My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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THE ADAIR FAMILY. The Adairs are among the oldest families of Graves County. They came originally from Ireland, and settled in one of the Atlantic States a number of years before the war of the Revolution. The family originally settled in South Carolina, where James Adair, grandfather of Turner Adair, distinguished himself in the war of Independence as a member of the celebrated Marion’s band. Late in life he settled in Alabama, where he died about the year 1839 or 1840. His son, John Adair. was left an orphan, when but three weeks old, by the death of his mother. He made his home with the families of his aunt and grandfather, and at an early age was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, which he followed all his life. He was married in 1820 to Margaret Wilson, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Wilson, by whom he had thirteen children, whose names are as follows: James McConathy, Elizabeth, Jane, Turner, Martha C., Sarah A., James H., S. B., John P., Joseph B., Margaret P., Mary P. and Virginia P. In the year 1830 Mr. Adair came to Graves County, Ky., and settled in Lynnville Precinct on the place where his widow now resides. He died June 4, 1878. Turner Adair, third child of John Adair, and eldest member of the family now living, was born in 1825 in Lawrence District, S. C. He remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself, which occupation he continued until 1849, when he joined a company of young men as daring as himself, and made an overland trip to California for the purpose of engaging in mining. He participated in all the active scenes of that exciting period, and was fairly successful in his quest of fortune. He returned home in 1858, and at once resumed farming, which he still follows. Mr. Adair has never married, and at the present time lives with his mother on the old homestead.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in the Graves County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Graves County, Kentucky family biographies here: Graves County, Kentucky Biographies

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