Mr.Adams was a mechanic, and had learned the trades of shoemaking, harness-making, and tinsmithing during the days of slavery.

He had never been to school a day in his life, but in some way he had learned to read and write while a slave.

From the first, these two men saw clearly what my plan of education was, sympathized with me, and supported me in every effort.

In the days which were darkest financially for the school, Mr.Campbell was never appealed to when he was not willing to extend all the aid in his power.

I do not know two men, one an ex-slaveholder, one an ex-slave, whose advice and judgment I would feel more like following in everything which concerns the life and development of the school at Tuskegee than those of these two men.
I have always felt that Mr.Adams, in a large degree, derived his unusual power of mind from the training given his hands in the process of mastering well three trades during the days of slavery.