2018 Spring Newsletter

DEATH OF A GOOD MAN The death of Father Adair, one of Miami County’s old est settlers and best citizens, occurred Tuesday, De cember 27, at his old homestead, one mile west of Osawatomie, where he resided almost continuously since 1855. Of recent years he grew quite feeble and his son Charles and family lived with him, cared for him and managed the farm. Rev. Samuel L. Adair was born in Ross Co. Ohio, April 22, 1811. Until he was seventeen years of age he lived on a farm. He served a five years’ apprenticeship at wagon making and blacksmithing. At the age of twen ty-two he entered the Western Reserve College, but on account of his pronounced anti-slavery views, he left the college and completed his studies, graduating in 1838. He also took a regular course at the Congre gational theological college and was ordained a minis ter of the gospel in 1841. Rev. Adair was married at Hudson, Ohio, November 24, 1841, to Florella Brown, daughter of Owen Brown, the champion of freedom. He first preached at San dyville and Bolivar, Ohio from where he removed to Dundee, Michigan, preaching there two and one half years. In 1845 he went to Maumee City, where he spent five years, during two of which he was princi ple of the schools. Removing from there to LaFayette, Ohio, he filled the pulpit for five years and in the fall of 1854 started for Kansas, spending the winter in Kanas City. The following year he came to this county and pre-empted the claim where he died. He organized the Congregational church of Osawatomie in 1856 and was its pastor continuously for thirty-eight years.

At the battle of Osawatomie he and John Brown were in the midst of the fight. He experienced all the hard ships of the early border warfare, and during the late war he was appointed by the government chaplain of the general hospital of Kansas, serving two years. He was trustee for the Osawatomie insane asylum from 1867 to 1873. In 1876 he was appointed chaplain of the asylum, serving in that capacity many years. Rev. Adair’s entire life was spent in doing good for his fellow men, and while he was not rich in earthly possessions, he was richer than any, and earned the reward that is in store for him. Mrs. Adair died in Leavenworth in 1865, while Rev. Adair was in that city on business in connection with Christian work. The funeral services were held in his church at Osawat omie Wednesday afternoon. He leaves three children, Charles S. Adair and Mrs. J. B. Remington of Osawat omie and Mrs. Thomas Fleming of Williams, Arizo na. From Maimi Republican, December 30, 1898, p.3. The following articles first appeared in a Miami County Historical Quarterly Twenty-Two years ago.

Samuel Adair and wife, Florella

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