He was born in Belleville, New Jersey on March 23, 1885. He had a brother, Benjamin Willard Adams, also an Olympic athlete. In 1908 he finished fifth in the triple jump competition as well as in the standing high jump event. In the standing long jump competition he finished sixth. He also participated in the discus throw event and in the Greek discus contest but in both events his result is unknown.

Four years later he won the gold medal in the standing high jump and the silver medal in the standing long jump. In 1912 he also finished fifth in the triple jump competition and 23rd in the high jump event. At the same Olympics he competed in the baseball event which was held as demonstration sport.

A resident of South Orange, New Jersey, Adams was serving in the New Jersey General Assembly when he was named as the state’s Chief Boxing Inspector in March 1923.  He died at his home in the Normandy Beach section of Toms River, New Jersey on February 27, 1961.