T. M. Adair, a well known farmer residing thirteen miles east of Delaware in Nowata County, was born in Flint district, now Adair County, on the 2d of September, 1882. His paternal grand-father, Walter Scott Adair, better known as “Red Watt” Adair, was a Cherokee emigrant from Georgia. Adair County was named in his honor, for he was well known throughout the community, having been commissioned by the United States government to look after the Cherokees and see that all of their needs were supplied. In addition to the duties devolving upon him in that capacity, he engaged in farming. His demise occurred on the 26th of September, 1864. The maternal grandfather, E. Johnson, was likewise a native of Georgia and one of the early residents of the Cherokee Nation. The father of T. M. Adair was Hugh M. Adair, a native of Indian Territory, his birth having occurred on the 30th of January, 1840. He was a highly educated man and had a strong moral influence over the Indians and he was tireless in his efforts for their advancement. In addition to farming, he was editor of the Cherokee Advocate and for some thirty years he taught in the schools of the Cherokee Nation. His demise occurred on the 18th of March, 1910. His wife was Martha L. Johnson, who was born in the Cherokee Nation of white parents. Her demise occurred in 1883.
In the acquirement of an education T. M. Adair attended the public schools of the Cherokee Nation and at the age of seventeen years he put his textbooks aside and engaged in farming in Adair County. In 1907, disposing of his interests there, he came to his present farm of four hundred and sixty acres, this land being the finest bottom land in the County. It is located thirteen miles east of Delaware. Mr. Adair does general farming and stock raising and rents a portion of his land to tenants, feeling the acreage to be too large for him to handle alone. He has a good home and outbuildings on the land and also a fine family orchard. He uses the most progressive methods in the cultivation of his land and has won an enviable place among the farmers of the County.
In April, 1906, occurred the marriage of Mr. Adair to Miss Mattie Sanders, one-half Cherokee. She died, leaving three children: Cleburne, thirteen years of age, who is attending school in Tulsa; Theron M., ten years of age, who is a student in the country schools near the farm; and Velma M., who is living with her aunt, Annie Welch, at Casper, Wyoming. On the 22d of June, 1918, Mr. Adair was again married, Katie E. Nunnallee becoming his wife. She is a native of Indian Territory and a daughter of John T. and Mary E. (Hensley) Nunnallee. Two children have been born to this union: Warren W., age two years; and Eugene T., one year old.
Mr. Adair was County Commissioner of Nowata County from January, 1917, to July, 1919, and discharged the duties of that office to the satisfaction of his fellowmen. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.