoming embroiled in a road building scandal.
Not much is known about his early life but Mayor Adams, a lawyer by profession, had a good reputation when he was first elected.
In fact, The Observer gave him a ringing endorsement when he ran for Mayor after two years on Council. “The only name we have yet heard mentioned in connection with the Mayoralty – that is the only one whom we would consider qualified to perform the duties satisfactorily – is that of Joshua Adams,” it said.
“He held the office of Councillor for the middle ward in 1859 and 1860; and we have no hesitation in saying, that a better Councillor there was not in the lot. He made a point to attend to the duties of the office regularly and was a thorough economist in everything relating to the financial affairs of the Town”.
Mayor Adams won the election handily, beating Alfred Fisher, a doctor, by 146 votes to 68.
Soon after he took office, the new Mayor was faced with something of a law-and-order crisis.
According to The Observer, the community was being terrorized by “the disorderly conduct of gangs of young ruffians, who have made it their business to annoy respectable people, especially females, who have occasion to be out after dark. The conduct of the young vagabonds has been so outrageous of late, as to render it necessary absolutely that it be put a stop to”.
Mayor Adams and his Council moved quickly to take back the night, hiring a police constable specifically to patrol the streets after dark. Following that, Council hired a Town Marshall, agreeing to pay him $700.00 a year.
Next he tackled the problem of dogs roaming the streets by giving police the authority to shoot unmuzzled canines seen running at large.
The measure may seem harsh today, but The Observer backed him, saying “it cannot be denied, even by the most inveterate dog-fancier, that the hordes of useless curs which infest our streets are a positive nuisance”.
Mayor Adams fell out of favour when he ignored Council’s instructions about who to appoint to a Board responsible for upgrading Town streets, deciding instead to select his own people.
In a letter to the editor, a ratepayer said the Mayor was attempting to have Mitton and Lochiel Streets planked in order to benefit a small number of rich people.
The Observer joined in the outcry, accusing Mayor Adams of “Illegal” conduct.
He lost the 1863 election to Robert Mackenzie by 170 votes to 90.
Mayor Adams lived in Sarnia, along with his wife, the former Harrietta Carmon, for nearly 30 years after leaving office.