Greene Clay Adkins (1837 - 1917)

ADKINS, SHIELDS

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 12/17/2020 at 14:15:26

Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Lewis Publishing July 1886, Chicago, Page 433

GREENE C. ADKINS, son of the late Wyatt Adkins, was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, September 1, 1837. He was reared on the homestead farm in his native county, and there attended the log-cabin subscription schools, with puncheon floor, split-log seats, greased paper for windows, and clapboard roof. In 1856 he came with his parents to Doyle Township, Clarke county, which has since been his home. In May 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and was taken prisoner at the siege of Corinth. He was discharged on account of disability in November 1862. In August 1863, he re-enlisted in Company H, Iowa Calvary, and was in the service till February 1866. He commanded a company of twenty-seven men at Gun Springs, Arkansas, fourteen of whom were killed or wounded. The rest were taken prisoners with the exception of Mr. Adkins, who managed to escape that time. He was taken prisoner in May, and confined in a negro jail in Jackson, Mississippi. The prisoners were taken to Pearl River to Bathe, and while returning from the river our subject picked up a railroad spike which he concealed under his clothes. With this spike, they managed to pry off a board, then tunneled through a brick wall twenty inches in thickness, and after climbing twenty seven feet down a tarred rope, six of them escaped, but three were afterward caught by bloodhounds. Mr. Adkins and two other prisoners reached the river, and while an old rebel was praying, our subject stole his skiff, with which they managed to reach the mouth of Black River, where they were picked up by a Union vessel. Mr. Adkins was united in marriage August 27, 1863, to Catherine Shields, a daughter of John Shields, who is now deceased. They have five children-Elmer, Wilham, Laura, Cora and Lizzie. Mr. Adkins is one of the prosperous farmers of Doyle Township, and is also a successful stock-raiser. He has a well cultivated farm on section 4, Doyle Township, where he resides, which contains 340 acres. Mr. Adkins is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been a member of the Christian church for the past twenty-nine years.