The Family of George Washington and Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR

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28__George Washington ADAIR
     b.  31 Oct 1813, Lexington, Rockbridge County, VA
     child of:  William & Mary (RALSTON) ADAIR
     d.  4 Sep 1879 (on tombstone), Smith Center, Smith County, KS  (3 Sep 1879*)
     Buried:  Smith Center, Smith County, KS     Go to Tombstones

     m.  17 Jan 1841, Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA  
           (17 Jan 1840, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA*)

29__Elizabeth Ellen SMITH
     b.  24 Mar 1824, Marion, Linn County, IA (b. MI*  IA** OH***)
     child of:  John Huffman and Susannah (WALTERS) SMITH
     d.  27 May 1902 (on tombstone), Shell Rock, Butler County, IA (1912**)
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

* Information in the Butler County History
** Information in the "Adair Books," MO State Historical Library, Columbia, MO
*** Information in the Ohio Census                                                                                    Original saw mill built and run by George Washington Adair 
                                                                                                                                                                     and his brother, William
Other Marriages:

Children:
28.1  Mary Jane ADAIR     b.  6 Oct 1841     d  29 Jun 1895 (1893**)
28.2  John ADAIR     b.  13 Jun 1844 (1843**)     d.  26 Feb 1931
28.3  Lucy Ann ADAIR     b.  3 Feb 1845     d.
28.4  George ADAIR     b.  21 Jan 1847     d.  1 Dec 1934  
28.5  William Walter ADAIR     b.  4 Mar 1849     d.  8 Jan 1933  (See #14/15)
28.6  Henry ADAIR     b.  3 Apr 1852     d.  Infant
28.7  Charles ADAIR     b.  10 Apr 1853     d.
28.8  Elizabeth Ellen ADAIR     b.  23 Jan 1856 (27 Oct 1855**)     
         d.  10 Jun 1941 (23 Jun 1937**)
28.9  Sarah (Sadie) Marie ADAIR     b.  23 Jan 1858 (Jun**)     d.  10 Jun 1941
28.10  Blanche Julia ADAIR     b.  26 Feb 1862 (1861**)     d.  25 Mar 1949
28.11  Annette (Nettie) A. ADAIR     b.  29 Jul 1864     d.        1947
           m.  George E. MEAD, of Shell Rock     b.  1853    d.  1932
           Buried:  Both are buried in Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA

Original home of either George or William Adair

Synopsis: 

• Occupations:  Farmer, Sawmill (1853-1869) and Gristmill owner, founder of Shell Rock, Butler County, IA, Hotel owner (1867-1878)

• Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR was listed as a hotelkeeper in the 1880 IA Census

• G.W. was visiting his son, William Walter, in Smith Center, Smith County, KS, when he died.  It was winter and he was buried in Smith Center with the intention of moving his body to Shell Rock at a later time.  The family never had the money to move him, so he's still in Smith Center.  There is a monument to him which, to all appearances, is a grave stone, in the Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA.  This compiler located and photographed his actual grave in the cemetery of Smith Center, KS, near his daughter, Lucy and her husband, Ralph Bowen.

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GEORGE WASHINGTON/ELIZABETH ELLEN RESEARCH RECORD

BIRTH/BAPTISM/PARENTS/CHILDREN RECORDS

Religion:  Methodist-Episcopal     George Washington ADAIR Baptized:  31 Oct 1813

Elizabeth Ellen SMITH's birth has been reported in OH, IA and MI.  It stands to reason that she knew best where she was born, and gave the information for the census as OH.

DEATH/OBITUARY/CEMETERY RECORDS

George Washington ADAIR died in Smith Center, Smith County, KS in 1879 and is buried there.

Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR died in Shell Rock, Butler County, IA in 1902 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA

MARRIAGE/DIVORCE RECORDS

Marriage Licenses:  Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA* or Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA**

FAMILY BIBLE/RELIGION AFFILIATIONS RECORDS

Methodist-Episcopal.  George Washington ADAIR was one of the founders of the Methodist- Episcopal Church in Shell Rock, the first incorporated church in Butler County, IA.

EMPLOYMENT/MILITARY/ORGANIZATIONS RECORDS

George Washington ADAIR was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, an organization dedicated to temperance.

WILL/ESTATE/DEEDS/COURT RECORDS

CENSUS/CITY DIRECTORIES/TAX LIST RECORDS

1880 Butler County, IA, U.S. Census:  Shell Rock Twp:
     Mrs. E.E. ADAIR, age 55, white, female, hotelkeeper, b. OH
          her father, b. VA; her mother, B. OH
     Sarah ADAIR, age 22, at home, b. IA     her father, b. VA; mother, b. OH
     Blanche, age 18, school teacher, b. IA      her father, b. VA; mother, b. OH
     Nettie, age 15, in school, b. IA                 her father, b. VA; mother, b. OH

1870 Butler County, IA, U.S. Census:  Shellrock Twp.
     Adair, George W, age 56     Hotel Keeper           b.  VA
                Elizabeth E, age 46    Landlady in Hotel     b.  OH
                George, age 23         Works in sawmill       b.  IA
                William W, age 21     Farmer                     b.  IA
                Elizabeth, age 14       Attends school          b.  IA
                Sarah, age 12            Attends school          b.  IA
                Blanche, age 8           Attends school          b.  IA
                Annette, age 5           Attends school          b.  IA
     Swertzer, Charles, age 41     Farmer                     b.  OH
     Hays, Patrick, age 40            Stone Mason           b.  Ireland

1860 Butler County, IA, U.S. Census:  Shellrock Twp.  
     Washington ADAIR age 46, farmer  b.  VA
     wife:  E.E., age 36, b. OH
     Mary J., age 18, b. IA (1842)
     John, age 16, b. IA (1844)
     Lucy, age 15, b. IA (1845)
     George, age 13, b. IA  (1847)
     William W., age 11, b. IA  (1849)
     Elizabeth E., age 4, b. IA  (1856)
     Sarah M., age 2, b. IA  (1858)
     Lucy A Merritt, age 24, b.  PA

1850 U.S. Census, Iowa Genealogical Society, 1850 Federal Census for Iowa, Linn County, Des Moines, IA, Dwelling 541/Family 558:
     Adair, Washington   M   36   b.  VA   Farmer
                Elizabeth E.   F    24   b.  OH
                Mary J.         F      9   b.  IA
                John             M     7   b.  IA
                Lucy A.         F     6   b.  IA
                George         M     4   b.  IA
                William         M     3   b.  IA

MIGRATION/CHRONOLOGY/MAP REFERENCE RECORDS

George Washington ADAIR:

1813     Born in Lexington, Rockbridge County, VA, 31 Oct 1813
1830     Migrated with his family to LaGrange County, IN where they were farmers
1837     Migrated to Muscatine County, IA, east of West Liberty
1841     m. Elizabeth Ellen SMITH, 17 Jan at Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA
1840-1853     Lived in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA
1849-1851     G.W. drove ox team to CA for gold rush and returned two years later
1851     Purchased land in Butler County, IA 
1853     Moved his family to Shell Rock, IA and, damming the river, built a sawmill
1855     Filed the plat for Shell Rock, IA
1867     Started the Shell Rock House Hotel
1879     Died in Smith Center, Smith County, KS, 4 Sep 1879, while visiting William Walter ADAIR, his son
             and is buried in Smith Center, Smith County, KS

Elizabeth Ellen SMITH:

1824     Born in OH, 24 Mar 1824
1837     Migrated with her father to vicinity of Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA
1841     m.  George Washington ADAIR, 17 Jan at Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA
1902     Died in Shell Rock, Butler County, IA, 27 May 1902 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery,
             Shell Rock, Butler County, IA 

INTERVIEW/ARTIFACTS RECORDS

WRITINGS/HISTORIES/NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINE RECORDS

Text from page 315 of the History of Butler County in a section on his son, George:  George Washington ADAIR was born near Lexington, VA, 31 October 1813, and the mother's birth occurred in MI, 24 Mar 1824 [Note:  she probably was born in OH, not MI].  Coming to Iowa, he settled in Muscatine County, east of West Liberty in 1837.  He was accompanied by his younger brother, William.  In the same year Elizabeth SMITH arrived in company with her father and settled in the same locality.  They were married at Cedar Rapids in 1840 and there resided until 1853.  In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, Mr. ADAIR drove an ox team across the country to the Pacific coast, being absent from home for two years.  He was in hopes that the trip would benefit his health and found that it did.  He spent some time in the mines, returning in in 1851, and the following year, in 1852, came to Butler County.  Here he purchased forty acres of land of Alex GLENN, and the following year purchased more land from Aaron MOORE.  Twelve blocks of the city of Shell Rock have been laid out on the forty acre tract which he purchased in 1852.  The plat was recorded in 1855.  It was in the spring of 1853 that he moved his family here, and that year he built a sawmill and dam across the Shell Rock River.  He operated the mill, sawing for settlers, and he also rafted timber down to Waterloo.  He continued in the mill until 1869.  However, in the meantime, in 1867, he opened a hotel known as the Shell Rock House, and conducted it until 1878, when he went to Kansas to visit a son and daughter.  He died at Smith Center, that state, on the 3rd of September, 1879.  He was most prominently identified with industrial activity in this county at an early day.  He built, between 1855 and 1857, the west side flouring mill in connection with his brother William, and soon after they sold their grist-mill to John F. WRIGHT.  In 1867, in company with E.W. METZGAR, he built the east side flouring mill, which he operated for a number of years.  He was thus closely associated with the business development of the community, and his enterprises were of untold value to the early settlers, who depended upon his operations for breadstuffs and for lumber.  He was one of the incorporators of the first Methodist Episcopal church and erected the first house of worship in Shell Rock, it being the first church organized in the county.  He took an active and helpful part in the church work throughout the remainder of his life and his wife was equally earnest in her cooperation with all that pertained to the moral development of the community.  He was earnest in his support of the temperance cause and in politics he was a democrat but never took an active part in politics aside from casting his ballot.  He labored untiringly, however, to check the use of alcoholic beverages and was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, the meetings of which were held in his house.  His life was indeed one of usefulness to the community and his worth was acknowledged by all who knew him.  His wife survived him for almost a quarter of a century and died in Shell Rock in 1902.  She shared with him in all his good work for the benefit of his fellowmen and many have reason to bless their memory.

Text from History of Butler County:  In the spring of 1853, George W. ADAIR came looking for a home.  He stopped at Mr. GLENN's, and the latter gentleman sold him forty acres on the east side of the river on section 11, where the town of Shell Rock now is, which was all heavy timber, except that taken up by the bed of the river.  George W. ADAIR was born in Lexington, Virginia, October 31st, 1813.  Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Ohio and in that State his early life was passed.  When he was seventeen years of age, the family moved to La Grange County, Indiana.  Here he continued his education in the common schools, and helped his father work their farm.  At the age of twenty-six, he moved to Iowa and settled near Muscatine.  At that place he was married, January 17th, 1841, to Miss Elizabeth SMITH, who was a native of Ohio.  In 1853, as before stated, they came to Shell Rock, being the first settlers on the town plat, and moved into their log cabin on the first day of June.  Soon after their settlement here, Mr. ADAIR began the erection of a saw mill, and in the fall of 1854, laid out the village of Shell Rock, he having entered the land upon which it now stands.  He was of the democratic party, and although not caring for office, he always took an active part in his country's politics.  Mr. ADAIR, in the company with others, built both grist mills of the town and his great aim in life was the building up of a village of which he was the founder and pioneer settler.  He died while on a visit to Kansas, on the 4th day of September, 1879.  His wife still survives him and is the oldest living settler of the village.  Nine children were born to them - Mary Jane, now the wife of Ephraim TOWN; John, now living in Winnipeg; Lucy A., now the wife of R.D. BOWEN, of Kansas; George, living at Shell Rock; Walter, living in Clarinda, Iowa; Elizabeth, now the wife of Allen ALLBURN, of Sioux City; Sadie; Blanche; and Nettie. 

Posted (on the web) by Diane ([email protected]), 2/3/2002:  George W. Adair was born in Lexington, Virginia, October 31st, 1813.  Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Ohio and in that State his early life was passed.  When he was seventeen years of age, the family moved to La Grange county, Indiana.  Here he continued his education in the common schools, and helped his father work their farm.  At the age of twenty-six, he moved to Iowa and settled near Muscatine.  At that place he was married, January 17th, 1841, to Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was a native of Ohio.  In 1853, as before stated, they came to Shell Rock, being the first settlers on the town plat, and moved into their log cabin on the first day of June.  Soon after their settlement here, Mr. Adair began the erection of a saw mill, and in the fall of 1854, laid out the village of Shell Rock, he having entered the land upon which it now stands.  He was of the democratic party, and although not caring for office, he always took an active part in his country's politics.  Mr Adair, in company with others, built both grist mills of the town and his great aim in life was the building up of a village of which he was the founder and pioneer settler.  He died while on a visit to Kansas, on the 4th day of September, 1879.  His wife still survives him and is the oldest living settler of the village.  Nine children were born to them - Mary Jane, now the wife of Ephraim Town; John, now living in Winnipeg; Lucy A., now the wife of R.D. Bowen, of Kansas; George, living at Shell Rock; Walter, living in Clarinda, Iowa; Elizabeth, now the wife of Allen Allburn, of Sioux City; Sadie, Blanche and Nettie.  Source:  History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa; Union Publishing Co., Springfield, Il, 1883, page 695.

END OF RESEARCH RECORD

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28.1__Mary Jane ADAIR     
     b.  6 Oct 1841,  ? IA     
     child of George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  29 Jun 1895
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones     

     m.  ? 1860

28.1s__Ephraim TOWN
     b.  15 Apr 1832, Franklin County, VT
     child of:  E. & Jane (WILLIS) TOWN
     d.  2 Feb 1914
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.1a  Charles O. TOWN     b.  1862     d.  1940
           Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones
           m.  ?, Margaret ?          b.  1862     d.  1945
           Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones
28.1b  Ella L. TOWN     b.  1868     d.  1950    Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
           m.  ?, Arthur AUSTIN     b.  1866     d.     1948     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
           Children:  Blanche AUSTIN
                           m.  ?
                           Children:  Beverly ?
                                           m.  1946, Travis MOFFIT     b.  26 Dec 1922     d.  20 Apr 1985, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     
                                                 U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII
                                                 Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
                                           Children:  Linda MOFFIT  m. 1st  ? BINGHAM;  2d  ? DAER
                                                           Sue Ann MOFFIT m.  Dan HRUZA
                                                           Kenneth MOFFIT m. Doty ?
                                                           Thomas MOFFIT m. Lisa ?
                                           Ruthella ?
                           Sadie AUSTIN     b.  2 Aug 1890    d.  Nov 1975, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)
                           Thomas AUSTIN     b.  16 Mar 1895    d.  28 Nov 1989, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA   (Source:  SS Death Index)    
                           U.S. Navy  WW I     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co., IA     Go to Tombstones
28.1c  Willis W. TOWN
28.1d  Dana E. TOWN
28.1e  Flora E. TOWN
28.1f   Infant, not surviving
28.1g  Infant, not surviving

Synopsis:

• Ephraim was a farmer in VT until 1855 when he migrated to Shell Rock where he worked in the old saw mill through the first winter.  In the spring, he began working as a millwright in the gristmill.
  In 1873, he began a hardware business for 3 years
  In 1876, he began a lumber and grain business for 3 years
  He held offices of mayor and justice of the peace in Shell Rock

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28.2__John ADAIR     
     b.  13 Jun 1844 (1843**)     
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  26 Feb 1931
     Buried:

     m.

28.2s__Clarissa Laverne VanDYKE
     b.  16 Aug 1852
     child of:
     d.
     Buried:

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.2a  Nona Aurel ADAIR     b.  6 Aug 1871
28.2b  Mary Ellen ADAIR     b.  22 Mar 1875, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     d.  31 Jul 1876   Go to Tombstones
28.2c  George ADAIR     b.  7 Jan 1877, Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, OH
28.2d  Harry Howard ADAIR     b.  1 Feb 1880     d.  25 Jan 1940
28.2e  Hazel ADAIR  
28.2f  John Delbert ADAIR     b.  3 Dec 1881, Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, OH

Synopsis:

• Text from the History of Butler County, page 316:  John, of Sioux City, IA, enlisted in June, 1861, as a member of Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry and after veteranizing served until July 1865.  He participated in many battles, his first engagement being at Belmont, Missouri.  He was a member of what was called the Hornet's Nest Brigade and took part in the battles of Shiloh and Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta Campaign.  He also went on the campaign through the Carolinas and participated in the grand review in Washington, D.C.

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28.2d__Harry Howard ADAIR     
     b.  1 Feb 1880, Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA
     child of:  John & Clarissa Laverne (VanDYKE) ADAIR
     d.  25 Jan 1940, Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA
     Buried:

     m.  

28.2ds__Edna Myrtle BOUGHTON     
     b.  12 Apr 1881, Grant County, WI
     child of:
     d.  14 Aug 1965, Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA
     Buried: 

Other Marriages:

Children:  
28.2d1  John Henry ADAIR     b.  11 Dec 1901, Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA
             m.  ?, Thelma Laurine UTER     b.  20 Jan 1911, Fairbury, Jefferson County, NE
             Children:  Harry Thomas ADAIR     
                             b.  23 Jun 1938, Coshocton, Coshocton County, OH    d.  29 Jan 2003, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)
                             John Howard ADAIR     b.  4 Dec 1941, Chicago, Cook County, IL
28.2d2  Joyce ADAIR     b.  23 May 1905, Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA

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28.3__Lucy Ann ADAIR    
     b.  3 Feb 1845    
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  1925, CA
     Buried:

     m. 6 Sep 1866, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA

28.3s__Ralph D. BOWEN
     b. 5 Apr 1840, Trumbull, Ashtabula County, OH
     child of:
     d. 20 Apr 1904, Washington, DC
     Buried: Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Smith County, KS   Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.3a  Herbert H. (Bert) BOWEN     b.  c1867, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA
           d.  3 Dec 1935, Mt. Zion, Carroll County, GA
           m.  ? (?)     d.  Nov 1914
           Children:  Herbert H. BOWEN Jr  (living Cincinnati, OH 1935)
                           Olga BOWEN  (living DeLand, FL 1935)
                           Joyce BOWEN (living DeLand, FL 1935)
                           Grace BOWEN (living Chattanooga, TN 1935)
                           Tom BOWEN  (living Daytona Beach, FL 1935)
                           Helen BOWEN (living Virginia 1935)
                           Lyle BOWEN  (living Mt. Zion, GA 1935)
28.3b  Millie BOWEN     b.  c1870-74     d.  12 Jul 1935  (moved to Pennsylvania after marriage)
           m.  Almond Thompson
28.3c  Carrie BOWEN     b.  18 May 1874  (graduated 1893)     d.  4 Aug 1956
           (living Smith Center 1935)
           m1.  8 Jun 1896, Smith Center, Smith County, KS  Clarence E. HOLMES  d.  21 Mar 1898
           Children:  Vena HOLMES
                           m.  Charles ALLEN of Towanda, Butler Co, KS
           m2.  25 Jul 1900  Fleming WILLIAMS     d.  4 Oct 1918
           Children:  Elizabeth Carol WILLIAMS
                           m1.  23 Dec 1924  Forrest Jack BOCK (or BACK)
                           Children:  Forrest Jack BOCK Jr
                                          m.  Lanetta GILBERT
                                          Neil Max BOCK
                                          m.  Nanna LLOYD
                                          Marjorie BOCK
                                          m.  Ivan LORANCE
                           m.  Vern KENNEDY
                           Children:  Sue KENNEDY
                                          m.  Claude McMILLEN of Lansing, Eaton/Ingham Cos, MI
                           Velma WILLIAMS
                           m.  Clayton JACKSON     d.  29 Apr 1961
28.3d  Stella BOWEN     b.  c1877  (graduated 1895)  (moved to CA - there in 1935)
           m1. 12 Aug 1903, Orley M. CULP
           m2.  Harl TURNER
28.3e  George Walter BOWEN     b.  c1879  (graduated 1897)  d.  1943, Concordia, Cloud Co., IA
           m.  13 Jun 1900  Chloe STARBUCK     b.  6 Sep 1879, Indianola, Warren County, IA
                 d.  21 Aug 1952, Smith Center, Smith County, KS
                 child of:  Lee & Olive (MORRIS) STARBUCK
           Children:  Naomi BOWEN     b.  21 Apr 1901, Washington, DC     d.  31 Mar 1965
                           m1.  8 Mar 1923  Judge Tom KENNETT     d. 3 Sep 1940
                           Children:  Tom KENNETT Jr (lived in Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ)
                           m2.  G.E. (Ern) WINEINGER     b.  16 May 1896
                           d.  1 Dec 1959, Smith Center, Smith County, KS
                           Irene BOWEN     (moved to Jacksonville, St. John's/Duval Cos, FL by 1930's)
                           m.  C.L. BLEW
                           Children:  Nancy BLEW
                                           Michael BLEW
28.3f   Grace Maude BOWEN     b.  c1884 (graduated 1902)     (living CA 1935)
           m1.  ? (?)
           m2.  Emil WEBER
28.3g  Mabel BOWEN     b.  c1886 (graduated 1904)     d.  9 Jul 1962, Pine Bluff, Park Co., CO
           (living Omaha, NE 1935)
           m.  1911  Ben BEDELL
28.3h  Sadie Ruth BOWEN     b.  c1887 (graduated 1905)     d.  7 Dec 1922
           m.  1 May 1906 Harry GLADMAN
           Children:  Katherine GLADMAN
                           m.  Harry E. SMITH of Springer, Colfax Co, NM

Synopsis:

• p. 486, Smith County, KS 1880 Census:  Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D. BOWEN were pioneer residents of Smith Center, having come to this city in the spring of 1875 after living on their homestead in Lane township for nearly three years.  Their claim, on which they filed in 1872, was five miles west of here or a mile east of where later the village of Athol was located.  Mr. BOWEN was born in Trumbull, Ohio, in 1840.  He enlisted in the Civil war July 11, 1861, in the Second Infantry Cavalry and participated in all the battles of his command.  He was wounded in a skirmish in the second battle at Corinth and was mustered out in the fall of 1864.  In 1866 he and Lucy Ann Adair were united in marriage in Iowa.  All the many years the Bowens lived in this city, their home was on North Grant, about where Mrs. J.C. Behnke lives at the present time.  Mr. Bowen was a blacksmith by trade and his shop was on Court street, directly across the street north from Community Hall.  He followed this business all the time, except about two years when he bought and published the Pioneer.  He changed the political trend of the paper to that of the Democratic party and those two years has been the only time in eighty years that it has not been a republican newspaper.  For years Mr. Bowen started the celebration of Independence Day at four o'clock in the morning by firing salutes for an hour or so, using the anvil in his shop.  He never missed one fourth of July morning for many years or until his last illness came upon him.  Children used to remind their parents to awaken them early so they could hear the loud noises.  Mr. and Mrs. Bowen were the parents of eight children, the oldest, Herbert H. (Bert), became a Methodist minister, although he others of the family were members of the Christian church and Mrs. Bowen was a charter member of that denomination when it was organized in Smith Center.  The second child, a daughter, Millie, married Almond Thompson, a brother of Mrs. W.H. Nelson and they soon moved to Pennsylvania; Carrie first married Clare Holmes, then a few years after his death she married Fleming \Williams of the Stuart vicinity.  She graduated with the third class of the city high school, in 1893; Stella married Harl Turner and moved out west.  She was a graduate of 1895; Walter, a graduate of 1897, married Chole Starbuck; Grace married Emil Weber, she was a 1902 graduate; Mabel, graduate of 1904, married Ben Bedell.  The youngest of the family, Ruth, graduate of 1905, married Harry Gladman.  Mabel is the only one of the children now living.  She resides in Pine Bluff, Colorado.  The father died in the early twenties and is buried in Fairview cemetery.  After his passing, Mrs. BOWEN went to California to live with the daughter, Grace, and died there in 1925.  Members of this BOWEN family, now living in Smith county are three grandaughters:  the two sisters, Naomi, Mrs. Ern Wineinger and Irene, Mrs. C.L. Blew, daughters of Walter BOWEN and now proprietors of the Style Shop in this city.  Carol, the third one, is Mrs. Vern KENNEDY, a daughter of the late Carrie BOWEN WILLIAMS.  Carol and her husband live on the home farm in Webster township.

• p.39:  CENTER TOWNSHIP HOMESTEADERS:     Mitchel HAYS.  Mitchell HAYS came to Smith county in July 1877 and lived on his homestead in Center township for the rest of the years of his life.  The home was just one mile south of town, the southeast 160 acres in section 28.  His wife was Harriet E. BOWEN HAYS, a sister of the once well known R. D. BOWEN of this city.

• p. 176 (from the article on Lee STARBUCK):  Chloe was born in Indianola, Iowa, in 1879.  She came here from Nebraska with her parents in 1890 and grew to young womanhood in this city.  On June 13, 1900, she was united in marriage with G. Walter BOWEN, a Smith Center native.  They lived here for several years, then moved to Concordia where they made their home until Walter's death in 1943.  Chloe then moved back to this city where lived her two daughters, Naomi and Irene.  Naomi was first married to Judge Tom KENNETT of Concordia and they had one son, Tom Jr., now living in Phoenix, Arizona.  A few years after the death of Judge KENNETT, Naomi became the wife of G.E. WINEINGER of Smith Center.  He died in 1959 and she still lives here.  For several years she and Irene owned and operated the Style Shop.  Irene and her husband, C.L. BLEW are now living at Jacksonville, Florida.  Mr. BLEW, who was a Captain in the U.S. Navy and a Chief Medical Officer, is now retired.  Their children are Nancy and Michael.  Chloe died August 21, 1952.

• Listed as Charter member of First Church of North Madison:  Lucy A. BOWEN.

• Obituary, Smith County Review, 12 Dec 1935, p. 5, column 1:  Rev. H.H. BOWEN dead.  Former Smith Center Resident Died at Mount Zion, Georgia.  Word was received here of the death of Rev. Herbert H. BOWEN at the home of his youngest son at Mt. Zion, Georgia.  He suffered a paralytic stroke and passed away two days following, on Tuesday, December 3, at the age of 68 years.  Bert, as he was more familiarly known here where he grew to manhood, was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. BOWEN, pioneer settlers of this community who died many years ago.  He was born at Shellrock, Iowa, and came here with his parents when he was aged five years.  He attended the Smith Center schools and continued his studies for the ministry.  Rev. BOWEN preached at churches of the Methodist Episcopal faith at various paces [sic] in Kansas and later was transferred to the south and had charges in Florida both as pastor and later as presiding elder in that state and Georgia.  For the past three hears he had been on a retired ministers salary.  His wife died about five years ago and seven children are left to mourn the passing of a kind and loving father.  They are Herbert H. BOWEN, Cincinnatti [sic], Ohio; Olga and Joyce of DeLand, Fla; Grace of Chattanooga, Tenn; Tom of Daytona Beach, Fla; Helen living in Virginia, and Lyle of Mount Zion, Georgia.  Rev. BOWEN is also survived by four sisters, Stella and Grace, living in California, Mabel of Omaha, Nebr., and Mrs. Carrie WILLIAMS, who lives in the Stuart Community in Smith County and one brother, Walter BOWEN of Concordia.  Mrs. C.C. BURR and Elmer HAYS of this city are cousins of the deceased.

• Obituary, Smith County Pioneer:  Death of Rev. Bert BOWEN.  End Came at The Home of a Son In Georgia.  There are still a good many people in Smith Center and vicinity who will remember Bert BOWEN, who grew to manhood in this city, and regret to learn of his death.  He passed away December 3, at the home of his youngest son, Lyle, near Mt. Zion, Ga., and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery at that place.  The deceased, who was a retired Methodist minister after many years of active service, and at one time in Florida, a district superintendent, was reared in Smith Center, coming here when a small boy with his parents the late R.D. BOWEN  and wife.  He received his common school education at this place, and took to the ministry about forty years ago.  He was one of a family of seven children, only one of whom, Mrs. Carrie WILLIAMS of Webster township, continues to make her home in this county,  Grace and Stella live at some point in California; Mabel in Omaha, Nebr., and Walter in Concordia, this state.  The BOWEN family, whose head was a blacksmith and at one time owner and publisher of The Pioneer, that he run as a Democratic sheet, was highly respected during the residence here, and the old timers remaining hereabouts remember its members most kindly.  Bert, whose age was 68 years at death, was twice married and father of seven surviving children as follows:  Herbert H., of Cincinnati, Ohio; Olga of DeLand, Fla; Grace of Chattanooga, Tenn; Joyce of DeLand, Fla; Tom of Dayton, Fla; Helen at some point in Virginia, and Lyle at whose home he died.

• Obituary, Smith County Pioneer, 18 July 1935:  Died in Pennsylvania.  Mrs. W.H. NELSON of this place received word a few days ago of the death of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Millie BOWEN THOMPSON, last Friday in a Pennsylvania town where she had resided for many years.  Her age was in the early sixties, and we are told she had taught school up to within a year of her death.  She was the second child of R.D. BOWEN and wife, early Smith Center pioneers, and left our town more than 40 years ago.  Her father long since deceased, was owner and editor of The Pioneer close to fifty years ago, running it as a Democratic sheet.  As we remember Millie, she was a bright, winsome girl while in this city, and quite popular with all classes when she grew up.  She is survived, we believe, by two brothers and four sisters.  Of these, only one, Mrs. Carrie WILLIAMS of Webster township, remains in Smith county.  One of the brothers, Walter, resides in Concordia, as he has for many years, and the other, Rev. Bert BOWEN has been a Methodist minister in Florida for about fifteen years.

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28.4__George ADAIR     
     b.  21 Jan 1847, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA     
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  1 Dec 1934, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

     m.  1872

28.4s__Ella MASON
     b.  5 Jul 1853, Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
     child of:  William & Amelia (MURGATROYD) MASON
     d.  4 Feb 1916, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.4a  Claude Duvall ADAIR     b.  5 Feb 1874     d.  7 Aug 1949
28.4b  Allison G. ADAIR     b.  14 Apr 1875  (14 May**)     d.  2 Mar 1878
           Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA       Go to Tombstones
                        Aged 2y 10m 18d  (Little Alta)
28.4c  Allen Lester ADAIR     b.  31 Aug 1879     d.  12 Apr 1948   Resided Eagle, Shoshone/Ada Cos, ID c1913
           m.  14 Feb 1903, Hilda BENSON
           Children:  Ellen A. ADAIR
                          Esther ADAIR
28.4d  Ada Lucille ADAIR     b.  6 Feb 1882     d.  1963
           Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones
           m.  1 Jan 1904, A. Frank GARNER     b.  1879     d.  1958  Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
           Children:  George Mathias GARNER
                           Vernon Adair GARNER      Resided Green Valley, Pima Co, AZ c. 1982-3
28.4e  William Mason ADAIR     b.  12 May 1887 (1889**)     d.  25 Jun 1943
           Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones
           m1.  ?, Maude Irma GOODSELL  
           m2.  19 Oct 1932, Clara M. BURIS**     b.  17 Jan 1897    d.  Feb 1987, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA    (Source:  SS Death Index) 
                   Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
           Note:  Sgt, 34th Infantry Regular Army; employed as butter maker in the Shell Rock 
                     Creamery c 1913

Synopsis: 

• Text from History of Butler County, p. 316:  George ADAIR was a little lad of six summers when brought by his parents to Butler county, where he has resided continuously since, covering a period of sixty years.  There is no resident of Shell Rock whose connection with the district antedates his and as a pioneer settler he has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this part of the county.  On the 14th of May, 1864, when a young man of seventeen years, he enlisted as a member of Company E., Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served for one hundred days.  He has always been actuated by a spirit of patriotism and has ever taken a helpful part in upholding the interests of county, state and nation.  His reminiscences concerning this county are most interesting.  He recalls the first Fourth of July celebration which he ever witnessed.  In fact it was the first held in this county, the celebration taking place at Shell Rock in 1855.  The people came in ox teams and on that occasion nearly every man, woman and child in the county was here.  Through his boyhood, George ADAIR attended the district schools and worked in his father's sawmill.  Since 1869 he has been identified with agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land two miles southeast of Shell Rock.  He still gives supervision to the place, although his son is actively operating it.  The farm is splendidly improved and has upon it an immense barn fifty-two by ninety feet, also two concrete silos and every modern improvement.  The place is known as the Oakley Stock Farm and Mr. ADAIR was the first breeder of Holstein cattle in this locality, continuing the breeding business for thirty years.  While he is not active in the operation of the farm, he keeps in touch with every feature of the business and, moreover, he has for the past sixteen years been president of the Shell Rock Creamery Company, a cooperative creamery business which is incorporated.  For fourteen years he was president of the Butler County Farms Institute and he is a life member of the County Fair Association, of which he has been a director and treasurer.  His association with the last two organizations indicates his deep interest in all that pertains to the development and improvement of the county along agricultural lines.  In 1872, Mr. ADAIR was united in marriage to Miss Ella MASON, who was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, July 5, 1853, and in 1856 was brought to Iowa by her parents, who located in Madison township, this county, but afterward removed to Cedar Falls and later came to Shell Rock.  Her father, William MASON, was a native of England and was a woolen manufacturer.  After coming to Iowa he purchased a half interest in a woolen mill in Shell Rock.  While in Massachusetts, he married Amelia MURGATROYD, also a native of England.  Mr. and Mrs. ADAIR became the parents of five children.

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28.4a  Claude Duvall ADAIR 
     b.  5 Feb 1874, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA
     child of:  George & Ella (MASON) ADAIR
     d.  7 Aug 1949
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

     m.  39 Aug 1898

28.4as  Inez I. TEMPLE
     b.  20 Apr 1875
     child of:
     d.  21 Apr 1949
     Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler County, IA     Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.4a1  Rex George ADAIR     b.  6 Jan 1900     d.  13 Dec 1987, Fort Dodge, Webster Co, IA   (Source:  SS Death Index)
             m.  20 Jun 1923, Mabel ZIMMERMAN     b.  9 Mar 1889     d.  7 Nov 1996, Fort Dodge, Webster Co, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)
             Children:  Toland ADAIR     b.  25 Apr 1924     Resided CT
                             m.  John EVANS
                             Children:  Denis EVANS
                                             Betsy EVANS
28.4a2  Zella Leone ADAIR     b.  13 Mar 1905     d.  22 Jan 1996, Creston, Union Co, IA (Source:  SS Death Index)   
             Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
             m.  14 Jul 1940, Jeremiah J. DWYER     b.  8 Nov 1898     d.  15 Jun 1966, Waverly, Bremer Co, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)
                   Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
28.4a3  Keith Clyde ADAIR     b.  29 Sep 1907     d.  17 Dec 2002, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk Co, IA   (Source:  SS Death Index)
             m.  18 Aug 1935,  Dolly GIBSON
28.4a4  Forest Claude ADAIR     b.  29 Sep 1907     d.  Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA   (Source:  SS Death Index)
             m.  3 Jun 1934, Marian BOWEN
             Children:  Roma Leone ADAIR     b.  14 Aug 1936
                             m1.  21 Sep 1954, Duane SHANNON
                                     Children:  Jennifer SHANNON
                                                    Rollis SHANNON (twin to Robert)
                                                    Robert SHANNON (twin to Rollis)
                                                    Ricky SHANNON 
                            m2.  ?, Rollis SCHUTTE
                            m3.  ?, Rex BURNS
28.4a5  Victor Bruce ADAIR     b.  31 Jul 1911     d.  14 Mar 1999, Waverly, Bremer Co, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)  
             Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA    Go to Tombstones
             m.  6 Jun 1936, Sylvia L. STILES     b. 11 Nov 1911     d.  3 Feb 2004, Waverly, Bremer Co, IA  (Source:  SS Death Index)
             Buried:  Riverview Cemetery, Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA     Go to Tombstones
             Children:  Sandra Jeanne ADAIR     b.  28 Jan 1938
                             m.  23 Sep 1956, Dean SOASH
                             Betty Lucille ADAIR     b.  10 Oct ?
                             m.  25 Jun 1967, Tom NEAL
                             Bruce Claude ADAIR     b.  11 Aug ?
                             m.  ?, Jamie WITTENBURG

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28.8__Elizabeth Ellen ADAIR
     b.  23 Jan 1856 (27 Oct 1855?)
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  10 Jun 1941 (23 Jun 1937)
     Buried:

     m.

28.8s__Allen A. ALLBURN
     b.
     child of:
     d.
     Buried:

Other Marriages:

Children:
28.8a  Grace ALLBURN
           m.  _____ COLLINS
           Children:  Elizabeth COLLINS

Synopsis:

• Allen ALLBURN was from Sioux City, IA

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28.9__Sarah (Sadie) Marie ADAIR
     b.  23 Jan 1858 (Jun**)
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  10 Jun 1941
     Buried:  Wakefield Cemetery, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE  (N 1/2 Blk 59)   Go to Tombstones

     m.

28.9s__Thomas O. RAWLINGS
     b.  4 Jul 1856
     child of:
     d.  24 Feb 1944
     Buried:  Wakefield Cemetery, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE  (N 1/2 Blk 59)   Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:

Synopsis:

• Left estate to sisters-in-law Blanche HERRINGTON of Torrington, WY and Nettie MEAD of Shell Rock, IA and to children of H. H. RAWLINGS of Spokane, WA who had died 30 Aug 1937:  Hazel RAWLINGS BAMBER, 2003 N. Jefferson, Spokane, WA; Milton H. RAWLINGS; Margaret E. RAWLINGS.  Executor:  Sarah M. HERRINGTON.

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28.10__Blanche Julia ADAIR
     b.  26 Feb 1862 (1861**)  
     child of:  George Washington & Elizabeth Ellen (SMITH) ADAIR
     d.  25 Mar 1949
     Buried:  Wakefield Cemetery, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE  (N 1/2 Lot 1 Blk 9) (Not carved on the stone)

     m.

28.10s__Charles L. HERRINGTON
     b.  25 Jul 1860
     child of:
     d.  3 Sep 1898
     Buried:  Wakefield Cemetery, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE  (N 1/2 Lot 1 Blk 9)   Go to Tombstones

Other Marriages:

Children:  Elwin Jesse HERRINGTON     b.  26 Aug 1889     d.  21 Jun 1890
                Buried:  Wakefield Cemetery, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE  with parents     Go to Tombstones
                Sarah M. HERRINGTON     b.  28 Jul 1886     d.  27 Jul 1974   
                Buried:  Valley View Cemetery, Torrington, Goshen Co, WY    (Source:  SS Death Index)   
                m.  19 Jun 1913, Wakefield, Dixon/Wayne County, NE, Erwin M. FROYD, age 27   
                      b.  29 Apr 1886, Paxton, Ford County, IL                      
                      child of:  John A. & Ella M. (COLLINS) FROYD
                      d.  29 Sep 1974     Buried:  Valley View Cemetery, Torrington, Goshen Co, WY   (Source:  SS Death Index)

Synopsis:

• Living in Torrington, WY in 1944 (estate papers of Thomas O. RAWLINGS indicate leaving his estate to Blanche in Torrington)

• Blanche is indicated as being interred in the cemetery but is not carved on the stone.  She may possibly be actually buried in Torrington, where she was living with her daughter at the time of her death.  I see a trip to WY in my future....

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