Johan Hora Adema served as mayor in three different municipalities. He also served as a captain in the Grenadiers and Rifles Regiment. In 1870, he married Lucia Aurelia Bergsma Fruitier de Talma from Friesland, with whom he had four children. Hora Adema was mayor of the municipality of Aalten from 1886 to 1888.
Festive arrival in Aalten
In 1886, Hora Adema was appointed mayor of Aalten, succeeding L. Roelvink. A festive arrival was organised to mark his appointment. There was a competition for the finest triumphal arch, and throughout the village people worked hard to give the new mayor a fitting welcome.
The day of his arrival was exceptionally warm and celebratory; almost everyone was out on the streets. The new town father was driven through Aalten in a carriage. At each triumphal arch, the carriage halted so he could read the inscriptions displayed on them. The triumphal arch in Dijkstraat was particularly outstanding. It read:
“Wees welkom J. Hora Adema,
Voor U is deze boog geplant.
Bestuur, beheer voor aller eer
Dit dorp in ons vaderland.”
(Welcome J. Hora Adema, / For you this arch is raised. / Govern, manage to everyone’s honour / This village in our fatherland.)
The creators of this triumphal arch received first prize. The new mayor took up residence on Landstraat.
Mayor in three municipalities
Hora Adema served successively as mayor of the municipalities of Aalten (1886–1888), Hengelo (1888–1891), and Harlingen (1896–1914).
He was succeeded as mayor of Aalten by Jonkheer Georg Ludwig Carl Heinrich Baud.