Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 657.
 
     GENERAL JOHN ADAIR was born near Harrodsburg, Mercer county, Kentucky, in
August, 1808, and was the youngest son of Governor John Adair of that State.
Here he was reared to manhood and was partly educated at Center College,
finishing at Harvard.  He was admitted to the bar under that able jurist Judge
Thomas B. Monroe, of Kentucky, and was engaged for several years in the practice
of law in Columbus, Mississippi.  He afterward returned to Mercer county and
engaged in farming.  In 1848 General Adair was appointed by President Polk to
the office of Collector of Customs of the port of Astoria, Oregon Territory, and
removed with his wife and six children to that place, making the journey by
water and arriving in April, 1849.  He held the office for twelve years, or
until the expiration of President Buchanan's administration and then retired
from public life, employing himself with rural pursuits during the closing year
of his life.  He died on the 9th of April, 1888, at his residence situated on
his donation claim, known as the port of Upper Astoria.
     General Adair was married in 1834 to Miss Mary Ann Dickinson, who still
survives him, aged seventy-six years, and resides on the old homestead.  A
sketch of his son William B. is given elsewhere.  The General took a lively
interest in public affairs and was the intimate friend and adviser of General
Joseph Lane.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.