Adams, Charles R. (Feb. 9, 1834 - July 4, 1900), opera singer, was born in Charlestown, Mass., the son of Charles and Eliza Ann (Runey) Adams--the father, who was a farmer, being a Mayflower descendant and the mother being descended from at least two previous generations of American-born. Both families had fought in the Revolution. Several of the eight children became choir singers and frequently sang together at home. Since Charles, the eldest, manifested unusual musical ability and possessed a voice of natural beauty, he began his musical studies at an early age, having as teachers, Edwin Bruce, Madame Arnault, and R. Mulder, all of Boston. His smooth, strong tenor voice made him a favorite concert singer and he decided to follow music as a profession. In 1856 he sang the tenor part in The Creation with the...