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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi you all<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you had a problem with the links in the first message, I’m sending out this second version with no links. I understand that the first message I sent, for some of you, had broken links; the text was copied and pasted in. I normally will not forward on an original message that I get as a member from a membership list; I signed up to receive them. Though I know the Blind History Lady wants her stories to be shared. And hey, you all can join in on her list to receive them, too; and get the links to other places that she guides her membership to. I’ll leave her contact information at the bottom of this message; call her up or email her!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Okay: below is just the text from the original message; enjoy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today I want to introduce to you another blind ancestor who pursued many occupations and inspired many others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many times, we hear from a newly blinded person that they never heard of another blind person before or had a blind family member. Sometimes, we just have not looked through the thick leaves to other branches of our family tree. This family did. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jesse Austin Adams was born near Coffeeville, Mississippi on December 10, 1876. He was the son of James Adams and Catherine Beulah Gore, a cousin to the historic yet-to-be, famous blind U. S. Senator Thomas Prior Gore of Oklahoma. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the age of ten months he lost his sight as the result of an attack of spinal meningitis. The family were very sad yet treated him and expected their son to be a normal boy. Until he was twelve, he attended the local public school with his brother and sister.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the age of 12 his family sent Jesse to the School for the Blind in Jackson, Mississippi about 130 miles away. Jesse became proficient in braille. He learned the trades of the blind at that school such as music and broom making. After the school for the blind he attended a local High School and graduated from there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He established a broom business after graduation near his family home in Coffeeville, which he was forced to abandon after two years due to ill health. He worked temporarily as a salesman for a piano firm. With the funds he earned Jesse took a law course. Eventually he read law with a friend but was unable to continue through lack of funds. Next he gave private music lessons beginning in 1905 in McCarley, Carroll County MS. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jesse grew to be a tall, slender man with brown hair and blue eyes. In 1908 Jesse married Miss Ableecy Ray of Bellefontaine, a schoolteacher. They had two daughters. Daughter Jessie was born in 1919 and Katie was born in 1927. The two managed a large general farm in Montgomery County for more than twelve years. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Farming could support the family, but Jesse wanted more. He served as Postmaster at Sweatman, Montgomery County where their farm was located. He was active in his church. Jesse had a hobby of raising thoroughbred collies. Although he loved dogs, he did not use a dot as a travel aid. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In 1912, he began teaching public school four miles north of McCarley. An interesting feature of his teaching career is the fact that he was forced to teach without payment during the first term, in order to convince the authorities that his blindness was no handicap. After he proved himself, he taught school for several years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>His cousin Thomas Prior Gore of Oklahoma had won the U. S. Senate seat in 1907. This may have been an inspiration for young Jesse to get involved in politics himself. Jesse used his connection to the famous blind senator in his biographies while in public office. The name Thomas Gore was no stranger to the Mississippi house of Representatives. While the father, Thomas Gore served as a state representative, his blind son, Thomas Gore served as a page. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In November of 1919, he was elected to the state legislature of Mississippi, as the Democratic representative from Montgomery county. He won his election over four opponents. He was elected again to the house in 1924. In 1928, he ran for the Senate seat for his district and won. After he was elected to the House of Representatives, his father-in-law, now a widow, came to live with them and helped on the farm. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Early on in his first term of his legislative career, he was appointed as a trustee of the Mississippi Blind Institution. He served on that board until his death. By 1935, he served as Executive Secretary of that institution. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He also served as a role model for Jesse J. Brough, a partially blind man who won a seat in the Mississippi State House in November of 1923. But to be clear, Jesse was not the first blind man to serve in the state house. In 1884, James Clemens was elected to the house. Mr. Clemens was the editor of the Mississippi Sun and justice of the Peace in his home community but died in 1909. It is not clear if Jesse knew of the history of Mr. Clemens and able to use him as a role model. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jesse passed away in 1940. Little is left of his story to tell. If not for one or two news articles, he may have been lost in the fallen leaves of time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To schedule a presentation or join my list, contact me at theblindhistorylady@gmail.com or call 303-745-0473.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Robert Leslie Newman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBN Senior Division, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Second Vice President, NFB Seniors Division<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>