W. I. Lincoln Adams

Washington Irving Lincoln Adams (February 22, 1865 – January 20, 1946) was an American printing and photography businessman, banker, soldier, and Republican Party politician from Montclair, New Jersey.

He was a leading businessman in the printing and photography industry, founding Ansco and leading the development of celluloid film. In 1912, he ran unsuccessfully for New Jersey's 10th congressional district. He was a direct descendant of Henry Adams, who settled in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1636, and through him, related to the Adams political family.

In 1916, Adams served as a presidential elector, casting his vote for the Republican ticket of Charles Evans Hughes and Charles W. Fairbanks. He was an unsuccessful candidate for elector in 1932.

In 1932, Adams was elected to the Montclair town commission and served until 1936.

Military service In 1916, Adams was active in organizing a battalion of volunteers for World War I in Montclair. He attended the citizens' training camp at Plattsburgh, New York. He completed a course as a member of Company F, Seventh Regiment and successfully passed the War Department examinations for a commission as a U.S. Army major in the reserve corps. He was called to active duty from August 18 to 20, 1918. He was also a member of the Huguenot Society of America, the Society of the War of 1812, the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, the New England Society, the St. Nicholas Society, the General Society of Colonial Wars, the New York City Republican Club, the Freemasons, and the Union League Club.