Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Rufus Nathaniel Adair

Male 1884 - 1959  (74 years)


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  • Name Rufus Nathaniel Adair 
    Born 16 Sep 1884  Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 28 Apr 1959  Farmington, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 30 Apr 1959  Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloomfield, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I648  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father George Washington Adair,   b. 27 Jun 1837, , Pickens, Alabama, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Sep 1909, Hammond, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Mother Emily Prescinda Tyler,   b. 28 Jan 1847, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Mar 1917, Hammond, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married 28 Jan 1864  of Washington, Washington, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F448  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Nellie Reid,   b. 3 Dec 1894, Wellington, Carbon, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Aug 1934, Durango, La Plata, Colorado, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 39 years) 
    Married 17 May 1910  Aztec, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F492  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Bonita Katherine Christine Schuetz or Sheetz,   b. 17 Jan 1899, Colorado City, El Paso, Colorado, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Apr 1996, Bloomfield, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 97 years) 
    Married 25 Mar 1936  Fruitland, San Juan, New Mexico, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F490  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Per website http://home.att.net/~dtadair/georgewashingtonadair.html: "His birthdate was Sep. 25, 1884. Rufus was married to Nellie Reid. They were the parents of Ina Ruth, Clarence W., Rufus Corwyn, Don Carlos, Nellie Percinda, Goldie Leroy, George William, Florence Irene, Lillian Irene, Floyd Gilbert. He passed away on April 28, 1959."

      2. Censuses:
      1900 US: San Juan County, New Mexico, Precinct No. 6 Bloomfield (Hammond), 22 Jun 1900, p. 210a, family 133:
      George W. Adair, June 1837, 63, md. 36 years, AL NC AL, farmer.
      Emily, wife, Jan 1847, 53, md. 36 years, IA NY NY.
      William A., son, Feb 1872, 28, div., UT AL IA, farm laborer.
      Joseph W., son, Jun 1881, 19, sing., AZ AL IA, farm laborer.
      Rufus N., son, Sep 1884, 15, sing., AZ AL IA, farm laborer.
      Edna I., dau., Jan 1887, 13, sing., AZ AL IA, at school.

      3. Norma Entrekin, granddaughter, has provided me a family group sheet for the family of Rufus and Nellie with data and photos of all of their children. I have this on file with Geo. W. Adair's information.

      4. Unpublished paper "Hammond History" by Don Smith of Bloomfield, New Mexico is a history of the Hammond, New Mexico where George Adair and his son George Adair, Jr. were part of the two dozen or so LDS families who settled in the area in the late 1890's. Many had come from the White Mountain and Apache County area of Arizona. I have a copy of this history on file. The area was first settled by nonmembers of the LDS Church and was kind of a rough area at first. The area is on the San Juan river and was attractive because of the irrigation possibilities. The Hammond Ward was organized on 25 Nov 1900. George Adair, Jr. was named to the bishopric to replace second counselor Joseph W. White when White moved from the area a couple of months or so after the ward organization. The irrigation ditch was problematic with many flash floods continually washing away parts of it. So many families had moved away from the area by 1913, that the ward became a branch of the Western States Mission for the next several years. Don has copies of the ward and branch records and it appears therefrom that the Adairs were active members. In the very early days of the ward, Sunday services were held in the various homes of the ward members. In 1914, after about 14 years, a new church house was built. It was small and built of cedar posts set upright in the ground,then stuccoed with adobe mud. This little building served for church, school, community meetings, and a dance hall. It was so small that there was only room normally for a stove, 12 student desks, and the teacher's desk. For dances, the men would have to take turns in the building. School was normally held for four months a year. The children were taught by some teachers who had but eight years formal education or less. Some of the students had to walk or ride horse back as far as five miles to attend school. Recreational activities in Hammond were humble affairs. There were dances, house parties, and outdoor affairs such as baseball and footraces. Dances were a favorite recreation since they didn't cost much except for the passing around of a mason jar for donations to pay the local fiddler. Often there would be two or three dances a week. Even the little kids danced, but when it became too late the kids were put to bed in the wagon boxes while the adults continued to dance. One of the fiddlers was George Adair's son Rufus. Don Smith's son Grant still has the old fiddle in his possession as of 2003. The old leather case in which the fiddle was carried is very weathered and worn from being hooked to the saddle horn and rubbed back and forth on the side of the horse as Rufus rode horseback to play for the dances. In the summer, normally picnics were held in a large grove of cottonwood trees by the river. Every Fourth of July would be celebrated with camping in the grove in their wagons on the evening of the third. At daybreak campfires were built and the celebration began. In the mornings there would be an outdoor dance followed by pot luck at noon followed by baseball in the afternoon. There was always a patriotic talk by a member of the ward. The festivities would end with a dance lasting well into the night. The irrigation ditch never could bring enough land under cultivation and was constantly rebuilt for 20 or more years before being given up on. The water from the river was very muddy and usually had to be settled before being used domestically. The old timers used to say that "the water was too thick to pour but too thin to cut with a knife." Homes were painted with a mixture of water and soft rock mica. The mica was dug from the hillsides, washed clean, then put in an oven to bake. After baking, it was ground into a fine powder and mixed with water and applied to the walls. This homemade paint gave the homes a beautiful glitter. There never was a post office in Hammond and so they would go up the river to Largo. The water supply was always a problem leading to poor crops; consequently, the men would often go find work outside of the community. Some went to Colorado to work the timber and in the mills. Others helped lay track from Durango to Farmington for the Denver Rio Grande Southern Railroad. Some of the old ward minutes in Farmington refer to times when most all of the men of the ward were gone. In one case in 1909, there was only one brother left temporarily and he did all the ward [home] teaching by himself. In Hammond in 1909, priesthood quorum meetings were held Monday evenings every week. By 1928, most of the Hammond settlers due to hardships and hard times had given up and moved away. Rufus Adair was one who remained. Later in 1928, Hammond was combined with Bloomfield and was organized as the Bloomfield Branch which was in turn a dependent branch of the Burnham Ward in Kirtland. All that is left of the settlement is one old home from 1893 and the Hammond cemetery with a few old stones and at least twenty unmarked graves. George and Emily Tyler Adair are buried in this cemetery. George Jr. is also buried in Hammond and Rufus is buried in Farmington.

      5. From Don and Carolyn Smith, 2003, about Clarence Adair, son of Rufus Adair and Nellie Reid:
      "Clarence "W" Adair Obituary given at his funeral on September 22nd 1981.
      Clarence " W " Adair was born on April 21, 1911 to Rufus N. Adair and Nellie Reid at Hammond, New Mexico. When he was a small Child, his family moved to Myers Canyon, located a few miles north of Chaco Canyon National Monument. His father was in the cattle business with Joe Adair, Clarence's uncle. When Clarence was 14 years old, his family moved to Bluff City, Utah in a team and wagon. They spent the winter there and then moved on to New Harmony, Utah. Their livelihood was earned by herding goats. In 1926 they returned to the Bloomfield area where they thrashed beans on several different farms. They then rented a ranch from the Durango Trust Company to supplement their livelihood. Clarence and his brother Corwyn trapped muskrats in the river bottoms and coyotes in the Kutz Canyon Badlands. They sold the hides to traders in the area and on one occasion sold a number of coyote pelts for four ten dollar gold pieces.
      When Clarence was 22 years old his mother passed away leaving him and his brother Corwyn the responsibility of helping to raise the smaller Children.
      On June 2nd 1936 he married Helen Malen Seitzinger in Aztec New Mexico. He bought Helen a wedding ring for $6.50 and paid the judge $2.50 to perform the ceremony. After the wedding they went to the movie. Their first residence was a little farm 2 ½ miles east of Bloomfield, where Clarence farmed for one year. They then moved to Bloomfield where he ran a service station. At this time their first 2 children, Jimmy and Helen Louise were born.
      When World War II began Clarence and his family moved to Provo, Utah where he served an apprenticeship with Geneva Steele. While living in Provo, a daughter, Carolyn was born. Two years later they decided to move to Tennessee. As they came through Bloomfield to tell Papa and Granny goodbye they were persuaded to stay. Clarence started his own business . The Bloomfield Welding Company and the following year he built a home on the Blanco Highway, east of Bloomfield. In the following years their family was expanded by the births of Roselynn and Robin.
      One of the highlights of Clarence's life was getting together at Thanksgiving and Christmas with all his children and grandchildren. Clarence also enjoyed going to the cabin on the Wimenuch. Clarence was very proud of his family and never tired talking about them. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Left to mourn his passing is his wife, Helen, one son Jimmy of Bloomfield. Four daughters. Helen Louise Martin of Las Cruces. New Mexico, Carolyn Smith and Roselynn Dugger of Bloomfield and Robin Chavez of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Three brothers, Roy of Farmington, George of Las Cruces and Floyd (Doc) of Bloomfield. Three sisters, Nellie of Bloomfield, Florence Nacci of Cranston, Rhode Island and Ilene Cameron of Big Piney, Wyoming. 14 grandchildren also mourn his passing. Clarence was preceded in death by two brothers, Corwyn and Don and one sister Ina Ruth."

      6. From Norma Entrekin [nje@mindspring.com] 14 Oct 2005. Floyd G Adair recently died. He was the youngest son of Rufus N. Adair and Nellie Reid Adair and grandson of G. W. Adair and Emily Tyler Adair. My Aunt Audry, his wife, has written a nice story of his life. It is not finished yet and she will add to it later, and put in a book:
      "Life & Times of Floyd Gilbert "Doc" Adair
      Floyd G. "Doc" Adair
      June 20, 1932-Sept. 22, 2005
      Floyd G. "Doc" Adair went to his Heavenly Father and on to the next step in his eternal progression after a lengthily illness at age of 73 at the family home in Bloomfield. Born in Bloomfield, he was the youngest of ten children born to Rufus N. and Nellie Reid Adair. His people were some of the original Mormon pioneers that came across the plains to help settle southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico in the 1800s.
      Elder James McDaniel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blessed Floyd Oct. 2, 1932 Signed by Paul B. Palmer, Bishop & Frank Palmer, Clerk. Recorded The Farmington Ward record of children Book # 296.
      He was baptism July 5, 1941 by Elder Joel W. Norton in the irrigation ditch north of the S curve on Blanco Hwy. Confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 6, 1941 by Elder Delbert Harris. Signed E. A. Taylor, Bishop - Samuel Lewis, Clerk - Farmington Ward Young Stake.
      Floyd lived within a three mile radius of the house where he was born all his life, except the two years he was in the U.S. Army. Floyd was born just before the beginning of the Great Depression, but said it never affected his family, because they lived on a farm, and living on a farm there were lots of Blue John milk.
      Floyd's mother died when he was two years old. She left behind three young daughters an older daughter and older sons. After Nellie's death, the three young girls, Florence "Toots", Ilene & Ina Ruth went to Pinetop, Arizona to stay with Rufus brother, Uncle John & Aunt Cynthia Adair. Ilene said they were there about 18 months before returning to Bloomfield.
      Rufus married Nita Seitzinger, March of 1936, that was when the three girls came back to Bloomfield. While the young girls were in Pinetop, Floyd's oldest sister, Nellie and the older brothers Clarence and Don took care of him. Upon the return of the girls, Ina Ruth was also in the care of Nellie and the brothers.
      Then Floyd, Ina Ruth, Nellie and Don lived in a small house by Blanco Hwy. Rufus & Nita lived in another house about ¼ mile south from them. Don would find work on farms or other places to help to support the four of them. Most times, he worked for a dollar a day. They lived this way until Don received his notice of draft into the U.S. Army. About this time, Nellie married and moved to Arizona.
      Floyd and Ina Ruth then went to live with Rufus & Nita. Floyd worked hard on the farm, Nita made sure everyone was busy. Rufus would keep Floyd out of school many times, so he could work on the farm. Therefore, Floyd went through only the eighth grade. He received his eight-grade diploma in May of 1949 just before he turned 17 years old. His teacher wanted him to go on the high school, but he felt like he was so much older than the rest of the kids. So he did not continue.
      One of Floyd's best friends while growing up was Marion Cordova. They lived across the road from each other on Blanco Hwy. When Floyd was not working on the farm, he was with Marion. If you saw, one you would see the other one.
      Floyd went to the old Rio Vista school just north of where Helen & Clarence lived and where Carolyn & Don Smith garden area is now.
      One of Floyd's teachers was Kathryn Crandel now known as Kathryn Morris of our ward. Clarence was on the school board at the time Kathryn was hired. There was one teacher for eight grades in a two-room schoolhouse. Floyd also went to school with his nephew Jimmy who was five years younger than he was. Jimmy was Clarence & Helen's oldest child and another of Floyd's best friends.
      When Floyd was about seven or eight, Nita's mother was living in a small house close to Nita and Rufus so the family could take care of her. One of Floyd's jobs was the take meals to her. This one winter morning when he went to give her breakfast, she was not there. He ran back to let the family know. Then he set out following the footsteps in the snow, found her tangled up in some barbwire that was around an old cotton wood tree. She had frozen to death.
      Rufus had about 10 milk cows, Floyd had to be up early each morning and then every evening to help with the milking. Some times Nita would help and other times it was Ilene. They sold the milk to Creamland Dairy. A truck would come to the farm each morning to pick up the milk. Then Creamland Dairy decided they wanted the only the cream so Rufus had to buy a separate. The only thing was, they could not get enough cream to make it worthwhile for Creamland Dairy to drive the few extra miles to pick up the cream. Rufus talked to State Policeman Andrews about getting a driving permit so Floyd would be able to drive. He was about 14 years old at the time. When the 5-gallon milk can was full of cream; Floyd would load it into a 1939 Ford coup and head toward Farmington. A Creamland truck would meet him at what is now Salmon Ruins. He would trade a full can of cream for an empty 5-gallon can. He said he did this two or three times a week. Floyd said he sure got tired of drinking Blue John milk.
      He said some times when Nita & Rufus were gone he and Ina Ruth would go their house and get some of the cream for themselves. They would find the can of cocoa and some sugar to mix with the rich cream. That was their treat.
      Floyd talked about the days on the farm and how he would gather the cows from the swamp and how afraid he was when it was raining and lighting. He & Ina Ruth loved to ride the horse bare back in the fields. One time while riding bare back on a horse, Floyd was on the front and Ina Ruth behind him, without care in the world just enjoying the day Ina Ruth started slipping and pulled Floyd with her, he fell on her breaking her right arm.
      Floyd has a 6" scar on the outside of his right calf. He said he was climbing an apple tree and fell out landing on some barbwire. He did not notice it right away, but while walking he felt some thing wet in his shoe. Looked down, blood was soaking his pants. The apple trees were close to the house where Rufus & Nita lived. He ran back to the house where he lived. Nellie poured flour on the cut to stop the bleeding then wrapped his leg. As large as the scar is it should have had stitches, but going to the doctor was out of the question at that time.
      Another time he was chopping wood bare footed when he brought the ax down and hit his big toe. Curly Wilcox's dad (Floyd could not remember his name) was on horseback, coming to see Rufus. When he saw what happened he rode to the house and told Rufus & Clarence. They loaded Floyd in Clarence's car, and this time took him to the doctors in Farmington. Floyd said he was crying so hard, begging Clarence not to let the doctor cut off his toe. Floyd always looked up to his big brother and knew Clarence would help him. The doctor stitched his toe and wrapped it up. (When asking Floyd whom he admired most in his life, he said his brother Clarence).
      Another of Floyd's job on the farm was driving a team of mules to bring hay in from the Alfalfa pasture. His niece, Carolyn Smith recalls, "As a little girl, I spent lots of hours sitting in an old rope swing that was in a big cottonwood tree in Papa and Granny's back yard. Haying was one of my favorite times. I used to sit in the swing and watch Papa or Uncle Floyd drive the team and wagon in the field. As he drove the wagon up and down the field, hired hands with pitchforks would pitch the hay onto the flat bed of the wagon. When it was loaded, the wagon taken back into the barnyard where it was unloaded. I was always fascinated by the way, the hay seemed to miraculously roll up the haystack and stop in just the right place. Since then my Uncle Floyd has explained how it came about. They laid a chain across the bed of the wagon, and then hay was loaded on top of the chain. When the wagon was full, the team would pull it into the barnyard where they attached end of the chain to a tractor on the other side of the haystack. The tractor would start to pull, and the hay would start to roll up the stack guided with ropes on each side by two men. When the hay reached the spot on the stack where it needed to go, the men would drop the ropes and the hay would stop rolling and settle where it was supposed to be."
      In the winter, Rufus would shoot a hog for butchering. There would be several people working on this job. They would drag the hog to where a 50-gallon barrel was heating on an open fire. Above the barrel were some cross poles. Two poles buried in the ground about 12 feet apart leaving 15 feet above ground each pole were 12 to 15'' a round. Laid across the poles was a 4X4 board 12' long. They tied a rope around the hind legs and hoisted up the hog with a rope. It took three or four men to get it up and into the hot water. They would dunk the hog in the hot water then test to see if the hair would come lose. If it did, they laid it on a slab. Floyd would take a butcher knife and help scrape the hair off the hog. Rufus would give the head to Lohman's who lived just east of them. Carolyn Lohman would make head cheese to be shared by everyone.
      Wintertime was when they butchered the hogs, the stream and smell was so bad it took Floyd about three months before he could eat any part of it.
      Floyd loved playing baseball & softball. He was a pitcher for softball, pitched, and played shortstop for baseball. When asked he coached the girl's softball team.
      He managed a pool hall for his brother, George in a building just west of where the Motel 6 in Bloomfield stands today. There was not much business during the daytime, so the girls from school, Irene Pearce, Zela Rutledge & Dixie McDaniel came by the pool hall and asked him to coach their team. (When Pres. Spell heard this story, he teased Floyd & Dixie by asking if he also taught Dixie how to chew tobacco).
      Floyd was doing what he loved, coaching the girl's softball team & watching them. He was about 15 or 16 at the time.
      He dropped out of school before he was 17 years old because he had bigger and better things to do, so he thought.
      Most of Floyd's life he was called "Doc". In fact, most people did not know his real name was Floyd. Asked one time where the nickname came from he said he did not know some one just started calling him "Doc" and it stuck.
      Floyd "Doc" received his draft notice into the U.S. Army January 1953 in Bloomfield at age 20 years old during in Korea War. Rufus told him he could get him out of the draft because he had three brothers served in World War II. Don was a Prison of War for three and half years and in the Bataan March. This horrible tragedy was also known as the "Death March" in the Philippine Islands. Rufus thought the family had all ready sacrificed enough for the country. Floyd asked Rufus not to do that because he felt he should serve his country, as it was his duty.
      "Doc" induced into active service January 20, 1953, at Albuquerque, NM. He went through basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Six weeks of infantry and six week of engineer training in second Platoon after which he had two weeks leave to come home. After his leave, "Doc" got on a bus out of Bloomfield, changed in Albuquerque. He was on a bus for five days & nights before arriving in Newark, New Jersey. While on the bus, he met a young man who had been attending college in Albuquerque. They traveled all the way to Newark where the young man home was.
      "Doc" was going on to report at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey but the young man invited him to come home with him and stay the night and he would take him to the base the next day. This was the first time Floyd had every seen a TV. Boy, was that an experience for him. The next weekend the family invited him to come and stay with them again before he shipped out to Germany.
      Floyd left on a troop ship he was worried about getting sea sick, but was lucky it did not affect him with the movement of the ship going up and down. Yet many of the service men on the ship were very ill.
      He was on the ship for seven days before arriving in Germany. Floyd saw the White Cliffs of Dover while going through the English Channel before docking in port of Germany. Before the ship arrived in port of Germany, the Koreans signed a peace treaty to end the war. "Doc" was very willing to serve his county, but more than grateful he did not have to fight like his brother, Don did.
      While in Germany, they gave him a choice of staying in the infantry or going to France to be in engineer. He knew he did not want in the infantry because he had been through six weeks training in the infantry. He chooses the engineer so he could go to France. Besides engineering was the closes thing he knew how to do. While in Bloomfield, he had worked on some construction jobs.
      Waiting for orders to come in at Headquarters Company the first day in Brossac, France, a private came through the barracks & asked if anyone would like to play softball. "Doc" jumped at the chance. Softball was something he was very good at and enjoyed playing. The team watched him pitch a few balls and asked if he was a pitcher. He said "Yes".
      They put him in the game to replace a Col. who was not a very good pitcher. First batter up was a Major who was getting home runs off the Col., "Doc" fanned the Major out.
      After the game, the team asks the Col. to let Doc stay in Headquarters Company and play softball. When "Doc's" orders came through the Colonel tore them up and put Doc in communication and that way he could play softball also.
      One winter day "Doc" went to the Rec. Hall Day Room were there were pool tables, Shuffle broad and other games. "Doc" had run a Pool Hall in Bloomfield in his teens so he knew how to care for the cue sticks. That day he put new tips on the pool cues and repaired the top of the pool tables so he could play game of pool. Another thing he enjoyed very much.
      After "Doc" had done all of this a Capt., came through the Day Room and asked who had repaired the cue sticks and tables. The men pointed to "Doc". The Capt. pulled "Doc" to one side and asked what needed to be done to get the service men to use the Day Room. "Doc" suggested a heater because it was wintertime and the men wanted a warm place to spent time.
      The Capt. asked "Doc" if he was interested in being responsible for the Day Room. "Doc" said, "Yes". The Captain took him out of Commutation and put him in charge of the Day Room. This meant cleaning the room and taking care of all the equipment.
      "Doc" took very good care of his responsible & the men started using the Day Room for games and writing letters home. He stayed in this position 15 mos., and then an upraising broke out in France because there was a lot of communist activity. He was relieved of duty in the Day Room and put back into commutation where he had his training. They were on call 24/7 for the next three months. He was in France 18 mos. before returning home.
      He had the experiences of his life; saw a lot of the country while in Europe. At this time, Pres. David O. McKay was the Prophet of the Church. "Doc" received magazines and paper from Salt Lake City.
      "Doc has said many times he was grateful for everything that took place while serving in the US Army, but doesn't want to do it every again. He met all kind of people and saw many interesting things, but very grateful for the freedom of his own country.
      Received a letter from Headquarters:
      Dear PFC Adair,
      As you return to civilian life, I wish to express my deep personal thanks for the devoted and unselfish services, which you have given to your country during a very critical time in its history. The pride, which must always be yours in the achievements and association, which you have made in the Army, is shared by this Command and by your countrymen.
      As we view the great responsibilities ahead, it is cause for proud confidence that we shall have deepened knowledge and experience of this great reservoir of trainer, loyal citizens to guide our Nation.
      Sincerely,
      Paul W. Rutledge
      Major General, USA
      Commanding
      "Doc" received the National Defense Service Medal and Transfer to Reserve Component 7 Dec. 1954 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Floyd Received Honorable Discharge from the United States Army Reserve 31 Dec. 1960.
      When "Doc" received his discharged, at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas returning home, by bus he said when the bus topped the hill south of Bloomfield and he saw the valley below he thought to himself "This is the most beautiful place on earth and I never want to leave it again."
      Floyd was home a very short time when he was offered a job with El Paso Natural Gas Company. Hubert Poage was superintendent at Blanco Plant in Bloomfield when Floyd came home from the Army. He knew Floyd was a good ballplayer. At that time, El Paso Natural Gas Company had a ball team. Mr. Poage asked him if he would like a job with El Paso so he could play ball for the team.
      This was January 1955 and Floyd had only been home a few days. Mr. Poage said, "Guess you would like to rest up for a week or so before you start working." Floyd said, "I can start right away." He started working for El Paso Natural Gas Company January 24, 1955.
      To start with, his job was working in the yard at the plant and playing softball on weekends. After a while, Floyd went to work in the plant as an oiler, then an operator. After a few years, he was promoted to Shift Supervisor.
      He worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company at Blanco Plant in Bloomfield for 32 years before retiring July 1, 1987.
      The same month and year he went to work for El Paso Gas, he met Audry Elliott on a double blind date. Audry's best friend, Zina Harrleson (later she married George Biggs) was friends with Ray Vaught and they sit up the dates. Zina was Floyd's date and Audry was Ray's. Floyd had a 1949 Ford he had bought after getting home from the Army. Floyd and Zina were in the front seat with Audry & Ray in the back seat. When Audry met Floyd he was introduced as Floyd instead of "Doc" so she all ways called him Floyd.
      Anyway, when Audry met him there was a spark between them. Audry felt like she was in the wrong seat. All evening she would pester Floyd, any thing to get his attention.
      The next day Floyd showed up at Purity Drug Store where Audry worked after school and on weekends. He asked her for a date and they dated for a few months. Audry loved roller-skating but Floyd would never skate. He would take her to the skating rink but no way was he going to skate.
      At this time, Audry was getting a lot of opposition from her family because she was only 16 and Floyd was nearly 23. Her family thought he was too old for her to date so they broke up.
      They went their separate ways and Audry married some one else which did not work out. While in this marriage, she had a son Richard. After a few years, she divorced and was back in Farmington. One day Floyd ran onto one of Audry's family friend who told Floyd she was back, this was January 1959. Floyd got her phone number from the friend and gave her a call. They started dating again, this time her family did not say any thing.
      By this time, Floyd had started roller-skating. Even bought a costly pair of shoes skates with the case. He and Jimmy would go skating. Most of their dates were at the skating ring with Jimmy Adair going with them. As soon as Floyd married Audry, he put his skates away and never put them on again. Audry says the only reason Floyd tried skating was because she loved it so much, and as soon as they married, he thought, "I've got her now and don't have to go skating again."
      Floyd and Audry married May 15 1959 by Justice of Peace in Aztec. This civil marriage was Witness by Floyd's nephew Jimmy Adair and Floyd sister, Florence "Toots" Nacci.
      Of this union, Pamela Nell Adair was born August 11, 1960 and Johnnie Nathaniel Adair was born September 11, 1963.
      Floyd had worked for El Paso over four years when they married so he was entitled to live in a company house. Floyd called Mr. Poage and asked for a house; Mr. Poage asked where he wanted to live. Floyd told him Blanco Plant. Mr. Poage had a family move to another plant so Floyd could get a company house. Two weeks after Audry and Floyd were married; they moved into a company house and lived there 26 years. Raised all three children on company ground then July 1983 bought a piece of land on Meadowland Lane Put a double wide mobile home on the land and was moved into the new home by July 5, 1985.
      Floyd looked forward to October each year because that was hunting season. He always had two weeks vacation to go deer hunting in Carson Forrest. A few years he went with his brother Clarence and nephew Jimmy. Then later he would take Audry and the kids for a weekend. She would bring the kids back home on Sunday evenings so they could be in school on Mondays and he would stay a few more day with others hunters. Even if he did not get a deer, he still enjoyed the camping.
      Audry & Floyd with the kids also enjoyed camping in the cottonwoods on the San Juan River. At that time, they could park their camper very close to the river. Most times, they would go with Audry's sisters Nancy & her family. Each family had a camper and camped together. The men would fish while the kids played in the water. Audry & Nancy would visit and crochet.
      Then they started going to South Fork, Colorado where Audry's Aunt Mae & Uncle Calvin ran Riverbend Resort. They would take the camper up on Memorial weekend for a few days than dry dock the camper for the summer. When every Floyd had a few days off and two weeks vacation, they would go back to South Fork. These were wonderful times. Floyd and Uncle Calvin would go fishing all day while Audry and Aunt Mae just enjoyed being together. Most summers some of Audry's family would be at Riverbend Resort at the same time. It was like a family reunion at time. Some of Audry's aunts, uncles, cousins and brother David would come from Texas to a cool place in Colorado and that just happened to be South Fork. At time, Nancy's family would also be there. They had great fish fries over an open campfire on the mountainside with lots of family. Labor Day weekend Floyd & Audry would go back to the resort, stay a few days then bring the camper back home.
      Johnnie and Pamela had a great time going down the river on inter tubes, getting soaked and laughing the whole time. Some times they would climb down the mountain go into Fun Valley the back way. Fun Valley had a recreation hall where they could play games. Riverbend do not have one.
      After 10 years, Aunt Mae & Uncle Calvin to retire from taking care of the resort, but still came back for three more years. When Aunt Mae & Uncle Calvin stopped going to Colorado because the altitude was too high for them. Therefore, Floyd did not want to go back. It just was never the same again. In fact, Floyd sold the camper one day and told Audry about it after the sell. She asked him why he sold the camper. He said he was tired of pulling it over Wolf Creek Pass. There after the camping and mountain vacation went by the way side.
      One time while at Riverbend, in fact it was July 13, 1980, Aunt Mae had asked Audry & Floyd to have lunch with them. She was cooking cabbage, fried chicken, potatoes, gravy, corn bread, & chocolate pie, all the food Floyd loved. Floyd was up early that morning, went fishing taking one of the dogs, Fritz, with him, and was to be back by noon. When Fritz returned to the camper at 10 A.M., it surprised Audry because he usually stayed with Floyd. Audry started worrying and told Uncle Calvin. At 11 A.M., they started looking for him but could not find him. At noon Aunt Mae, Uncle Calvin & Audry went ahead and ate lunch. About 2 P.M., Uncle Calvin told Mr. Hathaway, whose camper parked next to Audry & Floyds that Floyd had not come back from fishing on the river.
      Half an hour later Mr. Hathaway came back from the river and said Floyd was ok. He was still down at the river fishing.
      In the mean time, Uncle Calvin had two more men also looking for Floyd because he knew Audry was worried. When Floyd did, show up Audry asked him where the fish was. Floyd said he was just catching them, and then throwing them back.
      The next day Floyd received a lot of teasing about the fish he did not bring back. They were sitting on the front porch of the office with several other people. Dub Thompson asked Floyd if he had some medicine. Floyd asked, "Why?" Dub said, "I need some to put on my finger where it got sore from taking off all the fish I took off the fish hook yesterday."
      Everyone cracked up; Floyd had to take a lot of teasing. Of course most of the time he cannot take teasing, but he did take it very well which surprised Audry.
      Few night before this Audry let the dogs, Missy & Fritz outside before going to bed. In the mean time, Floyd went out to roll up the windows of the pick-up. Audry went out looking for the dogs found Fritz but could not find Missy. She called & called but no Missy. She did not want to yell too loud because most of the campers were in bed. She took a flashlight and looked all over the grounds. Still could not find her.
      The next morning Floyd was up early and went out side looked over at his pick-up & there was Missy in the pickup wagging her tail. Floyd let her out, she came running into the camper, jumped into bed with Audry. She was about frozen; it gets cold in the mountains at night. This was the first time in her life she every stayed outside all night. Missy did not get close to the pick-up the next night.
      Floyd loved to tease the granddaughters. One time Michelle & Rachel were visiting with Grandma Audry & Papa Floyd. Floyd was watering the flowers and Grandma Audry was sitting in a lawn chair on the patio watching. Rachel (she was about three at this time) went up on the porch and carried a lawn chair down to the patio to sit by Grandma Audry. Papa turned off the water and Rachel jumped up to get the water hose. When she did this Papa came over and sit down in the chair Rachel had brought off the porch.
      Rachel came over to Papa with one hand on one hip and the other hand she was pointing and shaking her finger at Papa saying, "Papa I brought that chair down for me." Papa started laughing and told her it was now his chair.
      Rachel got the water hose and was shaking it at Papa when Michelle turned the water on and got Papa wet. Papa had to laugh at this.
      After Floyd retired from El Paso, Audry wanted to travel some. They made one trip to Texas Sept 1988. They were gone about two weeks visiting Audry's family and attending a Family reunion. After that, Audry could not get him back to Texas. He did make one trip a year to Utah. Their granddaughter Hailey's birthday was in May and their anniversary and Mother's Day, which was all, celebrated at their daughters, Pamela, home.
      One year when Floyd & Audry went to Pamela to visit, who lived in Provo, they decided to extent their trip by going to Wyo. to visit Floyd's sister Ilene. Hailey was about two or three, she was just learning to say her nightly prayers. She would have Nanny and Papa come into her room to listen to her. She would fold her arms and start "Dear Heavenly Father, mumble, mumble, mumble in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
      Anyone that has known Floyd very long knew he was a cusser. On this trip to Wyo., Floyd was sitting in the back seat of the car with Hailey. Some thing happened and yelled out "Jesus Christ" Hailey folded her little arms and said "Amen".
      He loved playing softball, hunting and fishing until his health started failing. Watching football on TV was his favorite past time.
      July 1, 1990, exactly three years from the date he retired from El Paso, Floyd dropped dead on the front porch after mowing the lawn. He came upon the porch and sit down on a lawn chair. Audry was sitting in the living room by the front window visiting with Floyd's sister Nellie. She heard this loud thump, looked out the window and Floyd was laying face down on the porch. Audry ran out, knowing Floyd was not a jokester she knew some thing was wrong. Turned him over, he was not breathing; she came back in the house and called 911. Went back out pulled out his false teeth and snuff and did CPR on him until the city police officer and he took over until the paramedics came.
      In the mean time Sister Taylor from the church called, Audry told her she could not talk because she was trying to do CPR on Floyd. Sister Geneva Taylor called our new bishop, Bishop Himes. He in turn called the newly released bishop, Bishop Scofield. The two bishops were at the home of Audry & Floyd before the paramedic got there.
      They stayed with Audry through the process to the hospital. Both bishops gave Floyd a Priesthood blessing that night while in the emergency room. The doctor told Audry, Floyd would not live through the night. He was in ICU but Audry could not be with him because of hospital rules. She sits at the hospital all night waiting for Pamela to come from Utah, waiting for some good news about Floyd. The doctor left on vacation for two weeks.
      Turned Floyd over to another doctor who took very good care of him, in two weeks, Floyd was ready to come home. He called Audry asking her to be at the hospital the next morning, which was on a Monday to get him.
      When Floyd was in the Hospital ten days, Audry had fallen off the front porch breaking her upper left arm so she was ready for him to be home.
      However, before she could get to the hospital Monday morning the doctor came in and told him he would be flying to Albuquerque. Floyd said he was not going to get on a plane that his wife could take him to Albuquerque. Doctor told him there were not any emergency clinic between Farmington & Albuquerque. Therefore, against Floyds will, he had a nice flight to Albuquerque and Audry & Pamela drove down.
      Floyd had a triple bypass on Tuesday July 1990. The doctors told Audry & Pamela he would be good for about five years now. The following Friday Audry needed to come back home to take care of some things. Pamela had a gallbladder attach and her husband came picked her up took her back to her home where she went into the hospital. This was a trying time for everyone; Audry was having a hard time with a broken left arm, a daughter in the hospital in Utah and a husband in the hospital in Albuquerque.
      The following Monday Audry drove back to Albuquerque to be with Floyd. He was recovering very well. They would walk the hospital halls helping Floyd to get back his strength. They made quite a pair, him pushing a cart with his IV and her trying to help with her one good arm the other in a brace.
      The first part of August, Floyd was able to come home with a small tank of oxygen in tow. Audry drove them home, nothing ever looked so good.
      Floyd health recovered good enough that he was able to put in a garden each summer for a few years and take care of the lawn.
      Every Sunday morning Audry would ask Floyd if he would go to church with her. His reply "Ion, that she did not want to be sealed to him after her death.
      Sunday morning April 30, 1995, Audry walked into the living room and Floyd was dressed for church. She was so surprised and very happy. He told her he had been thinking about getting his life together and needed to start going to church.
      That very day he had an interview with Bishop Himes to find out what he needed to do to be worthy to take Audry to the Temple. She had received her endowment about ten years before and now he was ready to go and receive his.
      Floyd was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood by Pres. Charles Cecil Spell on Sept. 24, 1995.
      Audry and Floyd were sealed May 4, 1996 in the Salt Lake Temple and their daughter Pamela sealed to them that same day.
      Floyd was somewhat concern about going through the temple and he asked Audry's Brother Gene about it. Gene said it would take about 5 hours. Floyd could not understand why it was so long. Therefore, he asked Gene why, Gene told him it would take that long to beat the devil out of him.
      After going though the temple Audry, Floyd, Gene, Joanne, Pamela, and a good friend Lerlyn Lillywhite were having dinner when Gene looked at Floyd and asked "Floyd I want to know something." Floyd said "Ok, what" Gene, "When are you going to go forth and multiple like you were commanded in the temple to do so?' Floyd was nearly 64 years old at that time.
      The next day after they had been sealed Floyd stood in a circle to bless his granddaughter Madi a few years later; he was there also when grandson Bridger was blessed.
      Pamela and Dan's baby boy, Kade Gilbert Bray is named after Floyd. Kade will be blessed with not only being Floyd's namesake but also having, with his other children and grandchildren a great historical pioneer heritage. When Floyd saw Kade Labor Day weekend, he patted him on his head and said, "Yes, this is a fine boy".
      His granddaughter, Hailey always had a nickname from her Papa of "Turp." Floyd and Audry would travel to Utah every year for the first 14 years of Hailey's birthdays, never wanting to miss them.
      When Pamela had Madi and Bridger, Floyd would bring them bags of M&M's. The children began thinking that M&M's were really called "Papas" and called them that for years. Today Madi will honor her Papa by placing a small bag of M&M's next to her Papa to keep.
      Years ago when Pamela was in college and came for a visit in South Fork, Colorado where they would go yearly. Floyd and Pam decided to go fishing together one day. As Floyd casted out his line, the hook got caught across the river on a log. Pamela was standing next to her Dad and as he yanked and pulled, the line broke with the weight still attached, flying back to hit Pam right square in the forehead. Floyd was very worried that the weight had hit her eye, not quite knowing due to the blood. After the panic wore off, and creek water splashed all over her face, with not too much damage done, Floyd later said that when it hit her forehead there was a 'ping' sound that could be heard and echoed clear up the canyon. Pam replied, "At least it wasn't a hollow sound".
      Pam's greatest appreciation of her Dad is his love of cooking which he passed on to her. He taught her many cooking techniques over the years and they both could sit and watch cooking programs for hours. Also for years at Thanksgiving, Floyd would make sure that he make a batch of mushroom gravy, which they could share together. Not many in the family appreciated the 'fungus' gravy, but they loved it.
      When his great-granddaughter Miriah was told, Papa was going to be buried in Bloomfield; she asked her mother Rachel if he was going to be buried in Nana's (Audry) fun garden. Miriah helped Nana in the garden all summer.
      He received his Patriarch Blessing 17 June 1997 by Ronald V. Goimarac. (At age 65.)
      Brother Floyd Gilbert Adair, as an ordained Patriarch and by the authority of God, I place my hands upon your head to give you a Patriarchal Blessing which may be a guide and comfort to you as you go through life. I encourage you to ponder those things said herein that they may be a help to you in your desire to live the gospel. I remind you that the realization of the blessings pronounced will be dependent upon your faithful living of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
      You were a faithful and chosen spirit in your pre-earth life and have been assigned to come to the earth at this particular time to work out your salvation and to help your Heavenly Father in building the Kingdom of God.
      You are of the House of Israel and have come to this earth as a descendent of Abraham through the tribe of Ephraim who was a chosen son of Joseph. Through this lineage, the nations and people of the earth will be greatly blessed. You may be an important part of this great work taking place upon the face of the earth.
      You live in an exciting and wonderful time. This is a time when the fullness of the gospel is upon the earth to bless your life and assist you. Many wonderful experiences and place my hands upon your head to give you a Patriarchal Blessing which may be a guide and comfort to you as you go through life. I encourage you to ponder those things said herein that they may be a help to you in your desire to live the gospel. I remind you that the realization of the blessings pronounced will be dependent upon your faithful living of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
      You were a faithful and chosen spirit in your pre-earth life and have been assigned to come to the earth at this particular time to work out your salvation and to help your Heavenly Father in building the Kingdom of God.
      You are of the House of Israel and have come to this earth as a descendent of Abraham through the tribe of Ephraim who was a chosen son of Joseph. Through this lineage, the nations and people of the earth will be greatly blessed. You may be an important part of this great work taking place upon the face of the earth.
      You live in an exciting and wonderful time. This is a time when the fullness of the gospel is upon the earth to bless your life and assist you. Many wonderful experiences and opportunities lie ahead of you. You are to be commended for your desire to live the gospel and grow in the priesthood and for your recent temple ordinances. The ordinances and covenants performed there will be of great importance. Though your obedience and diligence in living the gospel you will be a great instrument in the hands of your Heavenly Father to bless the lives of your family and others. I admonish you to go forward and be positive having faith in the gospel and let this radiate from your being that you may influence others around you in living the gospel.
      Be sensitive to and heed those prompting that will come to you through the Holy Ghost. Through your faithfulness, you will receive important revelation and guidance in your life that will bring you joy and happiness. I encourage you to study and learn all you can while in this earthy existence and to diligently strive to grow and progress in the gospel. As you do so, and will one day pass from this earthly existence, so much will be your advantage in the life to come.
      I bless you with confidence and patience in yourself and with the necessary courage and strength to go forward and face those trials that lie ahead. Remember that as obstacles, trials, and temptations come to you in life, these will be a means through which you will receive blessings and grow in the gospel as you triumph over them.
      I remind you that your most important responsibility in life is to be a good husband to your wife and a good father and grandfather and a positive influence upon your posterity. I bless you that as you strive to live the gospel, you will receive gifts in your life that will strengthen and help you. I bless you with wisdom and understanding and that in time, as you grow in the gospel, you will come to understand the truthfulness of all things.
      It would be pleasing to your Heavenly Father if you would set a goal in your life to assist in the great work performed in the temples. You may be an important instrument in help to bring the saving ordinances of the gospel to those individuals that have passed on without the opportunity to have them in their life.
      I bless you that as you continue to put the Kingdom of God first in your life, you will have important things revealed to you and will find increased joy and happiness and understanding in your life. You will have the power to discern those things in life that are most important. Important responsibilities and blessings await you, so busy your mind and body with worthwhile things that will be uplifting to yourself and others.
      There will be great power and strength in prayer and scripture study. I admonish you to study and ponder the scriptures and go to your Heavenly Father often and pour out your heart to Him for those blessings you need in life. I promise you that through your diligence and faithfulness, you will see many great and wonderful things take place in your life and the lives of your loved ones.
      I bless you with the right and privilege to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with joy and happiness in your heart knowing you have been true and faithful to the end. You will be blessed to inherit that Celestial degree of glory promised by our Heavenly Father to His faithful Children. You will there be blessed to live with those faithful Children. You will there be blessed to live with those faithful members of your family for the eternities.
      I give unto you a charge to go forward with faith and confidence, knowing you are a son of God and that He loves you and will bless, strengthen and help you to accomplish all He has sent you here to do.
      These blessings I bestow upon you for your joy and happiness on this earth and for the eternities, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
      Ronald Goimarac "

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Per 12/31/2001 email from Norma Entrekin [nje@mindspring.com]: "A lot of our info. also has holes and little documentation, so I know how you feel - Also conjectures and rumors enter into ours too! Most of our Adairs, (my mom's family) were, and are not active in church. My grandfather Rufus married my grandmother, Nellie Reid when she was 16 or so and he was 26. He was good looking and a charmer, and could speak Navajo and the Indians loved him. I'm told that he knew the B of M by heart, but was inactive in church. (I assume his folks George and Emily Tyler Adair read the B of M to him.) I didn't know him well; family scandals, etc. When my grandma Nellie was having her 10th Child, he had been stepping out on her. She told my mom, Nellie P. Adair, her oldest daughter, that if anything happened to her, "Papa" (Rufus) would leave. She and the baby died in child birth and she was 39. My mom was 16 and sure enough he more or less abandoned the family. Horrible mess. He eventually married Nita Seitzinger. Their oldest children married each other (Helen Seitzinger married Clarence Adair before their parents remarried each other). My Aunt Helen is still alive and a lovely person. Anyway, my mom moved from Bloomfield, NM to Eagar, AZ with my dad and rarely saw her family again. Clarence and Helens' daughter, my cousin, Carolyn Adair Smith is a genealogist and a good person. She is Rufus and Nellie's granddaughter and also Rufus and Nita's."

      2. Per email of 7 Jan 2002 from digger_grant@hotmail.com: "I had the privilege of knowing Bonita 'Nita' as many people called her, and she was a wonderful person. She was never baptized into the LDS church although I've heard her support the church on many occasions. Apparently she was the only mom that most of Rufus and Nellie's children knew. My grandfather was the oldest child of Rufus and Nellie. We have a picture - probably taken at Nellie's funeral - of he and his brother Corwyn in nice suits. My grandad (Clarence) was probably about 16 years old at the time. I've heard that my Grandad had to take on a lot of responsibility for his siblings after his mom died and it was really hard to get him to talk about his youth (probably because life was so hard growing up in Hammond, NM). Grandad Adair (Clarence W. Adair) married Helen Malen Seitzinger June 2, 1936 in Aztec, San Juan Co., New Mexico. They had five children. Here is a list of their names and birth/death dates:
      a. Clarence James Adair (Jimmy) married Billie Lei Nani Newman
      Born: 9 Feb 1937; Place: Farmington, San Juan Co., New Mexico
      Died: 5 Jan 1982; Place: Farmington, N.M.
      Buried: 9 Jan 1982; Place: Bloomfield, San Juan Co., New Mexico
      b. Helen Louise Adair Married Robert E. Martin
      Born: 13 Jan 1939; Place: Bloomfield, San Juan Co., N.M.; Still Living
      c. Carolyn Anita Adair (My Mother) married Don Kay Smith
      Born: 7 April 1943; Place: Provo, Utah Co., Utah; Still Living
      d. Roselynn Nell Adair married Thomas LeRoy Dugger
      Born: 8 April 1950; Place: Farmington, San Juan Co., N.M.
      Died: 6 May 2001; Place: Bloomfield, San Juan Co., N.M.
      Burial: 9 May 2001; Place: Bloomfield, San Juan Co., N.M.
      e. Robin Marie Adair married Paul Anthony Chavez
      Born: 21 June 1954; Place: Farmington, San Juan Co., N.M.; Still Living
      We have many original pictures of Rufus Adair and Nellie Reid, pictures of Bonita "Nita" Sheetz and her parents/family, pictures of Geo. Washington Adair family, etc. If you are interested contact my mom at csmith@acrnet.com."

      3. Per 25 Jan 2002 email of Carolyn Smith : "Nellie & Rufus traveled to St. George to be sealed in the Temple, George & Edna Slade traveled with them to witness the sealing. George & Edna had been sealed a few years prior to this. The trip to St George was a major undertaking & due to the financial situation of both couples and the fact that Rufus & Nellie's mode of travel was by team & wagon, it was necessary to travel some and then stop & work to help finance the remainder of their trip. We understand that several work stops were necessary to complete the trip. When they got to New Harmony they spent several months visiting family. The time spent there also allowed Rufus & George to find work to help finance their return trip to New Mexico."

      4. Received from Don and Carolyn Smith of Bloomfield, NM:
      "Life Sketch of Rufus Nathaniel Adair by his granddaughter Carolyn Adair Smith.
      Rufus Nathaniel Adair was born on the 16th of September 1884 in the small community of Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona. He was the 10th child of George Washington Adair and Emily Perscinda Tyler. Not much is known about his early years.
      From a copy of a patriarchal blessing given to him by his grandfather, Daniel Tyler, who was the Beaver Stake, Patriarch, we know that he was in Beaver City, Territory of Utah on the 26th of November 1890. This patriarchal blessing was given when Rufus was 6 years old.
      Following is a copy of that patriarchal blessing:
      Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah Territory. 26th November 1890.
      A blessing by Daniel Tyler, Patriarch, upon the head of Rufus Nathaniel Adair son of George W. and Emily P. Tyler Adair, born at Nutrioso, Apache County, Arizona, 16 September 1884.
      'Rufus Nathaniel my beloved grandson, I lay my hands upon thy head and by virtue of the Holy Patriarchal Priesthood seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing. Thy lineage is of Ephraim. Thou art a legal heir to the Holy Priesthood and all the blessings of the House of Joseph. Thou shalt dream dreams and see heavenly visions. Thy posterity shall be innumerable and they shall bless thy memory to all generations. Be obedient to thy parents and those who preside over thee in the Holy Priesthood and no good thing shall be witheld from thee. Among thy descendants shall be men and women of renowned. Patriarchs and Prophets and many strong pillars in Zion. Thy name shall be had in honorable remembrance. Thou shalt aid in building temples and labor in them for the living and the dead. I seal thee up unto eternal life with thrones, principalities and powers and an eternal increase. Be faithful and not one word of this blessing shall fail, for I seal it upon thee with all needed blessings, by the authority given me to bless in the name of Jesus our Great Redeemer, AMEN.' John C. Tyler... Scribe, Alice M. T. Tanner... Recorder.
      Rufus was baptized on the 16th of September 1892 by John Mangum, Rufus's grandmother's brother.
      From a federal census dated the 23rd of June 1900, we know that George, Emily and family and George Jr., wife Almira Hamblin Adair and family lived at Hammond. Hammond was a small community settled primarily by Mormon families in about 1900. Rufus would have been a young man about 16 years old at that time.
      In a story written by his niece, Rosetta Huntsman Biggs, she says that he worked for a time in the mines in Silverton, Colorado. While working there he met George Ether Slade who later married Edna, Rufus's baby sister.
      When Rufus lived in Hammond the only recreation at that time was going to dances. He really loved to dance. He could also play the fiddle and would travel on horse back to various places to play music and to dance. I remember dancing with my Papa as a young girl at several benefit dances. He was a really good dancer. I loved to waltz with him.
      Another family who lived in Hammond was the Reid family. They also played music for the dances. This was where Rufus met Nellie Reid. She was a small, shy, sweet young girl who loved to dance and sing. I've been told that she and her sister Lillian would sing together for church socials and meetings. Nellie Reid was the daughter of William Thomas Hardy Reid and Mary Eleanor Gale.
      On the 17th of May 1910 Nellie and Rufus were married in Aztec, San Juan, New Mexico. Rufus was 26 and Nellie just 16. They made a handsome couple. To this union ten children were born. Clarence W., Rufus Corwyn, Don Carlos, Nellie Percinda, Goldie Leroy, George William, Florence Irene (Toots), Lillian Ilene, Ina Ruth and Floyd Gilbert.
      Rufus and Nellie wanted to be sealed in the Saint George Temple in Utah, so they headed out with their family in a team and wagon. George and Edna Slade drove a car and went with them. They traveled to Bluff, Utah, where an older brother of Rufus's, William Albert Adair lived. They stayed in Bluff for some time visiting and earning some money before going on to Saint George. At the time they traveled, the only way to cross the Colorado river was at Lee's Ferry, located south of the present day town of Page, Arizona. They had to board their team and wagon and Edna and George's car on the ferry in order to cross the river. This was in 1926 the last year that the ferry was in operation. This route was called the Honeymoon Trail as so many couples had to travel that route in order to be married in the Temple at Saint George.
      On the 1st of October 1926 Rufus and Nellie were sealed and also had their children sealed to them.
      Rufus had a sister, Emily Jane Adair Grant who lived in New Harmony, Utah just a few miles north of Saint George. They lived there for a time and were members of the New Harmony Ward. Emily Jane was the oldest girl in the family and was 19 years old when Rufus was born. We don't know how long they stayed in New Harmony, but they eventually returned to Bloomfield, New Mexico where they made their home.
      Times were hard for the Adair family. Clarence and Corwyn trapped coyotes out in Kutz Canyon and sold the hides to make a little money to buy Christmas presents for the family and to help with some of the financial burdens.
      Rufus and his older brother Joe owned a place out in Myers Canyon that was about 40 to 45 miles south of Bloomfield. They ran cattle there and made a living for their families. Clarence, my dad, remembers going out to stay on the ranch with Rufus and riding down to Tsaya Trading Post, owned by Chunky Tanner to buy commodities. He also remembered seeing a white rock sticking out of some sandstone as they used to come out of Ojo Alamo Canyon on their way home. One day while returning to Bloomfield, they saw a group of men chipping at the white rock. Out of curiosity they stopped to see what was going on. As it turned out the men were Paleontologists and the white stone was a large dinosaur bone. The Adair ranch was located near to what is now known as Chaco National Monument, a vast area covered with ancient Indian ruins.
      One winter was so cold and the snow so deep the cattle couldn't get to the feed. They couldn't afford to buy feed and freight it all the way down to Myer's canyon to keep their cattle alive, as a result they lost a large part of their herd. In the summer when their payments came due they were broke and unable to borrow money so the bank foreclosed on them and they lost the ranch. After Rufus and Joe lost their place, Joe moved to New Harmony, Utah where he died on the 9th of November 1926 just a few days after Rufus and Nellie were sealed in Saint George.
      My uncle Roy said that Papa would always gather the family around the fire at night and would read to them from the Book of Mormon. He could quote the Book of Mormon backward and forward. Papa always loved to share his knowledge of it when ever possible. If anyone came to his door wanting to tell him about their church, he would always let them come in and listen patiently to them. Then he would not let them leave until he had told them about his church and the Book of Mormon. Needless to say, after one visit with Papa, many would not return. He would play his fiddle in the evenings for his family too.
      The old Hammond Ditch served the community for drinking water and irrigation for their farms. The Hammond diversion was up near Turley and the ditch crossed Largo Canyon. Every time it rained it would break the ditch, usually at Largo, but at times any of the smaller washes would run and break it too. At other times they even lost the diversion on the San Juan River. Life was hard in Hammond, sometimes the crops would be stunted because of lack of water and at other times the complete crop was lost. After years of fighting the Largo wash most of the people moved away from Hammond. Rufus and Nellie moved to Bloomfield where they raised a garden and Papa would find a few odd jobs here and there. One of those jobs left him with a long scare on the inside of his right arm. He was trying to break a horse and was riding it down the lane where they lived and the horse threw him into a barbed wire fence.
      In August of 1934 my grandmother Nellie died, leaving behind several small children. My Uncle Floyd was only two years old. He stayed at home with his older sister and brothers while the three youngest girls, Toots, Ilene and Ina Ruth went to Pinetop, Arizona to live with Papa's brother John and wife Cynthia Adair. My aunt Ilene said they were in Pinetop for eighteen months.
      During this time my Aunt Nellie, who was about 15, tried to take on the responsibilities of running the home. She said that on wash day that her oldest brother, Clarence, would cook breakfast for the family. He also helped her get the water hauled, heated and ready to start the wash. He would then cook supper in the evening after he got home from work. Nellie said she really appreciated him during those months after her mother died.
      In March of 1936 Rufus married Bonita Sheetz Seitzinger, my maternal grandmother, and after that the three little girls came home. Papa and Granny moved the family to the old Sheetz homestead and Papa started farming and raising cattle, chickens, and pigs. Granny was always busy and made sure every one else was busy too. She was raised in an old German family where her father thought children were to be busy all the time. Uncle Roy said that each fall they would go out with a team and wagon for two weeks and cut wood and haul it home for the winter.
      I have a lot of good memories of Papa. As a little girl, I spent lots of hours sitting in an old rope swing that was in a big cottonwood tree in Papa and Granny's back yard. Haying was one of my favorite times. I used to sit in the swing and watch Papa or Uncle Floyd drive the team and wagon in the field. As they drove the wagon up and down the field, hired hands would pitch fork the hay up onto the flat bed of the wagon. When it was loa