The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-25

son, girl OF l6, and John Adair. y years
old. were married, Botn these young pso
pie had been give the best advantages OF
education then ohtainable. by parents
having more than average means and
position In Kentucky. They began mar
ried life as farmers in the beautiful and
fertile "blue grass" region OF the Ken
tocky river valley, After farming for
about Il years both became tired OF the
Institution Of slavery and anxious to set
into 4 free state with their youug family.
Mr.. Adair examined the then new states
OF Indiana and Illinois and from their
many attractive openings for new hAm
be selected and purchased a splendid
Tract Of land on the Wabash river, three
miles from Terre Hante. This place was
known as Fort Harrison" having been
the site OF fort 80 named in early In
dian wars. To this new farm. Mr.. Adair
brought his family and an old negro
woman and her lS.year-old son. who had
been family servants all their lives: OF
course. they became free negroes after
crossing the Ohio river into Indiana.
fnlThe old woman. however remained Il
faithful servant, but the son after two
or three years became worthless and
left his mother.
Mr.. Adair was so pleased with his new
home and surroundings. that he advised
his wife's father, Mr.. Dickinson. to come
10 this neighborho0d: which he aid the
following spring. Mr.. Dickinson bought
land adjoining Fort Harrison. another
new farm. Here the two families lived
and prospered until the Mexican war
came on. when Mr.. Adair took an active
part in raising a regiment OF state troops
and was appointed brigadier general. He
was about ready to leave for Mexico.
when his family became afflicted with
scarlet fever. and within month this
dreadful disease had proved fatal to three
OF the Adair children also TO Mr.. Dickin-
SON. This was grevious affiietion to
both the Adarr and Dickinson families
and was the chief cause for their return
ing to Kentucky early In iS4S General
Adair had already taken much interest
in the Oregon News" and upon break
ing up his Indiana home determined 10 20
70 that far away Oregon land. which even
at that early date. was Justly reputed 10
have most healthy and mild climate.
In the fall OF 1915 General Adair received
from President Polk, the appointment
OF Collector Of United States Customs"
at the Port Of Astoria, Oregon, and was
directed to prOced at once to that port
and open his Office He brought his fam
fly to the home OF the widow Dickinson.
In Louisville, Kentucky. and here Mrs.
Adair's mother, Mrs. Dickinson. assisted
her in making preparation for the long
sta Journey 10 ORE gon. Mrs. Dickinson
felt that she was about to lose her eldest
daughter forever and it sorely tried this
good lady's heart to give up this one Of
her three living children. She advised
that the Oldest Adair children, Betty and
Ellen, be left with her. in order that
they might receive the same advantages
Of education their mother had been af-
fcrded. After much discussion. misgiy-
ings, and sorely trying the mothers
heart. it was finally agreed that the two
girls should remain with their grand
mother. and preparations were made ac-
cordingly. In November. ls4s. General and
Mrs. Adair. and their four youngest
children. with sad hearts. said good bye
to Mrs. Dickinson and to Betty and |
Ellen Adair. The carriage containing the
Adair family had hardly passed out OF |
sight OF the Dickinson residence. when |
General Adair exclaimed, "Wen Mary /
Ann. II you are SO disturbed at leaving
Betty and Ellen behind. VIII go right /
back and get them" Without waiting 1
for word in reply he directed the
driver where to take the family and
dashed back after the girls Within ten
minutes after the family reached the
steamboat, the husband with Betty ana
Ellen joined them, making the reunited
iamiIy as happy as possible.
In this case 1t was the fathers heart
hat failed. and in after years many a
hearty laugh was created in the family
:ircle. by Mrs. Adair's recital OF the
Incident All the members Of the family
agreed though that it terminated lust
light. The family were ten days in
'eaebiIig New Orleans on the splendid
liver steamboat Champion From New
orleans they proceeded on the old steam
hip Falcon. Shortly before leaving New
orleans, the gold discoveries in California
lad spread through the land. causing
'eople TO rush on board the Falcon
rom the New Orleans levee as long as
tanding room could be had on the steam .
nip. Among the thousand passengers =
N the Falcon, only a few had been at ,
ca before, so all were sea-sick. Mrs ,
Idair suffering intensely from start to ]
nish-" She was greatly relieved when :
hey exchanged the Falcon for a canoe
n the little Chagres river and on 10 ,
anama in hammock strung on a pole. q
arried by stalwart natives over the :
luddiest Of muddy trails across the =
sthmus from "Gorgona" to old Panama.
Iere the family went to Housekeeping 4
'r six weeks, awaiting the arrival OF the b
ID California, overdue from New York. i
holera had appeared among the Amorl-
ans on the Isthmus, proving fatal to a n
reat many. Mrs. Adair had successfully Il
ursed her youngest child through the +.
sease. After this weary waiting in =
anama. the California, the first Arnerl- Il
IN steamship to float on the waters OF q
e Pacific. finally made her appearance Y
y this time several thousand Americans d
I'd reached Panama, all eager to get D
rward 10 the California gold mines Ia
for many Of the Through a
nket" holders the California already 4
ID about 300 gold seekers in her cabins. al
Il in few days these were removed VI
a temporary deck above the main Geek. N
ID nearly 100 Americans crowded into b,
e ship. nearly half Of them having to o
mn on deck till thev reached CO.. p,