Source: 1885 History of Steuben County, IN p.561

Adam Failing the fourth of a family of five children of Thomas and Catherine (Klock) Failing, was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., and was a child when his parents moved to Steuben County, Ind. He was reared on a frontier farm, receiving his education in common schools. He was married Nov. 23, 1876 to Susannah Gridey, who was born in Penn., Dec. 25,1855 a daughter of John and Susannah Gridey, natives of Penn., the father born in Dauphin County and the mother in Huntington County. His parents came to Steuben County in 1860, and here the mother still lives and the father died. Nine of their eleven children lived till maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Failing have been born two children - Edna Pearl, born Nov. 16, 1878 and Inez J., born Nov. 11, 1880, died in Oct. 1881.

Mr. Failing has been identified with Steuben County the most of his life and has assisted materially in advancing all interests of benefit to the community. He owns 804 acres of valuable land in Jamestown Township, 400 acres being under cultivation. He is a man of fine address and good business abilities and is one of the leading citizens of the county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, and the Grange of Jamestown.