Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 192.

IRVIN M. ADAIR

     In each community death is constantly taking its toll from the living, and
in the passing of Irvin M. Adair, Salem lost one of its honored pioneers and
influential citizens. He was born in Thorntown, Indiana, in 1845, and his
father, Henry Adair, was a native of New York state. The latter chose the career
of an agriculturist and became the owner of one of the productive farms of Boone
county, Indiana. A few years before his death he moved to Thorntown and there
spent his remaining days in retirement from business.
     Irvin M. Adair received a public school education and at the age of sixteen
enlisted in the Union Army, becoming a bugler for Company I, of the Eighty-sixth
Indiana Regiment of Infantry. He served for three years and merit won him the
rank of sergeant major. When a young man of twenty Mr. Adair left the farm and
entered the railroad business as a telegrapher, being employed at New Madison,
Ohio, and also in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, by various railroads, likewise
acting for a time as train dispatcher. About 1873 he settled in Salem, Oregon,
and afterward represented the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as agent and
telegrapher at various places, but retained his home in the Capital city. At one
time he was identified with the management of The Dalles office of the Western
Union Telegraph Company and acted as agent and telegraph operator at the State
Fair Grounds for two or three years. He was an expert operator, with a keen
sense of the responsibilities of his position, and performed his work with
conscientiousness and efficiency.
     In 1868 Mr. Adair married Miss Elizabeth T. Hoffman, who was born in
Germantown, Ohio, in 1845. Her parents were Jacob and Christina (Hoffman)
Hoffman, the former a native of West Virginia. Mr. Hoffman followed the
carpenter's trade and also engaged in farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Adair was born a
daughter, Mabel, who attended Willamette University, in which she completed
courses in both vocal and instrumental music. She is the wife of C. M. Lockwood,
a dealer in electrical goods and a prominent business man of Salem. They are the
parents of a son, C. Adair Lockwood, a graduate of the Salem high school, who
was a member of the Oregon National Guard and saw service in Tijuana, Mexico. On
his discharge from that service he continued his studies in the Oregon
Agricultural College. He enlisted in the World war in 1917, and was in training
at Mare Island Navy School. He graduated from the school with the tide of radio
operator, first class, was on various ships, and was on the steamship George
Washington when President Wilson crossed the ocean.
     Mr. Adair gave his political support to the republican party and served as
reading clerk in the lower house of the general assembly of Oregon. He was a
faithful member of the Congregational church and was a musician of note, playing
various instruments, being a fine singer, and an instrumentalist, and also a
chorister. Along fraternal lines he was identified with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, and through his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic he
renewed his associations with the "Boys in Blue." He watched with deep interest
the growth of the city and was ever ready to further plans for its advancement.
By nature he was modest, sincere and kind-hearted and won a secure place in the
esteem of all with whom he was associated. He was a gentleman in the fullest
sense of the term, and his demise, in 1888, was a distinct loss to the
community. He is survived by Mrs. Adair, who occupies the family home at 368
North Liberty street and is one of Salem's venerable and beloved citizens. In
her youth she became a tailoress, learning the trade from her brother, and
established a shop of her own in New Madison, Ohio. During the Civil war Mrs.
Adair took a short course in nursing and after her husband's death she entered
the service of the government. For fifteen years she was a nurse in the Chemawa
Indian school and through an arrangement with its physician she went to San
Francisco, California, for the purpose of taking a postgraduate course in
surgical nursing at the Children's Hospital. About two months later she received
a telegram from the head of the school, asking her to return, as her services
were needed. In 1902 she tendered her resignation and went to Iowa, entering the
Des Moines College of Osteopathy, which she attended for a year. C)wing to
impaired health Mrs. Adair returned to Salem and later completed her studies
under Dr. Miles. While not a public practitioner, she has been very successful
in the treatment of her family and friends and for eight years was in the employ
of leading physicians of Salem, doing office work and also acting as assistant
nurse. She became a charter member of the auxiliary lodge of the Patriarchs
Militant and for many years has been a nurse in the local hospital of that
order. Mrs. Adair has passed through all of the chairs in the Rebekah Lodge and
is also connected with the Eastern Star and the Woman's Relief Corps. She is
remarkably well preserved and at the advanced age of eighty-two years is still a
factor in the world's work. Her life has been dedicated to the service of others
and she combines in her character those qualities which are most admirable in
woman. Mrs. Adair is well known in Salem, and her business judgment is often
sought by those who know her well, and carries great weight.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.