Stella Cochran ~ daughter of William H. Adair
Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, March 2, l922
WILLIAM H. ADAIR, the subject of this sketch was born near Princeton, Mercer County, Mo., Sept. 8, l857, but his parents, JAMES and ELIZABETH (NEWLIN) ADAIR, soon removed to where the town of Woodland, Iowa is now situated. He was reared to manhood at this place.He spent 50 years of his life in Decatur County, Iowa, and the adjoining county, Harrison, in Mo.After which time he went to Ellis County, Oklahoma, where he resided ten years, then in l9l7 to the Sinclair Oil and Gas lease, near Cleveland, Okla., where he lived two years as an oil field worker, then to the Sinclair lease near Yale, Okla., where he and two sons continued to work with the same Supt. as they began with.
But he was soon stricken with that dread disease, paralysis, which rendered him an invalid, 26 months before death came, as a sweet release on Sunday morning, Feb. l9, l922.He married ELLEN SHEARARD near Davis City, Iowa, Dec. 24, l882; to this union 8 children were born; JESSE HYRUM, dying in l898.The living are STELLA COCHRAN, who lives near Higgins, Texas; FLORA BAILEY, Des Moines, Iowa; CHARLES R. ADAIR, of Yale; LEO H. ADAIR, of Burk-Burnett, Texas; MRS. LUCIL SHEFFER, Keifer, Okla.; and LYMAN W., who with his mother has cared for him continually during his affliction.The last seven weeks of his life, his suffering was something dreadful.And his children, the five last mentioned were near him much of the time to render any service that loving sons and daughters could render an afflicted father.
He was of a very genial disposition, and greatly beloved by his children.He at one time lived a consistent Christian life as a member of the L.D.S. Church but became careless in later years.But during his long suffering he remembered his former covenant and many times called for those about him to pray with him.He made many requests regarding his burial.The funeral, etc., which was carried out to the letter by his family.His body was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery near Quary, Okla., in fulfillment of his desire, the funeral being preached by Wm. Shakespeare, a former Lamoni boy of the L.D.S. faith.The church people and Sinclair people also showed great kindness and sympathy for the family in their hours of watching and bereavement.The Supt. (The same as his sons and him began with four and a half hears ago) shut down all works except the pumping of the wells, and his men prepared the grave and he and them attending the funeral and burial, the men acting as pall bearers.His sufferings were so great we would not wish him back.May his soul rest in peace.
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
June 22, 2002