Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

John Washington Adair

Male 1874 - 1957  (83 years)


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  • Name John Washington Adair 
    Born 10 Feb 1874  Kanab, Kane, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 18 Apr 1957  Holbrook, Navajo, Arizona, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 20 Apr 1957  Pinetop Cemetery, Pinetop, Navajo, Arizona, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I681  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 Cynthia Jane Penrod,   b. 6 Jun 1878, Wallsburg, Wasatch, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Oct 1951, Pinetop, Navajo, Arizona, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 19 Mar 1894  Paria, Kane, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F515  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Censuses:
      1880 US: Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona, FHL film 1254036 (National Archives Film T9-0036), p. 18B:
      George Adair, farmer, age 43, b. AL, father and mother's birthplace unknown.
      E.P. Adair, age 33, IA NY NY.
      Emily Jane Adair, dau., age 14, UT.
      Daniel Adair, son, age 10, UT.
      Wm. A. Adair, son, age 8, UT.
      John W. Adair, son, age 6, UT.
      George N. Adair, son, age 4, UT.
      Ruth Adair, dau., age 2, UT.

      1900 US: Pinetop, Navajo, Arizona, roll 46, book 2, page 112a (note: Penrods live next door):
      John W. Adair, 1874, 26, married 6 years, UT UT UT, day laborer.
      Cyntha, wife, 1878, m. 6 yrs., 3 children total all living, UT UT UT.
      Elfreda, dau., Dec 1894, 5, NV UT UT.
      John R., son, Jul 1898, 1, AZ UT UT.
      Celamance, son, Dec 1899, 5 months, AZ UT UT.

      2. Photo of John and his family on file [and also available on the website: <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/index.html>].

      3. Names on family tombstone in Pinetop, Arizona on old Adair land: "In loving memory of John Washington Adair, 1874-1957, Cynthia Jane Penrod Adair 1878-1951, and their family:
      Beloved Children:
      Thelma Gladys Adair 1910-1910
      John Robin Adair 1898-1916
      Cynthia E. Adair Stephens 1896-1918
      Glenn Dayton Adair 1916-1939
      Lloyd Edwin Adair 1904-1948
      Leslie Ronald Adair 1914-1951
      Clements David Adair 1899-1951
      Lawrence Edward Adair 1912-1954
      Delbert William Adair 1908-1956
      Beloved Grandchildren:
      Wilmer Robin Stephens 1918-1919
      John Taylor Adair 1926-1926
      Millie Louise Adair 1930-1932
      Cleo Adair 1935-1935
      James Edward Adair 1940-1984
      Beloved Great Grandchildren:
      Dolan Dean Daniel 1940-1943."

      3. Per 12/21/2001 email of Norma J. Entrekin, Adair descendant, nje@mindspring: Apparently, about 1876, some Mangum families were called to help settle the town of Kanab, Kane County, Utah. (I assume [some of] the Adairs were also called there.) In 1879, some of both groups were called to help settle the Little Colorado River area of Arizona, in Apache county. They went to Concho, Arizona, first, and then on to Nutrioso, Arizona. Some of the Adairs eventually settled in Luna (Catron County, New Mexico), Pinetop (Apache County, Arizona), and also Bloomfield/Hammond (San Juan County, New Mexico).

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Per the website: <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/index.html>: Author Delbert William Adair Jr., Great Grandson of John W. Adair and Cynthia Jane Penrod, Address: 108 E. Elm Circle, Gilbert, Arizona 85234; Phone: 480-892-9257; Fax: 480-813-8240 (also available in the FHL in book form titled "The John Washington Adair Family, Descendants Included Through 1998):
      "John Washington Adair was born February 10, 1874 in Kanab, Utah Territory to George Washington Adair and Emily Perscinda Tyler. George, was a pioneer who came out west with his family along with the early saints of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. John was the sixth of George and Emily's children: Olive Parintha, Emily Jane, Daniel Tyler, Samuel P., William Albert, John Washington, George Newton, Ruth Alice, Joseph Welton, Rufus Nathaniel, and Edna Irene. John also had a half brother and sister, George Washington Jr. and Jamima, through his father's previous marriage to Ann Catherine Chestnut.
      In approximately 1895, John was among the early settlers of Pinetop in Arizona Territory. Family members recall that when John rode into Pinetop he had planned to spend the night and leave the next morning. He stayed, however, and met his future wife, Cynthia Jane Penrod. They were married in Kanab, Utah Territory. John was twenty years old and Cynthia only sixteen. They were endowed and sealed in the St. George Temple, on November 8, 1895, one year after their civil marriage. They made the trek on the "Honeymoon Trail" to be sealed in the temple.
      John and Cynthia lived in Overton, Nevada for several months before they settled at what is referred to as the "ranch." It was located about four miles southwest of Pinetop on the old road to Lakeside. They lived there until Cynthia got scared to stay by herself while John was working in Whiteriver. John loaded and drove freight, such as food and grain, on wagon teams that carried the supplies from Whiteriver to Fort Apache and Holbrook three times per week. It was hard work because sometimes the wheels would get buried in snow and mud that required John to dig for hours to get them out.
      When the children started school, they bought some property closer to town from David Israel Penrod, Cynthia's father. John owned about seventy-five acres of land in Pinetop, which included an area above the cemetery down close to the main road now known as White Mountain Boulevard. The acreage, where the Adair homes were located, included a beautiful meadow, an apple orchard, and a corn field that grew in the upper pasture. John also continued to operate the ninety acre ranch. He owned pigs, chickens, and cattle in his earlier ranching years. The branding symbol used on his cattle was Seven-A-Bar.
      John was a generous man. He donated the land for the town's cemetery during the bad flu epidemic. It has been said that after he buried his baby daughter, Thelma Gladys, his friends and neighbors later asked if they could use the same area as a resting place for their loved ones. To date, seventeen members of the Adair family are buried there. They are Thelma Gladys, John Robin Adair, Cynthia Elfreda Adair Stephens, Wilmer Robin Stephens, John Taylor Adair, Millie Louise Adair, Cleo Adair, Glenn Dayton Adair, Dolan Dean Daniel, Lloyd Edwin Adair, Leslie Ronald Adair, Clements David Adair, Cynthia Jane Penrod Adair, Lawrence Edward Adair, Delbert William Adair, John Washington Adair, and James Edward Adair. The graves are located near the center of the cemetery with a brick border and white chain surrounding them. The border was a family project with John's youngest Child, Genevieve, participating.
      Before John's grandson, Kenneth, married Della Allan, John offered his entire social security check to help her with attorney fees to keep her children. He strongly believed that they should not be taken away from their mother. His generous offer was appreciated, but declined.
      John made a lasting impression upon his family. Once, Delbert, son of Leslie Ronald, stopped in Pinetop with his family on the way to a Lilly family reunion. While there, Delbert noticed that the street his grandfather lived on was named Penrod Lane. He was very upset that it was not named after his grandfather because he had owned much of the land in the area. Adair Drive is a small road named after John, but not the road he actually lived on. It is across the street and adjacent to Charle Clark's Steak House. Another road is Adair Springs Lane, which is located off Pinecrest Lane in Pinetop.
      John was well known in the Pinetop-Lakeside area. He lived there for over fifty years. Many great things have been said about him. He was respected and looked up to by his family and the community. There was an article written about him in Arizona Days and Ways of the Arizona Republic Newspaper in the 1950's by Roscoe G. Willson. He was a friend, leader, organizer, Navajo County Deputy, and a rancher. He was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. John was baptized by Alex Pace and confirmed by Benjamin Noble. He was ordained an Elder by T.J. Jones. On October 28, 1920, he was ordained a Seventy by Melvin J. Ballard, former general authority of the LDS church. John baptized Lloyd Edwin, Leslie Ronald, Glenn Dayton, and Genevieve (Lakeside Ward Membership Records).
      There are many fascinating stories about John. For instance, he ran a foot race every year on his birthday against an Indian Chief who had the same birthday. The explorer John Wesley Powell, for whom Lake Powell was named after, spent the night on John's family's property in Utah. In the early days, John rode a horse and buggy from Pinetop to Lakeside to go to church. He kept his horse hitched to a post in front of his house when he wasn't riding into town, The house did not have electricity until around 1937.
      John had a team of horses named Prince and Tom. When they were gelded, the procedure caused Tom to almost bleed to death and go blind. Prince took care of Tom and practically acted as a seeing eye dog. When Prince died, Tom would not work with any other horse. Tom was hit by a car on the highway and had to be shot by Dell. They got another work horse named Dick, and they also had a high spirited horse named Brownie.
      As a county sheriff, John once tracked outlaws all the way to Colorado. His house at the ranch had portholes that held rifles for protection against the Indians. At the ranch, John held and may still hold the mineral rights for clay used to make pottery. He sold one of the plots in the upper pasture next to the forest line and southwest of the cemetery, which was referred to as Adair pasture, to buy a 1947 Chevrolet pickup. Where the motel now sits on the corner of Penrod Lane and Fir Lane is where John's barn and corral were located.
      John loved to whittle wood while visiting with family members. He liked to dance and went to the local dance hall on Wednesday and Saturday nights. He wore elastic garter bands on his arms to hold his shirt sleeves up.
      John loved his grandchildren. Once Ina, daughter of Leslie Ronald, was fishing across the street from John's house. She jerked the pole back and got the fish hook caught inside her mouth. Soon after, John saw her and asked what had happened. He told her to wait so he could get his pliers. Ina did not know if he was serious or joking but did not wait to find out, and went home crying with the pole in her hands and the hook still in her mouth.
      Doug, son of Leslie, had his ear partially bitten off by a dog. John shot and killed the dog and had it tested for rabies. He owned a 30-30 rifle. It was a birthday gift from his grandsons, Ed and Kenneth. They sold railroad ties to old man Yoder for ten cents a tie to purchase the rifle. Incidentally, old man Yoder may have owned the only gas station in Pinetop at the time. The tanks had a glass top, which made the gasoline visible.
      John had to endure many hardships and trials. The most challenging being the deaths of eleven children and his beloved wife, Cynthia. The fifty-year-old home that he built for his family was destroyed by fire in 1955, just two short years before his own death. He lost everything he owned and held dear including a large bible with family records and a pump organ. Today, the Community Presbyterian Church is now located where John's house used to stand. After the fire, he went to live in Holbrook with his daughter, Genevieve, until he passed away on April 18, 1957.
      John and Cynthia raised a large family. They had twelve children: Olivia, Cynthia Elfreda, John Robin, Clements David, George Daniel, Lloyd Edwin, Delbert William, Thelma Gladys, Lawrence Edward, Leslie Ronald, Glenn Dayton, and Genevieve.
      Their life story can be read in the John Washington Adair family history book. To receive a copy of the book, see below. While raising their family, John and Cynthia had to endure many heartaches and sorrows. Despite their trials, they never complained and they remained faithful and devoted to God until the day they died. They were truly remarkable people and great examples for future generations to follow. The homestead that John Adair once owned is gone, but their heritage will never be forgotten. On July 18, 1998, a monument was placed in the Pinetop Cemetery in honor of John and Cynthia and other family members buried there. They will always be remembered. On March 15, 1998, I completed a family history book of the John Washington Adair family. The book is hard bound and includes stories of John, Cynthia, and their children. There are pictures past and present, including the Adair family reunion held in Pinetop on July 18, 1998. Every effort was made to include all of John and Cynthia's descendants in the book. If you would like a book the cost is $42.00 which includes delivery. Please make checks payable to Delbert Adair Jr. Be sure to include your address, telephone number, and how many books you would like. It is possible there may be updates to this book in the future. Please check the link at the top entitled "Descendants of John Washington Adair and Cynthia Jane Penrod." Delbert Adair Jr. E-mail: . Additional website links:
      Descendants of John Washington Adair and Cynthia Jane Penrod <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/Adair.html>
      Pictures and stories of John, Cynthia, and their children <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/cynthiapenrod.html>
      Family Reunion held July 18, 1998; John's Grandchildren <http://home.switchboard.com/JohnWashingtonAdair>
      Adair Family Reunion Logo and Pictures <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/logo.html>
      Printable Family Reunion Group Picture <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/adairfamilyreunionblackandwhite.jpg>
      Adair, Apache County, Arizona Territory <http://home.att.net/~edwardholliday/foolshollow.html>
      Picture of the Adair Cattle Brand <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/adaircattlebrand.html>
      Adair Coat of Arms <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/9708/coat.html>
      Penrod Coat of Arms <http://home.att.net/~davidpenrod/penrodfamilycoatofarms.jpg>
      History of Pinetop, Arizona <http://www.wmonline.com/cities/pthistry.htm>
      Slide Show of Pinetop, Arizona <http://www.wmonline.com/cities/Pinetop.htm>
      Picture of George W. Adair, Emily P. Tyler and Family <http://home.att.net/~davidpenrod/georgeadair.jpg>
      Fantastic Picture of Emily P. Tyler Adair <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/emilyptyleradair.jpg>
      Read about Thomas Jefferson Adair Jr. 1814-1890 <http://members.aol.com/Callbd/index.html>
      Descendants of Leslie Ronald Adair and Mildred Lilly <http://home.att.net/~mildredlilly/Adair.html>
      Descendants of Samuel Jefferson Adair and Jemima Mangum <http://www.softcom.net/users/paulandsteph/tjadair/samuelsfamily.html>
      Descendants of David Israel Penrod and Cynthia A. Smith <<http://home.att.net/~davidpenrod/Penrod.html>>
      Public places to see the John W. Adair Family History Book <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/publicplaces.html>
      Corrections to the John W. Adair Family History Book <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/corrections.html>
      References for the John W. Adair Family History Book <<http://home.att.net/~dtadair/references.html>>
      Descendants of John W. Adair in the U.S. Armed Forces <<http://home.att.net/~dtadair/military.html>>
      Pinetop Cemetery <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/pinetopcemetery.html>
      Picture of John W. Adair <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/johnonchair.jpg>
      Short Life Stories of John's parents and siblings <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/georgewashingtonadair.html>
      Memories of John and Cynthia's Home by Marceline Adair <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/marcelinerussell.html>
      Adair Family Genealogy Forum <<http://genforum.com/adair/>>
      Adair Drive and Springs Lane in Pinetop <http://home.att.net/~dtadair/adairdriveandspringslane.bmp>
      Map of the Adair Homes in Pinetop <http://home.att.net/~davidpenrod/map.jpg>
      John's Grandfather Daniel Tyler and the Mormon Battalion <<http://home.switchboard.com/danieltyler>>
      Autobiography of Delbert William Adair Jr. <<http://home.att.net/~edwardholliday/delbertadair.html>>"

      PHOTOS:
      1. Photos on file for this individual.

      BIRTH:
      FHL Film 2456: "Early LDS Church Membership Records for Nutrioso, Arizona": Record of the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nutrioso Ward, St. Johns Stake of Zion. Page not noted:
      1. George W. Adair; father: S.J. Adair; mother: Jamima Mangum; 27 Jun 1837 at Pickens Co., Alabama; received 6 Apr 1885 from Kanab; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      2. Emily P. Adair; father: Daniel Tyler; mother: Ruth Welton; b. 28 Jan 1847 at Council Bluff, Iowa; first baptism: by Proctor; first confirmation: by Proctor; received 6 Apr 1885 from Kanab; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      3. Olive Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 27 Nov 1864 at Washington, Washington, Utah; blessing 27 Nov 1864 by Daniel Tyler; died 28 Nov 1864.
      4. Emily Jane Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 28 Dec 1865 at Washington, Washington, Utah; blessing Jan 1866 by James Richie; first baptism: by John S. Bunting; received 6 Apr 1885 from Kanab; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      5. Daniel T. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 3 Dec 1867 at Beaver, Beaver, Utah; blessing 1867 by Daniel Tyler; received 6 Apr 1885 from Kanab; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      6. Samuel J. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 3 Mar 1870 at Beaver, Beaver, Utah; died 30 Jan 1871; blessing 1870 by S. J. Adair
      7. William A. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 7 Feb 1872 at Beaver, Beaver, Utah; blessing 1872 by Jacob Hamblin; ordained a Teacher 29 Jul 1888 by Allen Frost; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      8. John W. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 10 Feb 1874 at Kanab, Kane, Utah; blessing 1874 by John Nuttall; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      9. George N. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 23 Mar 1876 at Kanab, Kane, Utah; blessing 1876; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      10. Ruth Alice Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 16 Sep 1878 at Kanab, Kane, Utah; first baptism: 2 Jun 1887 by Allen Frost; first confirmation: 2 Jun 1887 by G.W. Adair; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      11. Joseph W. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 17 Jun 1881 at Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona; first baptism: 5 Sep 1889 by L.J. Brown; first confirmation: 5 Sep 1889 by L.J. Brown; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      12. Rufus N. Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 16 Sep 1884 at Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona; blessing 1884 by S.J. Adair; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.
      13. Edna Irene Adair; father: George W. Adair; mother: Emily P. Tyler, b. 20 Jan 1887 at Nutrioso, Apache, Arizona; blessing by S.J. Adair; removed 25 Oct 1889 to Utah.

      2. FHL film 392631 LDS "Patriarchal Blessings Index": John Washington Adair, b. 10 Feb 1874 at Kanab, Kane, Utah, parents George W. Adair and Emily P. Tyler. Blessing date 26 Nov 1890 at Beaver, Utah. Lineage: Ephraim. Patriarch Daniel Tyler. Vol. 262, p. 197.

      3. Date and place per www.familysearch.org, Pedigree Resource File, disc 11, Pin #44576, submitted by Delbert William Jr. Adair, 108 E. Elm Circle, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234; 6 Jan 2002. Date and place confirmed with Nutrioso LDS Ward Records quoted above.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Website: "Western States Marriage Record Index":
      Groom Last Name: Adair
      Groom First Name: John W. (20)
      Groom Residence: Pahreah
      Bride Last Name: Penrod
      Bride First Name: Cyntha J. (16)
      Bride Residence: Pahreah
      Place: Pahreah; Date: 19 Mar 1894
      County of Record: Kane; State: Utah; Volume: A; Page: 115
      Marriage ID: 214765

      DEATH:
      1. Date and place per www.familysearch.org, Pedigree Resource File, disc 11, Pin #44576, submitted by Delbert William Jr. Adair, 108 E. Elm Circle, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234; 6 Jan 2002.

      BURIAL:
      1. Date and place per www.familysearch.org, Pedigree Resource File, disc 11, Pin #44576, submitted by Delbert William Jr. Adair, 108 E. Elm Circle, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234; 6 Jan 2002.

      2. Photo on file taken 18 Jul 1998 at John Wash. Adair reunion organized by Delbert Adair at the cemetery in Pinetop, Arizona. Delbert raised money for this new headstone for 16 Adair graves. Their headstones have all deteriorated badly.

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. Per Robin Adair 20 Jan 2002 email: robadair@thegrid.net. He is descendent through Daniel Tyler Adair.