Thanks, Bucknut - no proof of where it is from, but here's some info. The 1910 Census for Van Wert shows John Adams as a retail merchant - tobacco. I can't find him or his wife, Mearl, in the 1900 Census. In 1910 they have two daughters, Wyona, 12, and Margie, 7.
The 1915 Lima, OH City Directory shows John Q. Adams - bartender. It is the same guy because the directory shows his wife's name as Mearl.
John Q. Adams registered for the draft in WWI - he said he was born 22 Jun 1875, his wife's name was Merl(sic), he resided at 414 N. Cherry in Van Wert, and that he was disabled due to consumption (tuberculosis).
The 1920 Census shows Mearl as a widow, with her younger daughter, Margie, both living with the older daughter Wyona and her husband David Marshal.
John Quincy Adams (1876 - 1919) - Find A Grave Memorial is the record of John Quincy Adams and Mearl Adams burial and also shows a photo of him. He died 29 Jan 1919 in Van Wert.
This is the end of the road for my research from this distance. I'd recommend you take a few hours off from detecting (say on a rainy day) and visit the Brumback Library and see if they have the Van Wert newspapers on microfilm for his death date and several issues thereafter. There may be an obituary or news article about his death that would tell about his career. While there, see if they have City Directories for the period 1900 - 1915. If so, see if he can be found, hopefully as proprietor of the Oak Saloon.
Of course, all of this may be barking up the wrong (Oak) tree and the token may be from elsewhere. Keep us posted with your research.
John in the Great 208